Author's Note: Most of the characters' names are different in this fic. It
was originally a school assignment and I got carried away, but by then, the
names were stuck.
Cedric: Setsuna
Kalem: Kira
Rafe: Katou
Dardelan: Rociel
Dameon: Katan
And the 411: I am not Kaori Yuki nor do I own her characters or storylines. I am not Isobelle Carmody nor do I own the names of her characters.
Please remember that this is an ALTERNATE universe and has absolutely NOTHING to do with the original Angel Sanctuary manga or OVA series. Enjoy!
An Angel Sanctuary Epic
Chapter 1: "The Beginning"
Introduction
Long ago, the gods created a world called Assiah. For thousands of years, Assiah flourished with beautiful mountains, flowing streams, lush valleys and enchanting forests. The only inhabitants of the land were animals. Then one day, the great Goddess Alexiel created man. She taught them the higher virtues of love, loyalty, heroism, and fortitude that placed these humans as the highest mortal existence on Assiah. The humans lived by her teachings for many peaceful centuries. But as the years passed, they began to forget the Goddess's teachings. They grew lazy and corrupted by money and greed. Horrible emotions began to erupt in the humans' hearts—jealousy, envy, despair, and hate. They committed crimes and fought amongst themselves. Instead of working together, as they had been told, they rebelled against each other and fought for power and control.
Alexiel was enraged and displeased with such behavior and sent down a warning. For three months, the humans suffered humungous earthquakes, treacherous floods, monstrous tornadoes, and brutal hurricanes.
Finally, when all the havoc ceased, Alexiel decided that the humans, no matter how many punishments she sent them, would never learn from their mistakes. There would always be new generations of humans who would forget the plagues and become wild again. So instead of punishing them every time their behavior got out of hand, she chose two humans every hundred years to decide the fate of the world—a Child of Purity, who would defend mankind, and a Child of Darkness who would end man's existence. If, at the time of the Duel, humankind was able to prove that they still possessed the qualities of honor and love that made them unique through the Child of Purity, mankind would continue to flourish. However, if the last bit of hope and morality had gone out of humans, they would be destroyed.
****
Cedric Tirrigen jumped up and out of the way of an enraged man who came charging angrily at him. The man went sprawling into the side of the village well with a nasty sounding crash. He whirled around to face Cedric who was standing quite at ease in the same spot he was before, a mocking smirk on his face.
"You wipe that look off your face!" the man growled, and prepped for another charge.
"Don't tell me what to do. You're the one who started the fight!" Cedric replied, his bright green eyes glinting in the sunshine.
"Tell me the truth now, boy! Did you or did you not sleep with my sister?" the man spat.
"Sleep with your sister? Isabelle? No, no, of course not." He smiled and added, "of course we considered it a couple of times on our long nights together." The man roared and charged again.
"I'll kill you, you little bastard!!!" he screamed, dashing at him again. Cedric sidestepped the attack and caught the man in a neat flip over his shoulder.
He twisted the man's arm around his back and landed him a hard blow on the side of his jaw.
The man crashed into the well again and sagged to the floor. Cedric wiped away the beads of sweat that had gathered on his upper lip and walked over to where the man sat. The man gazed up groggily at him and shrank away.
"D-don't kill me!" He pleaded, barely holding on to consciousness.
"What are you talkin' about?" Cedric gave the man a slightly irritated look. "I'm not gonna kill you. Why would you think that? It was just a friendly fight! Come on!" He carelessly kicked the man over a wall and into a trough on the other side. Cedric smirked at the man.
"Okay, nap time's over. You better wake up or someone will steal your purse if you sleep here all day!"
The man groaned. "I've… never seen anyone fight like you… It's incredible, you look like such a shrimp, too…"
Cedric shrugged nonchalantly. I've always had some strange adeptness for fighting. No one's ever really taught me how, but I've got this ability to fight. I don't like fighting. It just happens sometimes. In this town, everyone fights. Everyone has to defend himself. I guess we're all fight- crazy!
The man hauled himself out of the trough and glanced over the wall just in time to catch a glimpse of Cedric's auburn hair disappear into the swarming crowd of the village.
"That kid," he muttered, "I don't understand him at all… Why did he let me go? People are so merciless these days… But he acted like my life actually meant something to him. Why? He must really be strong."
****
Cedric walked down the streets and looked up nervously at the once sunny sky which was now covered with dark clouds promising rain. He shivered and drew his cloak around him more tightly.
As he walked, Cedric began thinking about the events he'd just experienced.
We fight so much here. Why? What's to gain if we fight each other rather than fight together? Why do we exist? To fight? What's the meaning of our lives? The meaning of mine?
He often thought about these things. Always questioned the reason for his existence. Ever since he could remember, he always felt as though there were some deeper meaning for his life than what the world showed him. He always felt that there was something special about him that set him apart from others. It never made him arrogant or condescending or disdainful, but he couldn't help it. He always felt that he belonged elsewhere.
As he passed by a dark alley, he heard strange noises from the shadows. Cedric thought the strange rustling sounds were of cloaks and the padding of booted feet on the ground.
Oh great, he thought, another fight. Can't I go out for a nice walk without running into at least five fights in one day?!
Now irritated, he strode unfalteringly into the dark alley without a single backward glance. As he drew nearer to the end of the alley, the sounds became more distinct and harsh.
"All right, you thugs!" Cedric called to them. "Come out and fight like men! Who're you robbing now? A helpless—" But before he could finish his sentence, a fist struck him out of nowhere. It landed solidly on his face and sent him slamming into one of the alley walls. He hit the ground hard enough to knock the breath out of him, but quickly jumped back onto his feet and crouched into a defensive position. But by the time he was alert and ready to fight, the mysterious figures had vanished.
"That's odd," Cedric rubbed his head and glanced around. "Where did they all go? There were about five of them… They were all dressed in black—that's why I couldn't see them…" He stood deep in thought in the dank alley for a few moments, until a soft moan somewhere near his feet interrupted his chain of thoughts. He glanced down and noticed the badly beaten body of a man lying on the ground in a pool of blood. He quickly bent down next to the man and tried to lift him.
"No, don't," the man groaned and struggled out of Cedric's hold.
"Are you crazy? I've got to get you to a doctor!" Cedric exclaimed. But the man merely sank back down to lie in Cedric's arms. There was a deep wound in the middle of his chest surrounded by other smaller cuts that covered his arms and legs as well.
"If I don't get you to a doctor, you'll die!" Cedric tried again. The man chuckled and laid his head back and gazed up into Cedric's face. His dark red hair was oddly bright and made a strange contrast to the dark atmosphere. He made a ghastly image, smiling as the blood oozed out of him. Suddenly, his face broke into a shocked, panic-stricken expression.
"You," he whispered fiercely, "I must give you something." He dug around in his breast pocket frantically until he brought out what looked like an egg. A very beautiful, bejeweled egg. Its shell seemed to be made of pure gold, and large gems of precious stone adorned its sides. It emitted a strange glow and seemed to light up the dark alley.
"You must keep this," the man said in a very serious tone. "Guard it with your life. It is the key." Cedric stared transfixed at the precious treasure. Then his attention snapped back to the dying man in his arms. "What? Why are you giving this to me?"
"It seems," the man croaked, his voice becoming softer, "that you should have it. There is a light about you… your wings, they're so beautiful."
"What wings? What light?" Cedric demanded.
"You have the gift." The man's voice was almost inaudible now. "You are the One."
"What? Wait!" Cedric shook the man as his eyelids drooped. "You—you're not going to die, are you? Hey!" He patted the man's cheeks as he let out a final rattling breath. Cedric held the man's limp body in his arms until it grew cold, tears streaming down his face.
Why? Why did he die? Why are we here?
****
Cedric walked slowly into a nearby tavern, slightly dazed from the strange event that had just occurred. Outside, the threatening clouds had finally broken open; the heavens seemed to be crying, echoing Cedric's dark mood.
After placing his order in faltering words, he noticed a man with dark hair watching him from a corner of the bar with an odd expression on his face. On his belt, he wore a long thin sword with a plain sheath. Not in the mood for socializing, Cedric dismissed him from his mind quickly and found a secluded table for himself.
Still a bit dazed, he felt the weight of the jeweled egg in his pocket and removed it to his palm. He stared at it in wonder, marveling at its beauty and trying to figure out why the man had given it to him—a total stranger.
That man…so strange, he thought. His eyes were so clear. Not like the eyes of the people around here. His had a sparkle to them.
Then Cedric noticed a heavy-set, well-dressed man approaching his table, a velvet purse in his pudgy fingers. He came and sat down in the chair across from Cedric.
"That's quite a treasure you've got there," he began. He had an oily sort of voice that Cedric didn't like. "Such a treasure could bring you some danger if it is not concealed and well guarded." He paused for a moment and emptied his purse on the table. "Fifty coins. I'd like to buy that egg off of you, boy." Cedric stared down at the pile of gold coins on the table.
"Geez, you really get right to the point, don't you?" Cedric quickly summed up the money on the table. "Fifty coins?!" he choked. Then his expression changed from astonishment to a sly smile. "Nah, I can't sell this thing. It's really precious to me." The man frowned and pulled out another purse and poured out about another twenty coins.
"Seventy coins."
"As sorry as I am, bud, I can't sell this. It's very, very precious to me!" Cedric exclaimed dramatically. I wonder how much this guy's willing to pay, he thought deviously. The man poured out the rest of the contents in his purse. "One hundred." He pursed his lips and looked slightly irritated now. "That's my final offer."
Cedric stared down at the small fortune laid out in front of him and then back up at the man. He grinned and picked the egg up in his hand.
"It's all yours, sir," he lifted his hand to offer the egg to the man when a hand came from behind him and caught his wrist in an iron grip. He craned his neck around to see who had stopped him.
It was the dark haired young man who had been watching him when he entered the tavern. The expression on his handsome face was unreadable and his cold auburn eyes glared at the fat man. Then he turned his piercing gaze on Cedric.
"I wouldn't get rid of this so quickly if I were you," he said quietly. As their eyes locked, Cedric felt a shock of sensation; his stomach plunged as if he was jumping off a high cliff. Then a strange warm sensation engulfed him, strange noises ringing through his ears. He tried to look away, feeling uncomfortable under the intense stare, but found that his eyes were fastened to the stranger's.
The fat man broke the tense silence. "Who are you? Go away! Can't you see we're trying to make a transaction here?" His sagging cheeks seemed to puff out even more than they already were. The stranger looked back at the man, irritated. His eyes hardened and seemed to shoot fire as they glared at the man.
"The deal's off. Go away."
The fat man seemed to shrink away from him and crawled away obediently. The young man sat down in the vacated seat across from Cedric.
"So," he began in a smooth voice, "you've got quite a treasure there."
"What? Are you interested in buying it off of me, too?" Cedric asked. "Well, unless you're willing to pay more than that guy, you're not getting your hands on this." The man shook his head in response.
"No, I don't want your egg. I was simply admiring it. Saving you from something you might regret someday."
"This egg?" Cedric choked down a laugh.
"Laugh all you want, my friend, but you'll see it is worth more than all the money in the world. May I?"
Cedric only hesitated for a moment. For some reason, he felt he could trust the long-haired stranger.
"Sure."
His companion reached across the table with graceful but strong hands and picked the egg up gently. He brought it close to his face and examined it for a long time. Something like recognition passed over his face for a moment. Then he handed it back to Cedric who commenced to study it.
"It's just a decoration, right?" Cedric said. "Nothing but a pretty display piece for nobles." He looked up to see the stranger watching him closely. "Do you know what this thing is?"
"It's invaluable for sure." He set both his elbows on the table and rested his chin on entwined fingers. "Where did you get it?"
"This, uh, guy… just now. He was attacked in an alley near here by some guys in black clothes." The stranger's eyes seemed to widen but resumed their composure in a split second. Cedric continued, "I found him right after they'd beaten him up. He was a wreck. There was no way he could've…" His voice trailed away at the stranger's expression. He seemed to be staring off into space with a look of concern and despair. For a long time, they sat in silence.
"How," asked the stranger finally, "did this man look?" Cedric shrugged.
"Uh, somewhere in his twenties, average height, bright red hair…" he trailed away at the stranger's astonished look. "You knew him?"
"What did he say to you?" the stranger interrupted.
Slightly taken aback by the sudden abruptness, Cedric answered more timidly, "He said I should have the egg. And that I had beautiful wings. I'm not sure what he meant, maybe he was talkin' about my cloak." Cedric shrugged again. The stranger stared at the table, his broad shoulders tense, eyes opened wide in what seemed like dreadful realization. Then as if he had heard nothing, his face resumed all composure and his body relaxed. Then he stood up as if about to leave.
"You keep that egg," his voice was sharp and serious, with a slight air of command in it. "Keep it safe." He swept his long black cloak around him and walked past Cedric's seat. For a moment, Cedric sat in his chair, dumbfounded about everything that had happened. Then he grabbed the egg, shoved it in his pocket and rushed after the stranger.
He ran out of the tavern just in time to the see the stranger walking briskly down the muddy streets. He called, "Wait a sec! Who are you?" The stranger stopped for a moment and turned his head slightly to look at Cedric over his shoulder, the rain pouring down on him.
"You can call me Kalem. Just Kalem." With that, he vanished into the darkness; the endless rain closed around him like a thick cold curtain.
****
A woman stood in a beautiful courtyard. Her long, flowing hair was as dark as the star-filled sky above. She wore long silk robes of blue and white; the trimmings lined with gold. Her face was delicate as a feather yet her expression was strong and determined, a very regal air about her. She seemed to be waiting for something. For someone.
From somewhere to the side, the sound of trickling water could be heard. Then the sound of light footsteps. The woman looked up and stared at a passageway between two tall walls of a hedge maze adorned with white roses.
The footsteps grew louder until finally a girl emerged from the passageway. Her long golden hair flowed freely down her back and her cheeks were flushed and pink from running. Her deep blue eyes sparkled as blue as the sea but looked soulful and mournful. But when she saw the dark haired woman, a smile lit her face.
"Great Alexiel," she said in a soft delicate voice. "You came. I'm so glad you could make it."
"I had to come," Alexiel answered in a voice that was gentle but powerful as well. "You have a right to know what is to become of this world."
"And what is to become of it?" the girl asked, her smile fading. Alexiel stared hard at the girl, her expression hard as stone.
"It is to be destroyed. The great Adam Kadman has told a prophecy that the world will not continue. It cannot be helped. The Child of Purity has not been located. It may be too late now to find him and train him to prepare for the battle. The Child of Darkness is already prepared."
"No! That cannot be!" the girl protested. "Is there nothing I can do to help? There must be. Perhaps I can find the Child of Purity." She looked up at Alexiel pleadingly. But Alexiel shook her head.
"No, there is nothing to be done. Even if you do succeed in finding the one, the time of Dueling is much too close. He will not be prepared and shall perish in battle."
"But surely," the young girl pleaded, "it does not matter how much he has prepared. The outcome of the battle is based on the pureness of humans. They have proven themselves worthy." Alexial shook her head.
"Now that the prophecy has been told, it cannot be defied. It is definite that Assiah will not continue. All humans and living beings will be destroyed."
"No! No!" the girl screamed. Tears began to flow down her cheeks and dripped down her white dress. "There must be a way… There must be a way to save Assiah…"
Then suddenly, she seemed to look directly at Cedric.
"Help me. Please help me save Assiah."
Cedric's eyes flew open. His body was soaked with perspiration and his chest heaved up and down.
Just a dream…he thought, desperately trying to calm himself. Just a dream…
When he regained his composure, he thought of the dream again, unable to sleep.
That was the third time this week that I've had that dream. It's that egg. I know it is! Ever since I got that stupid thing I've been having these nightmares. And every single time, it's the same. The woman and the girl talk about the world ending and the girl asks me for help. Why? What does this mean?
He was about to stand up to get some water when he noticed that he was not alone in his room. There was a dark figure bending over his bureau. The figure seemed to be digging through Cedric's possessions. Then, something glinted in the moonlight. Something bright and shining was in the thief's hand. It was the egg.
Without thinking twice, Cedric jumped out of bed and tackled the thief.
"That's MY egg!" he shouted. They wrestled around a bit until Cedric finally managed to pin the thief down and grabbed the egg out of his hands. He tied the thief's hands behind his back with some yarn on the bureau. Then he threw the thief on his bed and lit a candle.
In the light, he could see the thief more clearly. He was tall and slender with longish blond hair and cunning eyes. He was dressed all in black with a black mask over his face as well.
"Why did you want to steal my egg?" he demanded. "And who the heck are you?" The thief's eyes seemed to mock him but he said nothing. Cedric tossed his head impatiently and placed his hands on his hips.
"You're not going to tell me, are you?" he asked annoyed. "Well, then, let's see what you're hiding under that mask of yours." He reached over to pull the mask off but the thief jerked his head away.
"No! Don't!" He said in an alarmed voice. Cedric grinned.
"Ah, so the thief has a voice. What're you hiding? A huge pimple?!"
"What the heck did you say, you little bug?! I do NOT have a pimple!" His voice was deep but youthful. He seemed about Cedric's age.
"And the thief has a temper, too." Cedric smirked. "So, ya gonna tell me what I wanna know or do you want me to rip off your mask?"
"What d'ya wanna know?" the thief asked nervously.
"Who are you?"
"A hired thief. What do I look like? A belly dancer?"
"Attitude…" Cedric growled annoyed. "Who hired you?"
"Can't tell ya!" the thief grinned ridiculously (or so it looked that way from under the mask). "Bound by thieves' honor." He raised his right hand and saluted.
"What? Thieves don't have honor!" Cedric protested.
The thief grinned. "Sure we do." Cedric felt his blood beginning to boil in annoyance.
"All right… why do you want my egg?"
"What? I don't want your egg. I'm just getting it for someone who does. And no, I do not know what the egg is or does. You'll have to ask Uriel yourself…ahhh…" his voice trailed away as he gazed at the realization dawning on Cedric's face.
"Who's Uriel—" but before Cedric could finish, the thief jumped onto the window sill with the egg in his hands, calling, "And this is where I take my leave."
"Wait! I thought you were tied up!" Cedric cried.
"Well, I am a thief! We're known for our stealth! See ya!" He winked a cheeky salute and jumped out the window.
"Hey, wait!!!" Cedric screamed after him and flew right out the window in hot pursuit of the thief. He landed on a nearby roof and rolled onto his feet. When he looked up, he saw the thief staring down at him, perched on the chimney of the roof. He looked startled at what Cedric had done but regained control of his senses and leapt onto another roof. Cedric followed close behind.
They flew over rooftops, silent and graceful as a pair of cats roaming the night. The thief was agile and slender and could easily fit through narrow places. His pace was strenuous and it seemed that he could go on forever as swift as light, but Cedric pursued relentlessly and the thief soon began to slow down. Cedric noticed his faltering and quickened his own pace. Now almost three feet behind him, he stretched out his arm to its full length. Almost… Cedric thought, Almost got you…
SMACK!
The thief stopped abruptly and Cedric went crashing into his back. Only when the two were falling in midair did he realize why the thief had stopped so suddenly. He'd come to the end of the roofs and buildings and had been balancing precariously on the edge of a very high precipice. Unfortunately, Cedric slamming into the thief's back was enough to wreck that delicate balance.
The two screamed the entire length of the fall and luckily landed on a stack of hay in a tangle of arms and legs. The thief quickly untangled himself from Cedric and hopped down to the ground. He set off at a mad run again down the dark streets.
"Won't this guy ever give up?!" Cedric leaped to his feet and followed suit. Why does he want that thing so badly? he wondered. He finally chased the thief into a wide alley with high walls all around. At the end of the passage was a high wooden fence. Dead end.
"So," Cedric panted, out of breath, "finally had enough? You thought you could out run me. Well, ha! I proved you wrong!" He grinned and wiped sweaty hairs from his forehead.
"Damn, you're persistent." The thief looked up and glared at Cedric. "Fine. Take your stupid egg." Cedric smiled and reached out his hand, "Over my dead body, punk!" The thief landed him a sharp blow on the side of his head. Cedric gasped and fell on the ground. Everything went black for a moment, but he regained consciousness in a few moments and sat up. He felt lightheaded and dizzy from the blow.
He expected to see the thief long gone, but when he looked up, he found the thief sprawled out on the ground, a large bump on his temple. Two dark, elegantly-booted feet stood at the thief's head. Cedric glanced up to see that the feet were attached to Kalem, the mysterious man he had met a few days ago in the tavern. He was looking down at the thief disapprovingly, shaking his head.
"Still stealing for those cookies, Rafe?" He sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. Then he glanced over to Cedric. "Are you okay, kid? Can you stand up?"
****
"So I take it you two know each other?" Cedric asked eyeing the two young men across the table from him. He sipped his cocoa waiting for a reply. Kalem looked sideways at the thief and then back at Cedric.
"Yes," he answered in that low, silky voice Cedric remembered from the time they had first met. "Rafe and I are old comrades."
"Gosh, Kalem, what are you doing here? I thought you'd died somewhere on the other side of the continent." The thief, now known as Rafe, looked down at his gloved hands sulkily.
"Aw, so eager to be rid of me?" Kalem smiled sardonically. Rafe didn't answer so Kalem continued, "So what were you two kids doing out so late jumping around on rooftops?" Cedric blushed at being called a "kid" by someone who looked only about two years older than he was.
"That guy stole my egg," Cedric whined. "You know, the one I was going to sell in the tavern."
"Who hired you, Rafe?" Kalem turned to the blond thief. Rafe cleared his throat.
"Thieves' Honor," he held his right hand up again, "can't tell you who—"
"Cut the mush and tell me who sent you," Kalem interrupted. "And what is with that mask of yours?" He reached across the table and ripped the black scarf from Rafe's face.
"Hey, Kalem!" Rafe cried out and covered his face with his hands, "Give it back!"
"No," Kalem answered firmly. "Not until you tell us who sent you." His eyes suddenly dropped down to Rafe's shirt and studied an odd looking food stain. He rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. "Agh, I should have known. It's that guy you were working for a few years ago. Uh, what was his name," he waved his hand absentmindedly, "Oreo, or something."
"It's Uriel!" Rafe snapped. "You haven't changed at all, Kale! You're still the same old—"
"Uriel? Who is this Uriel guy anyway?" Cedric asked curiously.
Kalem chuckled and answered, "Uriel is a very powerful wizard. Probably the most powerful in the world. He's been around for… oh, hundreds of years, I'd guess… Time magic, you know. These days, he's cooped himself up in a tower somewhere in the Forbidden Mountains."
"Powerful wizard… hundreds of years old?!" Cedric gawked. "So… why does he want my egg?"
"Uriel is known for collecting strange and impossible-to-find treasures. He hires thieves, mercenaries—" he eyed Rafe through the corner of his eye, "idiots with too much time on their hands, and the like to find and bring these things to him." Rafe fumed quietly in the background.
"Your egg is quite an interesting treasure, don't you agree?" Kalem rested his chin lightly in one of his hands. "A noble like Uriel would definitely want to get his hands on it." Cedric suddenly jumped out of his chair, a look of fanatical eagerness on his face.
"That's it!" he cried, waving his arms around, gesticulating, "That's it! Uriel! This guy's been around for hundreds of years, right?!" Kalem nodded slowly. "Then he's got to know everything there is to know about this world! He's got to have some clue about how it was in the beginning and why we're all here! He's got the answers to my questions!"
"Questions on what?" Rafe asked curiously.
"Life! Questions on life!" Cedric cried rapturously.
"You've lost you're marbles, kid," Rafe said. Cedric leaned down next to him and gripped his shoulders firmly.
"Haven't you ever wondered about this world? Why we're here? What our existence means?" Rafe stared at him surprised. When he didn't answer, Cedric continued, "These questions have been bothering me my whole life! No one's ever bothered to tell me the answers. Heck, no one's ever known them!" He turned to Kalem and said, "I'm gonna go see this Uriel guy. Can you tell me how to get to his tower?" Kalem studied him silently for a moment, then nodded.
"I'll come with you."
"Great!" Cedric grinned and slapped his shoulder. "Thanks a lot!"
"Of course," Kalem added, "I'm not exactly sure where it is."
"Well that's my cue!" Rafe suddenly exclaimed. "Now if you don't mind, I'm just gonna leave right about now—" He rose to leave, but Kalem reached out a long arm and caught him by the back of his shirt.
"Not so fast, blondie," Kalem said, "you're coming with us, too. Someone's gotta take us there."
****
End of Part 1
Did you like it? PLEASE REVIEW THEN!!! I'm not sure if I'll write a second chapter, so please be sure to review and tell me what YOU think! Thanks!
Cedric: Setsuna
Kalem: Kira
Rafe: Katou
Dardelan: Rociel
Dameon: Katan
And the 411: I am not Kaori Yuki nor do I own her characters or storylines. I am not Isobelle Carmody nor do I own the names of her characters.
Please remember that this is an ALTERNATE universe and has absolutely NOTHING to do with the original Angel Sanctuary manga or OVA series. Enjoy!
An Angel Sanctuary Epic
Chapter 1: "The Beginning"
Introduction
Long ago, the gods created a world called Assiah. For thousands of years, Assiah flourished with beautiful mountains, flowing streams, lush valleys and enchanting forests. The only inhabitants of the land were animals. Then one day, the great Goddess Alexiel created man. She taught them the higher virtues of love, loyalty, heroism, and fortitude that placed these humans as the highest mortal existence on Assiah. The humans lived by her teachings for many peaceful centuries. But as the years passed, they began to forget the Goddess's teachings. They grew lazy and corrupted by money and greed. Horrible emotions began to erupt in the humans' hearts—jealousy, envy, despair, and hate. They committed crimes and fought amongst themselves. Instead of working together, as they had been told, they rebelled against each other and fought for power and control.
Alexiel was enraged and displeased with such behavior and sent down a warning. For three months, the humans suffered humungous earthquakes, treacherous floods, monstrous tornadoes, and brutal hurricanes.
Finally, when all the havoc ceased, Alexiel decided that the humans, no matter how many punishments she sent them, would never learn from their mistakes. There would always be new generations of humans who would forget the plagues and become wild again. So instead of punishing them every time their behavior got out of hand, she chose two humans every hundred years to decide the fate of the world—a Child of Purity, who would defend mankind, and a Child of Darkness who would end man's existence. If, at the time of the Duel, humankind was able to prove that they still possessed the qualities of honor and love that made them unique through the Child of Purity, mankind would continue to flourish. However, if the last bit of hope and morality had gone out of humans, they would be destroyed.
****
Cedric Tirrigen jumped up and out of the way of an enraged man who came charging angrily at him. The man went sprawling into the side of the village well with a nasty sounding crash. He whirled around to face Cedric who was standing quite at ease in the same spot he was before, a mocking smirk on his face.
"You wipe that look off your face!" the man growled, and prepped for another charge.
"Don't tell me what to do. You're the one who started the fight!" Cedric replied, his bright green eyes glinting in the sunshine.
"Tell me the truth now, boy! Did you or did you not sleep with my sister?" the man spat.
"Sleep with your sister? Isabelle? No, no, of course not." He smiled and added, "of course we considered it a couple of times on our long nights together." The man roared and charged again.
"I'll kill you, you little bastard!!!" he screamed, dashing at him again. Cedric sidestepped the attack and caught the man in a neat flip over his shoulder.
He twisted the man's arm around his back and landed him a hard blow on the side of his jaw.
The man crashed into the well again and sagged to the floor. Cedric wiped away the beads of sweat that had gathered on his upper lip and walked over to where the man sat. The man gazed up groggily at him and shrank away.
"D-don't kill me!" He pleaded, barely holding on to consciousness.
"What are you talkin' about?" Cedric gave the man a slightly irritated look. "I'm not gonna kill you. Why would you think that? It was just a friendly fight! Come on!" He carelessly kicked the man over a wall and into a trough on the other side. Cedric smirked at the man.
"Okay, nap time's over. You better wake up or someone will steal your purse if you sleep here all day!"
The man groaned. "I've… never seen anyone fight like you… It's incredible, you look like such a shrimp, too…"
Cedric shrugged nonchalantly. I've always had some strange adeptness for fighting. No one's ever really taught me how, but I've got this ability to fight. I don't like fighting. It just happens sometimes. In this town, everyone fights. Everyone has to defend himself. I guess we're all fight- crazy!
The man hauled himself out of the trough and glanced over the wall just in time to catch a glimpse of Cedric's auburn hair disappear into the swarming crowd of the village.
"That kid," he muttered, "I don't understand him at all… Why did he let me go? People are so merciless these days… But he acted like my life actually meant something to him. Why? He must really be strong."
****
Cedric walked down the streets and looked up nervously at the once sunny sky which was now covered with dark clouds promising rain. He shivered and drew his cloak around him more tightly.
As he walked, Cedric began thinking about the events he'd just experienced.
We fight so much here. Why? What's to gain if we fight each other rather than fight together? Why do we exist? To fight? What's the meaning of our lives? The meaning of mine?
He often thought about these things. Always questioned the reason for his existence. Ever since he could remember, he always felt as though there were some deeper meaning for his life than what the world showed him. He always felt that there was something special about him that set him apart from others. It never made him arrogant or condescending or disdainful, but he couldn't help it. He always felt that he belonged elsewhere.
As he passed by a dark alley, he heard strange noises from the shadows. Cedric thought the strange rustling sounds were of cloaks and the padding of booted feet on the ground.
Oh great, he thought, another fight. Can't I go out for a nice walk without running into at least five fights in one day?!
Now irritated, he strode unfalteringly into the dark alley without a single backward glance. As he drew nearer to the end of the alley, the sounds became more distinct and harsh.
"All right, you thugs!" Cedric called to them. "Come out and fight like men! Who're you robbing now? A helpless—" But before he could finish his sentence, a fist struck him out of nowhere. It landed solidly on his face and sent him slamming into one of the alley walls. He hit the ground hard enough to knock the breath out of him, but quickly jumped back onto his feet and crouched into a defensive position. But by the time he was alert and ready to fight, the mysterious figures had vanished.
"That's odd," Cedric rubbed his head and glanced around. "Where did they all go? There were about five of them… They were all dressed in black—that's why I couldn't see them…" He stood deep in thought in the dank alley for a few moments, until a soft moan somewhere near his feet interrupted his chain of thoughts. He glanced down and noticed the badly beaten body of a man lying on the ground in a pool of blood. He quickly bent down next to the man and tried to lift him.
"No, don't," the man groaned and struggled out of Cedric's hold.
"Are you crazy? I've got to get you to a doctor!" Cedric exclaimed. But the man merely sank back down to lie in Cedric's arms. There was a deep wound in the middle of his chest surrounded by other smaller cuts that covered his arms and legs as well.
"If I don't get you to a doctor, you'll die!" Cedric tried again. The man chuckled and laid his head back and gazed up into Cedric's face. His dark red hair was oddly bright and made a strange contrast to the dark atmosphere. He made a ghastly image, smiling as the blood oozed out of him. Suddenly, his face broke into a shocked, panic-stricken expression.
"You," he whispered fiercely, "I must give you something." He dug around in his breast pocket frantically until he brought out what looked like an egg. A very beautiful, bejeweled egg. Its shell seemed to be made of pure gold, and large gems of precious stone adorned its sides. It emitted a strange glow and seemed to light up the dark alley.
"You must keep this," the man said in a very serious tone. "Guard it with your life. It is the key." Cedric stared transfixed at the precious treasure. Then his attention snapped back to the dying man in his arms. "What? Why are you giving this to me?"
"It seems," the man croaked, his voice becoming softer, "that you should have it. There is a light about you… your wings, they're so beautiful."
"What wings? What light?" Cedric demanded.
"You have the gift." The man's voice was almost inaudible now. "You are the One."
"What? Wait!" Cedric shook the man as his eyelids drooped. "You—you're not going to die, are you? Hey!" He patted the man's cheeks as he let out a final rattling breath. Cedric held the man's limp body in his arms until it grew cold, tears streaming down his face.
Why? Why did he die? Why are we here?
****
Cedric walked slowly into a nearby tavern, slightly dazed from the strange event that had just occurred. Outside, the threatening clouds had finally broken open; the heavens seemed to be crying, echoing Cedric's dark mood.
After placing his order in faltering words, he noticed a man with dark hair watching him from a corner of the bar with an odd expression on his face. On his belt, he wore a long thin sword with a plain sheath. Not in the mood for socializing, Cedric dismissed him from his mind quickly and found a secluded table for himself.
Still a bit dazed, he felt the weight of the jeweled egg in his pocket and removed it to his palm. He stared at it in wonder, marveling at its beauty and trying to figure out why the man had given it to him—a total stranger.
That man…so strange, he thought. His eyes were so clear. Not like the eyes of the people around here. His had a sparkle to them.
Then Cedric noticed a heavy-set, well-dressed man approaching his table, a velvet purse in his pudgy fingers. He came and sat down in the chair across from Cedric.
"That's quite a treasure you've got there," he began. He had an oily sort of voice that Cedric didn't like. "Such a treasure could bring you some danger if it is not concealed and well guarded." He paused for a moment and emptied his purse on the table. "Fifty coins. I'd like to buy that egg off of you, boy." Cedric stared down at the pile of gold coins on the table.
"Geez, you really get right to the point, don't you?" Cedric quickly summed up the money on the table. "Fifty coins?!" he choked. Then his expression changed from astonishment to a sly smile. "Nah, I can't sell this thing. It's really precious to me." The man frowned and pulled out another purse and poured out about another twenty coins.
"Seventy coins."
"As sorry as I am, bud, I can't sell this. It's very, very precious to me!" Cedric exclaimed dramatically. I wonder how much this guy's willing to pay, he thought deviously. The man poured out the rest of the contents in his purse. "One hundred." He pursed his lips and looked slightly irritated now. "That's my final offer."
Cedric stared down at the small fortune laid out in front of him and then back up at the man. He grinned and picked the egg up in his hand.
"It's all yours, sir," he lifted his hand to offer the egg to the man when a hand came from behind him and caught his wrist in an iron grip. He craned his neck around to see who had stopped him.
It was the dark haired young man who had been watching him when he entered the tavern. The expression on his handsome face was unreadable and his cold auburn eyes glared at the fat man. Then he turned his piercing gaze on Cedric.
"I wouldn't get rid of this so quickly if I were you," he said quietly. As their eyes locked, Cedric felt a shock of sensation; his stomach plunged as if he was jumping off a high cliff. Then a strange warm sensation engulfed him, strange noises ringing through his ears. He tried to look away, feeling uncomfortable under the intense stare, but found that his eyes were fastened to the stranger's.
The fat man broke the tense silence. "Who are you? Go away! Can't you see we're trying to make a transaction here?" His sagging cheeks seemed to puff out even more than they already were. The stranger looked back at the man, irritated. His eyes hardened and seemed to shoot fire as they glared at the man.
"The deal's off. Go away."
The fat man seemed to shrink away from him and crawled away obediently. The young man sat down in the vacated seat across from Cedric.
"So," he began in a smooth voice, "you've got quite a treasure there."
"What? Are you interested in buying it off of me, too?" Cedric asked. "Well, unless you're willing to pay more than that guy, you're not getting your hands on this." The man shook his head in response.
"No, I don't want your egg. I was simply admiring it. Saving you from something you might regret someday."
"This egg?" Cedric choked down a laugh.
"Laugh all you want, my friend, but you'll see it is worth more than all the money in the world. May I?"
Cedric only hesitated for a moment. For some reason, he felt he could trust the long-haired stranger.
"Sure."
His companion reached across the table with graceful but strong hands and picked the egg up gently. He brought it close to his face and examined it for a long time. Something like recognition passed over his face for a moment. Then he handed it back to Cedric who commenced to study it.
"It's just a decoration, right?" Cedric said. "Nothing but a pretty display piece for nobles." He looked up to see the stranger watching him closely. "Do you know what this thing is?"
"It's invaluable for sure." He set both his elbows on the table and rested his chin on entwined fingers. "Where did you get it?"
"This, uh, guy… just now. He was attacked in an alley near here by some guys in black clothes." The stranger's eyes seemed to widen but resumed their composure in a split second. Cedric continued, "I found him right after they'd beaten him up. He was a wreck. There was no way he could've…" His voice trailed away at the stranger's expression. He seemed to be staring off into space with a look of concern and despair. For a long time, they sat in silence.
"How," asked the stranger finally, "did this man look?" Cedric shrugged.
"Uh, somewhere in his twenties, average height, bright red hair…" he trailed away at the stranger's astonished look. "You knew him?"
"What did he say to you?" the stranger interrupted.
Slightly taken aback by the sudden abruptness, Cedric answered more timidly, "He said I should have the egg. And that I had beautiful wings. I'm not sure what he meant, maybe he was talkin' about my cloak." Cedric shrugged again. The stranger stared at the table, his broad shoulders tense, eyes opened wide in what seemed like dreadful realization. Then as if he had heard nothing, his face resumed all composure and his body relaxed. Then he stood up as if about to leave.
"You keep that egg," his voice was sharp and serious, with a slight air of command in it. "Keep it safe." He swept his long black cloak around him and walked past Cedric's seat. For a moment, Cedric sat in his chair, dumbfounded about everything that had happened. Then he grabbed the egg, shoved it in his pocket and rushed after the stranger.
He ran out of the tavern just in time to the see the stranger walking briskly down the muddy streets. He called, "Wait a sec! Who are you?" The stranger stopped for a moment and turned his head slightly to look at Cedric over his shoulder, the rain pouring down on him.
"You can call me Kalem. Just Kalem." With that, he vanished into the darkness; the endless rain closed around him like a thick cold curtain.
****
A woman stood in a beautiful courtyard. Her long, flowing hair was as dark as the star-filled sky above. She wore long silk robes of blue and white; the trimmings lined with gold. Her face was delicate as a feather yet her expression was strong and determined, a very regal air about her. She seemed to be waiting for something. For someone.
From somewhere to the side, the sound of trickling water could be heard. Then the sound of light footsteps. The woman looked up and stared at a passageway between two tall walls of a hedge maze adorned with white roses.
The footsteps grew louder until finally a girl emerged from the passageway. Her long golden hair flowed freely down her back and her cheeks were flushed and pink from running. Her deep blue eyes sparkled as blue as the sea but looked soulful and mournful. But when she saw the dark haired woman, a smile lit her face.
"Great Alexiel," she said in a soft delicate voice. "You came. I'm so glad you could make it."
"I had to come," Alexiel answered in a voice that was gentle but powerful as well. "You have a right to know what is to become of this world."
"And what is to become of it?" the girl asked, her smile fading. Alexiel stared hard at the girl, her expression hard as stone.
"It is to be destroyed. The great Adam Kadman has told a prophecy that the world will not continue. It cannot be helped. The Child of Purity has not been located. It may be too late now to find him and train him to prepare for the battle. The Child of Darkness is already prepared."
"No! That cannot be!" the girl protested. "Is there nothing I can do to help? There must be. Perhaps I can find the Child of Purity." She looked up at Alexiel pleadingly. But Alexiel shook her head.
"No, there is nothing to be done. Even if you do succeed in finding the one, the time of Dueling is much too close. He will not be prepared and shall perish in battle."
"But surely," the young girl pleaded, "it does not matter how much he has prepared. The outcome of the battle is based on the pureness of humans. They have proven themselves worthy." Alexial shook her head.
"Now that the prophecy has been told, it cannot be defied. It is definite that Assiah will not continue. All humans and living beings will be destroyed."
"No! No!" the girl screamed. Tears began to flow down her cheeks and dripped down her white dress. "There must be a way… There must be a way to save Assiah…"
Then suddenly, she seemed to look directly at Cedric.
"Help me. Please help me save Assiah."
Cedric's eyes flew open. His body was soaked with perspiration and his chest heaved up and down.
Just a dream…he thought, desperately trying to calm himself. Just a dream…
When he regained his composure, he thought of the dream again, unable to sleep.
That was the third time this week that I've had that dream. It's that egg. I know it is! Ever since I got that stupid thing I've been having these nightmares. And every single time, it's the same. The woman and the girl talk about the world ending and the girl asks me for help. Why? What does this mean?
He was about to stand up to get some water when he noticed that he was not alone in his room. There was a dark figure bending over his bureau. The figure seemed to be digging through Cedric's possessions. Then, something glinted in the moonlight. Something bright and shining was in the thief's hand. It was the egg.
Without thinking twice, Cedric jumped out of bed and tackled the thief.
"That's MY egg!" he shouted. They wrestled around a bit until Cedric finally managed to pin the thief down and grabbed the egg out of his hands. He tied the thief's hands behind his back with some yarn on the bureau. Then he threw the thief on his bed and lit a candle.
In the light, he could see the thief more clearly. He was tall and slender with longish blond hair and cunning eyes. He was dressed all in black with a black mask over his face as well.
"Why did you want to steal my egg?" he demanded. "And who the heck are you?" The thief's eyes seemed to mock him but he said nothing. Cedric tossed his head impatiently and placed his hands on his hips.
"You're not going to tell me, are you?" he asked annoyed. "Well, then, let's see what you're hiding under that mask of yours." He reached over to pull the mask off but the thief jerked his head away.
"No! Don't!" He said in an alarmed voice. Cedric grinned.
"Ah, so the thief has a voice. What're you hiding? A huge pimple?!"
"What the heck did you say, you little bug?! I do NOT have a pimple!" His voice was deep but youthful. He seemed about Cedric's age.
"And the thief has a temper, too." Cedric smirked. "So, ya gonna tell me what I wanna know or do you want me to rip off your mask?"
"What d'ya wanna know?" the thief asked nervously.
"Who are you?"
"A hired thief. What do I look like? A belly dancer?"
"Attitude…" Cedric growled annoyed. "Who hired you?"
"Can't tell ya!" the thief grinned ridiculously (or so it looked that way from under the mask). "Bound by thieves' honor." He raised his right hand and saluted.
"What? Thieves don't have honor!" Cedric protested.
The thief grinned. "Sure we do." Cedric felt his blood beginning to boil in annoyance.
"All right… why do you want my egg?"
"What? I don't want your egg. I'm just getting it for someone who does. And no, I do not know what the egg is or does. You'll have to ask Uriel yourself…ahhh…" his voice trailed away as he gazed at the realization dawning on Cedric's face.
"Who's Uriel—" but before Cedric could finish, the thief jumped onto the window sill with the egg in his hands, calling, "And this is where I take my leave."
"Wait! I thought you were tied up!" Cedric cried.
"Well, I am a thief! We're known for our stealth! See ya!" He winked a cheeky salute and jumped out the window.
"Hey, wait!!!" Cedric screamed after him and flew right out the window in hot pursuit of the thief. He landed on a nearby roof and rolled onto his feet. When he looked up, he saw the thief staring down at him, perched on the chimney of the roof. He looked startled at what Cedric had done but regained control of his senses and leapt onto another roof. Cedric followed close behind.
They flew over rooftops, silent and graceful as a pair of cats roaming the night. The thief was agile and slender and could easily fit through narrow places. His pace was strenuous and it seemed that he could go on forever as swift as light, but Cedric pursued relentlessly and the thief soon began to slow down. Cedric noticed his faltering and quickened his own pace. Now almost three feet behind him, he stretched out his arm to its full length. Almost… Cedric thought, Almost got you…
SMACK!
The thief stopped abruptly and Cedric went crashing into his back. Only when the two were falling in midair did he realize why the thief had stopped so suddenly. He'd come to the end of the roofs and buildings and had been balancing precariously on the edge of a very high precipice. Unfortunately, Cedric slamming into the thief's back was enough to wreck that delicate balance.
The two screamed the entire length of the fall and luckily landed on a stack of hay in a tangle of arms and legs. The thief quickly untangled himself from Cedric and hopped down to the ground. He set off at a mad run again down the dark streets.
"Won't this guy ever give up?!" Cedric leaped to his feet and followed suit. Why does he want that thing so badly? he wondered. He finally chased the thief into a wide alley with high walls all around. At the end of the passage was a high wooden fence. Dead end.
"So," Cedric panted, out of breath, "finally had enough? You thought you could out run me. Well, ha! I proved you wrong!" He grinned and wiped sweaty hairs from his forehead.
"Damn, you're persistent." The thief looked up and glared at Cedric. "Fine. Take your stupid egg." Cedric smiled and reached out his hand, "Over my dead body, punk!" The thief landed him a sharp blow on the side of his head. Cedric gasped and fell on the ground. Everything went black for a moment, but he regained consciousness in a few moments and sat up. He felt lightheaded and dizzy from the blow.
He expected to see the thief long gone, but when he looked up, he found the thief sprawled out on the ground, a large bump on his temple. Two dark, elegantly-booted feet stood at the thief's head. Cedric glanced up to see that the feet were attached to Kalem, the mysterious man he had met a few days ago in the tavern. He was looking down at the thief disapprovingly, shaking his head.
"Still stealing for those cookies, Rafe?" He sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. Then he glanced over to Cedric. "Are you okay, kid? Can you stand up?"
****
"So I take it you two know each other?" Cedric asked eyeing the two young men across the table from him. He sipped his cocoa waiting for a reply. Kalem looked sideways at the thief and then back at Cedric.
"Yes," he answered in that low, silky voice Cedric remembered from the time they had first met. "Rafe and I are old comrades."
"Gosh, Kalem, what are you doing here? I thought you'd died somewhere on the other side of the continent." The thief, now known as Rafe, looked down at his gloved hands sulkily.
"Aw, so eager to be rid of me?" Kalem smiled sardonically. Rafe didn't answer so Kalem continued, "So what were you two kids doing out so late jumping around on rooftops?" Cedric blushed at being called a "kid" by someone who looked only about two years older than he was.
"That guy stole my egg," Cedric whined. "You know, the one I was going to sell in the tavern."
"Who hired you, Rafe?" Kalem turned to the blond thief. Rafe cleared his throat.
"Thieves' Honor," he held his right hand up again, "can't tell you who—"
"Cut the mush and tell me who sent you," Kalem interrupted. "And what is with that mask of yours?" He reached across the table and ripped the black scarf from Rafe's face.
"Hey, Kalem!" Rafe cried out and covered his face with his hands, "Give it back!"
"No," Kalem answered firmly. "Not until you tell us who sent you." His eyes suddenly dropped down to Rafe's shirt and studied an odd looking food stain. He rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh. "Agh, I should have known. It's that guy you were working for a few years ago. Uh, what was his name," he waved his hand absentmindedly, "Oreo, or something."
"It's Uriel!" Rafe snapped. "You haven't changed at all, Kale! You're still the same old—"
"Uriel? Who is this Uriel guy anyway?" Cedric asked curiously.
Kalem chuckled and answered, "Uriel is a very powerful wizard. Probably the most powerful in the world. He's been around for… oh, hundreds of years, I'd guess… Time magic, you know. These days, he's cooped himself up in a tower somewhere in the Forbidden Mountains."
"Powerful wizard… hundreds of years old?!" Cedric gawked. "So… why does he want my egg?"
"Uriel is known for collecting strange and impossible-to-find treasures. He hires thieves, mercenaries—" he eyed Rafe through the corner of his eye, "idiots with too much time on their hands, and the like to find and bring these things to him." Rafe fumed quietly in the background.
"Your egg is quite an interesting treasure, don't you agree?" Kalem rested his chin lightly in one of his hands. "A noble like Uriel would definitely want to get his hands on it." Cedric suddenly jumped out of his chair, a look of fanatical eagerness on his face.
"That's it!" he cried, waving his arms around, gesticulating, "That's it! Uriel! This guy's been around for hundreds of years, right?!" Kalem nodded slowly. "Then he's got to know everything there is to know about this world! He's got to have some clue about how it was in the beginning and why we're all here! He's got the answers to my questions!"
"Questions on what?" Rafe asked curiously.
"Life! Questions on life!" Cedric cried rapturously.
"You've lost you're marbles, kid," Rafe said. Cedric leaned down next to him and gripped his shoulders firmly.
"Haven't you ever wondered about this world? Why we're here? What our existence means?" Rafe stared at him surprised. When he didn't answer, Cedric continued, "These questions have been bothering me my whole life! No one's ever bothered to tell me the answers. Heck, no one's ever known them!" He turned to Kalem and said, "I'm gonna go see this Uriel guy. Can you tell me how to get to his tower?" Kalem studied him silently for a moment, then nodded.
"I'll come with you."
"Great!" Cedric grinned and slapped his shoulder. "Thanks a lot!"
"Of course," Kalem added, "I'm not exactly sure where it is."
"Well that's my cue!" Rafe suddenly exclaimed. "Now if you don't mind, I'm just gonna leave right about now—" He rose to leave, but Kalem reached out a long arm and caught him by the back of his shirt.
"Not so fast, blondie," Kalem said, "you're coming with us, too. Someone's gotta take us there."
****
End of Part 1
Did you like it? PLEASE REVIEW THEN!!! I'm not sure if I'll write a second chapter, so please be sure to review and tell me what YOU think! Thanks!