Reclaim Destiny

-A tribute to the fallen Dragon Slayers and their lord Dilandau-

By: SoulStealer

Disclaimer: I don't own Esca.

A/N: I'm so SORRY WaTaShIwA ShInImEgAmI! I'm so pathetic…

BTW, thanks all of you who've reviewed. I apologize for the lateness of this chap…

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter Five

"The Jump"

Dilandau's smile grew at the worried faces of his Dragon Slayers. Their expressions drove him further. His power expanding even more. "So tell me, what would I love to hear?"

"Sir," Miguel dropped to one knee.

Dilandau smiled, neither in astonishment nor satisfaction. Plainly simple amusement. "So you have returned," he ignored the girl by Miguel's side. He would get to her later. "I thought Folken's Doppleganger had gotten you."

"It tried to, sir." Miguel kept his head bent. "I tried to destroy the White Dragon after I was set free – for you my Lord—but I failed. Soon after, the Deceptant tried to do away with me."

"An I presumed you escaped with only…" Dilandau noted the soldier's leg. "Minor injuries?"

"Yes, sir."

"Rise." Miguel didn't need be told twice. He rose and stared straight into Dilandau's ruby eyes. Soon the sound of a fist meeting bone echoed through out the docking port. Miguel found himself on the ground, red cheeked with the possibility of a dislocated jaw.

"Don't you ever disgrace my name again!" Dilandau shouted. "I am the best, the Dragon Slayers are the best. The best do not lose in anyway!"

"Yes sir," Miguel slurred, the pain his jaw making it harder to talk.

Dilandau licked his pale lips. "Now…" His fiery eyes turned to the girl. "Who is this?"

"My name is Sage," the girl boldly. Dilandau narrowed his eyes and for a second time—though it was his palm—the sound of Dilandau's hand meeting another's face rang through the docks. The girl pulled back and rubbed her cheek sending a glare toward the assaulter.

"Speak when being spoken to," Dilandau hissed then faced his Dragon Slayers. "I believe an explanation is in need."

"Sir," Miguel ventured for again, the feeling returning to his jaw. "I brought her here, sir. She has something that could help us."

"And what would that be?"

Miguel looked from Dilandau to Sage's betrayed face. "She can see things, sir. She has visions like the other girl from the Mystic Moon?"

Dilandau frowned. "And I she also from the same place as the other bitch?"

"Y—yes, sir."

"Really…" Dilandau turned and stepped toward Sage causing her to take a step back. "Prove it, girl." He continued waling slowly toward her and she continued backing up, unable to break from his magenta gaze. "Prove it, what do you see?"

Taking her last step back, Sage felt the flooring disappear. She had backed all the way to the end of the docking bay where the giant doors were open; a perfect was to fall from the ship. But as she slipped, Dilandau's hand caught the frount of her shirt. She was suspended, her life at Dilandau's will.

"Prove it," he hissed.

"I already have!" Sage cried out in fear. "I knew Miguel would die, I wanted to warn him but… I was to scared. I didn't know what to say. But it was fine in the end," she continued stumbling over her words. "I saved him in the end. I stopped that thing from killing him!"

"Is that so?" Dilandau seemed to become even more amused by this. He hauled her up and dropped her to the ground. "Tell us Miguel, did this girl really save your life? Did she save the life of an elite Dragon Slayer from a common Deceptant?"

"Yes…" Miguel's answer was barely audible.

"What was that?" Dilandau's smirk had grown. A punch in the jaw wasn't enough as it seemed, now Sage had given his another weapon to yield and use against Miguel.

"Yes!" Miguel said, his head bowed and his fist clenched. Some of the other Dragon Slayers snickered at their comrade.

Inside Sage felt herself crumble. "I'm sorry," she wanted to say. "I'm so sorry Miguel. I never meant to make you look bad in frount of your comrades. I never meant for any of this bad stuff to happen… Bad stuff usually does follow m around… I am cursed…" But nothing escaped her lips, not a word.

"What…" a voice called from the higher deck of the docking bay. "… is going on here?"

"Folken!" someone called.

Folken Fanel appeared from the shadows. "Explain yourself Dilandau."

The silver haired youth frowned. "I was just making an example of what happens to those who disgrace my name. As for the girl--"

"I know about the girl," Folken interrupted. "Now I believe you've done enough for today." He held his right hand out to Sage. "Come with me, we have a lot to discuss…"

Sage tried to make eye contact with Miguel as she scrambled up the stairway to where Folken stood. She didn't know him but at the moment anyone was better than this "Dilandau".

Slowly she approached him, "H-how do you know my name?"

***

Sage sat and stared out the window. The sunset had passed hours before and now stars had begun to dot the sky. Above she could see what was called the Mystic Moon. The clouds of the Earth swirled and changed ever so slowly as the moon eclipsed with the green and blue planet. Why wasn't Gaea seen from the earth? There were man questions she wished could be answered; yet none of them were.

It was a week ago when Folken had taken her him, promising no harm from Dilandau and a place to stay in exchange for her help. She didn't know what he had meant but she gladly agreed.

Now she knew. She was being trained. Worst of all, she was being trained as a Dragon Slayer. Dilandau and Folken must have discussed her sometime because he did not touch her, though he and his fellow Dragon Slayers jeered and taunted when she fell or missed a step of some kind. Folken must have put in some no-touchy rule.

Sage rose and opened the window letting the wind sweep in and run through her hair and along her pale face. Far below she could see the landscape of trees and small meadows. They had not reached Palas yet. Everything was so far down… Suddenly a dark thought struck her mind like black lightening.

Jump.

Sage inhaled the air and contemplated. Was she this desperate to end it all? Her life was useless; she was a failure of a Dragon Slayer. She had no friends, no one to confide in; Folken was only a work partner, nothing more. What did she have going for her… nothing, in fact. Eating lunch in the mess hall at a disserted table. Screwing up during training. Running to her room minutes after training, hopping no one would see her tears…

Sage studied the window. It was tall, tall enough for her to stand in. She savored the feeling of the wind rushing through her hair. Would that be the last thing she felt before impact?

***

Gatti had been watching Sage at the window for a while. He wasn't watching her out of choice. He'd left to find a quiet place to read when her found her on the observation deck, a floor above the docking area.

He knew who she was, everyone did. So she was no mystery but her actions were. She was antisocial, avoiding everyone at all costs, though he didn't blame her. With all she had been put through it was a surprise she was still with Zaibach.

He glanced up from another chapter. Sage was standing on the windowsill looking out over the landscape. "What is she doing?" he thought. Slowly dark realization crept up upon him. She was going to jump, wasn't she?

"Sage…" he called softly trying not to startle her. "Sage please don't."

She didn't hear him; if she did she ignored him. Her hair was rippling in it's knew cut Dilandau had deemed as 'more aerodynamic'.

Gatti swallowed as he approached her, his book lay forgotten on the table. He could understand now… why had he been so blind before. She wasn't antisocial. They made her antisocial. Their teasing and mocking, his included, Dilandau's harsh words and sexist remarks. If she died it was their fault. It would be his fault.

"Sage!" He shouted this time. But in a blink she was gone. In just one blink…