Yuki-hime - bishoujosenshi_hime@hotmail.com - PG-13
Ihrie could feel that something was wrong and out of place as she looked at the surrounding forest. It was like a sixth sense now, almost an instinct. Almost. Magic was swelling up inside of her, she could feel it now. It was so different than from her having to say words, now all she needed to do was think them and the spell was set.
"What's wrong?" Shigeo asked as he stood up beside her.
"There's someone around besides us and the others," she replied. He glanced around. He didn't see anyone, but that didn't mean that there wasn't someone around. Ihrie had changed and gained something, but he still trusted her.
"Stay here while I wake the others," Shigeo whispered as he walked towards the tents.
Ihrie nodded. She knew they'd be safe. Whatever it was, they were mainly focused on her. She didn't completely understand why, but knew it had to be her new found magic. The magic that was stored in her and locked away. Questions were bothering her and she didn't have the answers.
The crack of wood told Ihrie that they, whoever they was, was close. She glanced at the tents and was relieved to know that the others were safe. But that feeling of knowledge returned and with it a feeling of dread. She knew that if she stayed with her friends, they would end up in a lot of trouble along with her.
Suddenly, things seemed to be going very fast and slow at the same time, if that was possible. Ihrie saw the man as he emerged from nothing. He smiled at her, one of those 'I know who and what you are and you can't escape me' smiles. He seemed to glide toward her, and he was dressed in royal clothing. Clothing that seemed very familiar, but she couldn't place it. She opened her mouth to speak but no sound came out. And then it hit her. The deathly slience, her not being able to speak, and the fact that, if Shigeo went to get the others, where were they? Everything was out of place, so that left two options. One: This was a werid dream, as dreams go. Or Two: This was really happening. Ihrie wished for first but knew it was the second.
She turned to look behind her at the tents and saw nothing but a wall with very fine tapestries. It was then that the forest scene changed to one of a castle room. It held the usual things; a long table, fireplace, tapestries. And Ihrie could suddenly hear the fire crackling and feel the heat. The first words out of her mouth were: "Who are you?"
The man smiled at her again. That same smile that he'd given her a few seconds ago. "My name is Degian. I'm a Master Sorcerer and I've come to get you Ihrie. You must be trained in your new magic."
Ihrie stared at him for a minute, unable to grasp what he said. "I'm confused. Do you know what this magic is? Can you tell me? Please, I must know," she asked as she took a step forward.
"It's not my place to answer those questions," Degian replied as he waved his hand in the air. The air rippled and after a minute, an image of a field and castle appeared. "It's your place to find those answers."
'The place in my dream.' She stared at the castle, trying to see if it was anywhere she had been. Nothing seemed familiar, but that feeling was still there. What was it? "If you can not answer my questions, then how do I?"
Degian pointed to the castle. "The King of this once prosperous land is the only one who can help you."
"Where is that?"
"Reon," was the simple answer before the man disappeared along with the castle room. Instead, Ihrie found herself in the field again. The castle stood proudly on the next hill over. But this time, something was different. Ihrie had the knowledge of where she was. So the next move was, would she follow what the man had said or would she let this new power within her die?
Lyle stared at the empty space in front of him, listening to the fire crack. He'd already sent out three expeditions to get help, sorcery help, but no one came back. Not one word from anyone. It was like they disappeared off the face of the earth. He was getting more than worried by now, with no help from any magic-users, his kingdom was again at the mercy of those who wished to see it fail.
"Father, please help me," he whispered as the fire released a popping noise then silence fell upon the room again. He had waited two weeks after the first group left, five after the second and finally, after three weeks since the third departed, he was beginning to believe in the hopelessness of his situation. In two and a half months, the kindgom had lost some of it's best people. Lyle didn't know what else to do, but giving up was definitely not an option at the moment.
Ihrie smiled at herself. The mirror image of herself looked quite pleasing. The blue dress accected her eyes perfectly, even though she felt awkard and the fact that wearing a dress was definitely NOT her. 'Remember, this is for the best,' she kept telling herself as she walked out of the room.
She'd come to a decision two weeks ago. If she didn't travel to Reon and at least try to find out what had happened to her, then it would be something she would forever regret. When she announced to the others that she had important business in Reon, they all wanted to come with her. 'After all, weren't they all Lyle's friends?' Rasha and Fam jumped at the thought of seeing the young prince, now a king, again. Miguel was excited too, but refused to show any of it. The prince had become a friend to him. 'And Shigeo?'
Her thoughts wavered at his name. She'd only known the man for about three months. He'd become a trusted friend and ally. But she sensed that there was something missing from the picture. What was it? For one, they didn't know a lot about the man, other than his name, and some magical abilities.
A knock on the door broke Ihrie from her train of thoughts. "Ihrie?" a male voice sounded through the door.
"Come in," she replied as she glanced at her reflection before turning to greet her guest. To her surprise, Shigeo walked through the door. "Is everyone ready to go?" she asked, wanting to avoid the subject of how she looked in a ... dress.
Shigeo smiled at her manner. It was so like her to do something like this. And he was determined not to let her get away with it. "You look beautiful, Ihrie." She stood startled, blush rushing up on her cheeks as she tried to break the eye contact that held her in place.
Fam rushed in at that moment, breaking the link, and Ihrie was grateful for her intrusion. Clearing her throat, she answered her friend as she walked out of the room with her, not looking back until she was sure he wasn't there. They walked to the front of the building where the others stood, with the exception of Shigeo. Everyone was in their best clothes, especially Rasha and Fam. Each had changed clothes at least five times trying to out-do the other.
Fam's dress was simple white with her markings as a Wiccan. Rasha's was much like Ihrie's, only blue with a little more 'decoration'. Miguel and Shigeo didn't bother to change clothes, mainly because neither cared what some king thought of them.
Ihrie smiled at her friends, some unlikely but still friends. "Are we ready?" she finally asked. as she walked over to her horse. The reply was a yes and she as attempted to mount her ride before her, she felt hands go around her waist and lift her onto the horse. She sat like a lady would on a horse, and as she turned to see her helper, she smiled at who the face belonged to.
Ihrie had forgotten how long the ride from the port on the island to Reon was. By now, she was tired, hot and sweaty in these 'clothes' and hungry but managed to keep her mouth shut about all of this. Mostly since Rasha and Fam were doing enough complaining for all five of them.
The next hill they topped, Ihrie had stopped, this had gone unnoticed by the others. What she saw was the image in her visions. On the next hill over was a castle like the one she remembered. 'So it was all true and real,' she thought as she urged her horse on. Hopefully, within those walls, she would find her answers to her questions. But now, what were her questions? She thought for a few minutes as her horse followed the others.
'I want to know what this new magic is. And how to lift this curse,' she remembered her original mission and her talk with Degian. Now that she thought about it, she didn't want anything but to be left alone again. The time before she and Fam met were peaceful, but painful. She could only imagine what it would be like without the curse, but now she might actually be able to expericence that feeling.
She'd been deep thought and hadn't noticed that Shigeo was riding beside her until she heard her name. Ihrie focused in on her surroundings. They had crossed the last valley and neared the castle in no time. "Let's see what he knows," she whispered and managed to get a look from Shigeo.
The gates opened and the group rode into the courtyard, getting glances, looks, and stares from the people. Miguel and Rasha stopped, with Fam behind them and Ihrie and Shigeo brought up the rear. Where were all the soldiers? Rasha and Miguel had un-mounted and looked at Ihrie as if expecting something from her. Fam had joined them as a soldier called out to the group.
"How did you get here?" the man asked as he stared hard at the group. No body had been able to get out alive or back in alive. Or at least nobody came back.
"What kind of stupid question is that?" Rasha asked. Had the man lost his mind?
"We traveled over the plains after the road disappeared," Ihrie said as she glanced around at the people. Why were they staring at her? She looked back at the soldier.
"The road's gone? It can't be!"
"Well, it is," Rasha said belatedly as she turned and gathered her things out of the saddle. Miguel followed her actions.
The soldier was stunned. Obviously, he had not expected the answer. "Are you alright?" Ihrie asked. The man looked pale and sick like he had just found out some horrible secret. She glanced at the ground and then at the man.
"Here," Shigeo said as he put his hands around her waist and helped her down. She smiled at him before turning to see the man again. He hadn't moved. Ihrie closed the distance between them and hesitated before placing her hand on his cheek. The action drew him out of his reverie. "Don't be scared," she whispered to him before removing her hand and taking a step back.
The soldier had led the group to the castle and told them that the King would see them shortly, so they waited in the entrance room. Ihrie sat while the others were either pacing, arguing, or trying to talk to spirits.
"How can you be so calm?" Shigeo asked for the billionth time as he walked back and forth in front of her. She looked up at him and smiled.
"And how can you be so worried? I know Lyle, he's a friend. What do we have to worry about?" she asked.
"Bad choice of words Ihrie. There's always something to worry about," he said as he sat down beside her. She smiled at him. If they could only feel what Ihrie was feeling, that might calm down. There was a arua of peace and tranquility here that invaded all of Ihrie's senses and left her in a happy mood. Although, Shigeo couldn't feel what she was feeling, he definitely took notice in her mood. He studied her a moment. "I wonder why the soldier was so surprised to find out that the rode was gone and how we got here?" he said aloud, hoping for a reaction. A shrug was his only response.
Ihrie sat listening to the sounds of the room and enjoying the peace when she had another vision. This time she was in the room again, instead of the field. Everything was the same with the exception of a book laying on the table.
"Degian?" Ihrie's voice echoed lightly.
"Yes?" the reply came from behind her.
She whirled around to see the speaker. "I'm here. So what now?"
"You mustn't look to me for advice all the time, Ihrie. I can not lead you. You have to do that for yourself."
She glanced at the book again. "Then what am I going to do?" she asked herself.
"Here, I have a present for you." The book drifted between them and stilled. "This will help you."
"But I thought you said you couldn't help me and why do I need another book?" she replied as she looked it over.
"I can't but the book can and this isn't the same one."
"Why are you being so mysterious?!" she asked him angried at his lack of information.
"If I give you too much information, then I will have destroied us all."
Ihrie was about to say something before she was shook awake and found herself staring at Shigeo. "The King wants to see us."
"How long was I alseep?" she questioned, hoping that he'd believe that rest was what she was realing doing.
"About an hour." She nodded at his reply and followed him to the door with the others who were waiting for her. After the long walk through the hall that lead into the courtroom and then through the throne room, the group arrived at the feet of King Lyle, ruler of Reon.
He smiled warmly at them as he stood and walked down the few steps that his throne had set on. "I'm glad you all came, but how did you get here? I've sent out three expeditions already and none have come back," he said as he approached the group. They had all changed in the year since he had last seen them. Especially Ihrie.
"Lyle!" Fam said as she ran into the young King. He laughed at her, Fam would never change.
"Get your kitty paws away from him!" Rasha yelled at her and she tried to pry the young wiccan away from her King.
Miguel rolled his eyes as he remembered all the trouble that those two caused around a certain man. "Women."
Shigeo smiled at everyone as he stood beside Ihrie. She seemed a little off when he woke her. Actually, he was pretty sure she had had another vision. "And Ihrie. I don't think I've ever seen you in a dress before," Lyle's voice broke through Shigeo's thoughts. He noticed she smiled at his comment.
"She's never been in one," Fam said as she stood beside Lyle with Rasha on the other side.
"Thanks Fam," the woman growled. Shigeo laughed.
"Awww, come on Ihrie," he joked as he laughed again.
Lyle smiled. "And I don't believe I've meet you."
"Shigeo," he replied as he bowed before the King. The action stunned Ihrie and the others.
"So Ihrie what brought you all the way out here?" Lyle asked as Shigeo rose.
"Actually, I'd rather speak with you in private," she replied and received stares from the others. They all wanted very much to know why Ihrie had traveled to Reon, she had managed to keep it a secret so far. Lyle nodded and waved over a woman standing near the door.
"Please put these people in the best rooms," he said to the servant before he turned back to Ihrie. "We'll talk after dinner tonight."
She nodded in response as the servant waited for her to follow. Ihrie climbed the stairs behind Rasha, Miguel and Fam, Shigeo was behind her. As they came to the floor that servant started opening rooms and directing the group to their private quarters during their stay. Rooms were assigned to Rasha, Miguel and Fam already. As she opened the next door for Shigeo, Ihrie swayed at a wave of dizziness but managed to catch herself before falling.
"Are you okay Ihrie?" a male voice asked.
"Yes, Shigeo I'm fine. Please just rest," she replied as she stood up straight and walked to the opened door that the servant had directed her to. Mumbling a thanks, she closed it and fell onto the bed with a sigh of relief. Maybe now she could sleep.
It was that damn dream again. The one with the Master Mage casting a spell on her. Ihrie woke in a hot sweat, panting. Climbing out of bed, she walked over to the mirror and gave a look of disgust. She was mess and she needed something else to change into. Looking around the room, she saw her luggage by the door and dragged it over to the bed. Even though she knew she didn't have any dresses, she still needed to change.
Instead, she found something interesting. Something very interesting. A book. But not any book, it was the book from her latest vision. She flipped through the pages, and came upon a simple spell that made clothing. Debating on weither she should try it or not, afterall, she had only one dress.
"By Day, by Night,By Sun, by Moon,
By which I command,
As I wish.
Cloth as fine as silk,
Created for my need,
Appear before me!"
Ihrie looked at the dress that materialized on her. It was the perfect color and everything was right. She walked over to the mirror to see her reflection. Then her nose scrunched up. Something wasn't right. After a minute, Ihrie realized what was out of place. Embedded in the dress were the three stones.
Ihrie was slightly confused. Maybe this was a way to help her magic become stronger. But using the clothing spell everytime to use the stones seemed stupid. Plain and simple.
She sighed. There was no way to get the stones out, and she needed to be downstairs with the others. So she hoped no one would notice and closed her room door behind her.
As she came to the bottom of the stairs, she heard laughter. Her friends had already been waiting on her. Ihrie smiled at the thought of having friends that cared, weither they admitted it or not. As she rounded the corner and caught sight of the people in the room, she noticed that Fam and Rasha had gathered around Lyle and Shigeo was standing near Miguel who was glaring hard at Rasha.
Shigeo turned to look at Ihrie and smiled. Their eyes locked for a moment until Fam noticed her as well and decided to make sure everyone else did. "Hey Ihrie! Look Ihrie's here," she said as she bounced over and hugged her friend.
"Fam.....I.....can't.....breath!" she managed to whisper.
"Sorry Ihrie," the girl said as she stepped back from her friend. "Wow, Ihrie where did you get the dress?"
'Uh-oh,' her mind screamed at her. 'You didn't think up an excuse!'
"Well, I for one think it looks horrible," Rasha said lightly as she turned to gaze at the prince again.
Shigeo looked at Ihrie, something was wrong with her. 'No, not her, it's her dress,' he thought as she walked up to the rest of the group. "Ihrie?" he asked hopefully. Even though, he knew she wouldn't answer him, he had to ask. "Where did you get that dress?"
"Why does it matter?" she whispered back as they followed the others into the dinning room for dinner. "It's just a dress."
"Ihrie," he said as he grabbed her arm. Shigeo's voice had that tone of either-you-tell-me-or-you'll-regret-it.
She stared at him for a minute before gently slipping from his grasp. "It's none of your business, Shigeo." And with that, Ihrie sat down at the dinner table, beside Fam. The action stunned the man, it wasn't like the woman he knew at all.
The experience of eating dinner with a king slipped by Ihrie as she numbly sat and ate with the perfect manners she never knew she had. When questions were directed at her, she answered them with as little words as possible. This surprised everyone and the same thought crossed their minds, What had happened to Ihrie?
After dinner, came dessert, fine yellow cake glazed with icing, to which Ihrie passed. Fam looked surprised at her reaction. Ihrie loved sweets. She stared at her as she excused herself. "Fam, what's wrong with Ihrie?" Rasha asked. She seemed to be as concerned as everyone else.
"I don't know, but Ihrie loves sweets. I don't know why she would turn them down," Fam stared at the chair that had seated her friend a moment ago. "What's wrong with her Shigeo?"
He shook his head. "I'm sorry Fam, I don't know." He stood up. "Excuse me," he said as he walked out the same way Ihrie had.
"If you don't mind me asking Fam, who is Shigeo?" Lyle asked as he looked at the woman.
"I don't really know. We were in an inn and he walked up to Ihrie and asked if she was a Ruin Explorer. He said he was a warrior from that island."
"What island were you on?" Lyle asked.
"Hmmm..... I think it was Selageo," she replied. "Do you think Ihrie will be okay?"
"I know Ihrie will be okay."
After looking for thirty minutes, Shigeo found Ihrie on the next hill beside the castle. She stood staring at it, her dress billowing in the wind as her hair hide her face from view, and hide the tears that streamed down her face.
Shigeo slowly walked to the woman. "Ihrie?" She gave no reaction to his presence as he continued his steady pace. "Ihrie I'm here to help you. Turn around." He whispered words that escaped his lips and floated across on the wind to her. This caused her to turn and look at him. Her eyes filled with tears as she whispered something back. An answer to his question. But all was lost to the ears as the couple mentally played out a conversation that was for them only.
Then the world went black for Ihrie as she collapsed and fell on the ground. Sound returned to it's normal flow as Shigeo shouted Ihrie's name and ran to her. He quickly picked her up and checked to see if there was a pulse. Sighing in relief as he found one, Shigeo tried to wake her. "Ihrie? Ihrie wake up." He repeated as she came too.
"Shigeo? What are you doing? Where am I?" she asked as she glanced around.
"You don't remember eating dinner?" he asked bewildered.
"We ate? When?" she asked which answered his question.
"Ihrie, where did you get this dress?" he asked again. Maybe this time he would get an answer.
She looked a little worried as she hauled herself up, out of his lap, and grasp and onto her feet. "I don't think that that's important, Shigeo."
"I do." He stood there, staring at her as she glanced away. It was then that she noticed where she was. The hill in her visions.
"How did I get here?" she asked as she stared at the man. "Did you bring me here?"
"No, I found you here, staring at the castle. You were ..... crying."
"Crying?" she asked as if it were some unknown word. "I was crying?" There was an explosion behind her as she whispered the word again.
"Ihrie, run!" he yelled as he grabbed her. Shigeo didn't like what was behind them. She stopped as he tried to pull her along with him.
"No," she said. "We have to fight, or the kingdom will be in ruins again."
"Ihrie, you can't fight! Remember?!" he yelled at her. He didn't want to see her hurt. "I'm a warrior. It's my job to fight."
"And I'm a sorceress," she calmly stated as the monsters had neared them.
From the castle it looked different. For everyone else, it was a lover's quarrel, if it had not been for the death that trailed behind them. The couple seemed calm and they talked as if there was nothing to fear. Then the calm that had surround them disappeared as both went into action. The man quickly drew his sword and ran in the direction away from the castle, into danger. The woman stood there for as minute, as if debating on something, then she began to glow slightly. The power showing itself as it flew past the man and into the group of monsters. Soon the woman was joined by a king, two women and another man. All seemed surprised by what they saw, some pausing to look at the woman before rushing down the hill. And in the air, if anyone listened closely, a woman's voice sang.
Fam and Rasha decided to post themselves on either side of Ihrie, while Lyle and Miguel drew their swords and went to help Shigeo. Ihrie seemed distant as she stared into space, not noticing anything but doing everything right. There was another explosion in the crowd of monsters that grabbed the attention of everyone but Ihrie and Shigeo.
Ihrie still stared into space, and Shigeo stared at Ihrie. It was then that he realize what was happening. "Ihrie! Open your eyes, Ihrie!" he yelled as he turned and ran towards her. This was just a diversion to keep the others busy while whatever 'it' was, attacked Ihrie. Now it made sense. The way she faded away at dinner tonight was the beginning. 'Would she do this more often?' his thoughts asked him. 'Only if we save her.'
As he reached her, another explosion racked the land, but Shigeo didn't have time to turn and look, he had to bring Ihrie back into this world. He grabbed her shoulders and shook her. "Ihrie, wake up now!" he yelled. But her eyes were still clouded, and he knew he would probably never reach her in time. What would work though? It would have to be another magic source. Strong magic, which ruled out Rasha, Fam, Miguel, and ...... Lyle? "Wait! The Sword of Truth!" he screamed as the thought hit him like a ton of bricks.
The two women looked at him. "What are talking about Shigeo?" Fam asked. "Lyle has the sword."
"Exactly. Look after Ihrie while I get it," he said as he sprinted away, back down the hill, back into the monster pit. When he found Lyle, he grabbed him and dragged him along. The King had no idea what was going on until he saw Ihrie. She looked like she was dead.
"Shigeo, what happened to Ihrie?!" he asked as they neared the women.
"I'm not sure, but you have to use the sword on her. There's magic and I think it will bring her out of this," he said as they stopped in front of her.
Lyle nodded as he stepped up to her. He waved his hand across her face, and then laid it on her shoulder to jerk it away again. "I don't know if the sword can handle this," he said. "The magic around her is very strong."
"Just try it. I know it'll work," Shigeo replied with sharpness.
Lyle took his stance and held the sword toward the woman. He closed his eyes and consentrated on the power in his mind. He pictured himself with the sword and Ihrie in front of him. He saw the power surrounding her and him. They were of different colors. His was a greenish, while Ihrie's took on a blackish. The sword was surrounded by the same energy as Lyle. Then the green attacked the black with a force and quickness that eyes couldn't see, but Lyle could.
His actions were sharp and quick as he attacked the force of magic that surrounded Ihrie. It slowly faded and then disappeared. Lyle found himself back in reality and staring into Ihrie's blue eyes. She smiled at him and took a step forward. "The Sword of Truth," she whispered. Her eyes were clearing.
"Ihrie? Are you okay?" he asked in concern as he laid a hand on her shoulder.
"Lyle," she said. "The Sword of Truth and the Sword of Magic aren't suppose to be..." She took a breath. It was hard to continue when you couldn't breath, something was wrong with her. Ihrie's blue dress was replaced by a black one with red linning before she collapsed in Lyle's arms.
AN: I'm So Sorry Everyone! My monitor blew a fuse. (They do that ya know.) And it took forever to get another. But it was worth it because I got a 19'! YaY! I was so happy. So after checking my Hotmail account (20 emails) and my U&M.com account (300+ <--that was a loooong two hours) I finally got back to working on my stories. And I have to say that I believe my RE fic is the most popular. At least, it's the one with the most reviews. ^^ So please bear with me as I try to get back into the swing of things here.
To Lynderia (my ever-faithful reveiwer), diamond, Ron, Amanda and everyone else that reviewed my RE chapters. Thanks. ^^