Ch. 4
Waiting is for the Weak
He clenched his fists together tightly; the feeling, that feeling, would never go away, not until he got her back. He turned to his silver- haired companion, "Eagle, how long has it been."
"Since we left Autozam?" Eagle finished for him. "In Cephiro time, three months, with another two before we reach Tartor."
The black knight shook his head. "No, I mean, how long since we started this whole crazy mess?"
Eagle didn't want to say it, but felt that he had an obligation to do so. "In Cephiro time.when we reach Tartor.. it will have been 15 months."
The knight felt like something just exploded in his chest. "She'll be turning 18 this year." He sat back and, having nothing else to do, slept, mentally accounting for all the time that had passed.
It was rather easy to account for those first six months, as there was a frantic searching throughout Cephiro. Due to the emergency situation, Lafarga remained on as Captain of the Guard. Zagato and Lintas, on the other hand, were declared unfit for active duty after three weeks; they spent most of their time moping around, trying to comprehend the reality of the situation, though they knew all too well. That Kila was gone, and most likely never coming back. Zagato was certainly the most visible with his pain; sometimes he couldn't walk five steps without sinking to his knees, his glassy eyes constantly in a dream-like state. Both he and Lintas became quiet, moody, and almost unapproachable. After the three months, the remaining three were spent pining with word from the other countries, as King Ferio humbly requested the aid of their Autozam, Fahren, and Chizeta friends. Those other three months past, and still nothing, no turn-ups, no sightings, not even a glimmer of false hope. Afterwards, though they continued the search, everyone considered it fact that Kila was lost forever; Fuu, Ferio, Emera, Umi, Ascot, Ascon, Clef, even Lintas.everyone, except one person.
Zagato tried desperately to look for a way to occupy his time. No longer on active duty, he tried desperately to find anything that would give him help, even fictional. He read most of the volumes in Crystal Castle's library, but none really helped, as most were historical texts and spells that he had either already mastered or were completely useless to him. In the few dreams he had, he saw Tello, running from him.the joy of catching him, holding him above his head.hearing the delicious sound of a spine snapping above his head.
Clef looked at Zagato in growing concern. Recently he had taken to remaining in Kila's old bedroom. It wasn't healthy, and he and the others often brought Zagato's uncharacteristic behavior in their discussions. They decided that if he couldn't occupy his time properly, than they would do so for him. But no matter what they gave him, chores, books, nothing seemed to help. Finally, Emera couldn't take it anymore. At breakfast one day, she excused herself early and went to Kila's room. She stopped right at the door and hesitated before knocking. She never understood what she saw in him; to her he was too reserved, quiet, and almost too formal. He seemed separated, preferring isolation and normally never making any advances towards people he didn't immediately know, friendly or otherwise. But then she also saw in him strength, dedication, compassion and a desire to support those who couldn't support themselves. And whenever she looked into his eyes, she got a sudden warmth in his loins.
She coughed and walked in. What she saw made her gasp in shock; hair long and unkempt, Zagato seemed like he was withering away. He looked pale, his eyes glazed over from lack of sleep. Sitting on the bed, Zagato twirled his curved sword by the hilt on the floor. He didn't even bother looking up; he had sensed her presence from the outside.
"How may I be of service, Princess?" Zagato asked with a bitterness he did not feel.not towards the Princess anyway.
Emera was slightly taken aback from this cool, almost mocking formality, but knowing it to be abnormal behavior from Zagato, merely strengthened her convictions.
"You may serve me by stopping this pinning and fretting and doing something!"
Zagato laughed and looked up; it was a cruel, stinging laugh. "And what would you have me do, Emera?" he stated as he rose to his legs, the royal title purposely dropped from his speech. "I've read virtually every written document in the palace; thanks to a decree by your parents and my commander, I can not travel outside the castle grounds in addition to not being able to perform my duties as an officer in the Inner Guard, so what would you have me do?"
Emera flushed and assumed her mother's tone; "If you insist on being blunt, then I shall as well. Get over it! I know what I am saying sounds terribly cruel and uncaring, but I don't know how else to say to you what has been said virtually every other way. Kila is gone, accept it."
Zagato sighed and decided to give in. In the three conversations he had with Eagle, he was told as much, as had everyone else he had spoken to on the subject, even his own brother.
"Perhaps you are right."
Emera stood shocked; she expected radical behavior from Zagato, but never submissive. That was just too much unlike Zagato. Noticing the disbelieving look, he smiled sadly.
"There is nothing I can do. Everyone has told me as such, even Eagle, who knows noth-." At that point Zagato stopped. His glazed eyes seemed to shine with a brand new fire. "Eagle." he immediately rushed out of the room, stopped at the door, turned around and gave Emera a swift kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you," he whispered genuinely, and stormed off, leaving Emera touching her cheek, and whispering reverently, longingly, at the man she loved.
"Zagato.."
Had they been in Mind Gate connection rather then through Eagle's telepathy, Eagle would have shaken his head. "Zagato, I'm telling you that I don't know anything about Cephiro's legends beyond what your father told me."
Zagato waited patiently; he had purposely chosen not to use Mind Gate for this conversation, and he could feel Eagle beginning to crack. "Eagle, from what I understand, my father was incredibly, almost suggestively, open to you."
Eagle mentally coughed; he was well aware of the rumors that his relationship with Lantis was something more than platonic.
"Furthermore, Eagle, I can sense that you are hiding something from me. That was always your one big flaw, that you could never hide anything for long from anybody."
Eagle hushed his 'voice', and 'spoke' in a slow whisper, "He did tell me of something, something that could possibly help you, but that depends on what you want."
Zagato spoke with almost no hesitation, "I want Kila back, and revenge."
Eagle shuddered at the coldness in Zagato's voice. "Vengeance isn't like you at all, Zagato."
"People change."
Eagle gave a sigh, simultaneously to his decision to give in. "If vengeance is truly your goal, then I do know something. Your father often spoke of legends in the shadowy area of Cephiro's past."
Eagle fell silent, and Zagato waited for him to continue. When it became obvious that Eagle said all he intended to say, Zagato blurted out, "That's it?"
"I have already said too much, I fear."
Zagato angrily turned heel and stormed out. He never stopped walking until he felt part of the anger pass. He looked around to see where he was, and saw himself in front of the study. Slowly, as if drawn by some other power, he walked in, glancing at the books. He had been here hundreds of times; what did he expect to find different? As he glanced at all the titles, one in particular caught his eye, one he never noticed before; a rather lengthy volume entitled The Dark Legends of Cephiro. Zagato stared at it curiously, wondering if this is what Eagle was talking about. Not knowing what else to do, he sat down and began to read.
For the next three hours, he read of all the evil beings and powerful monsters in Cephiro's supposed past; Master Mage Klent, who in his madness tried to destroy the Pillar, Relgada, who attempted to incite a war between Autozam and Cephiro to give himself a sense of purpose. Oh Pillar, thought Zagato, what am I doing here? He skimmed through a few more chapters, and decided to go to Eagle and give him an earful for wasting his time when the title of the next chapter caught his eye. He sat down at a nearby table and resumed his reading, absorbing every word of the chapter. His eyes grew wide only to grow wider with each passing word. As he read his hopes soared; a realization brought him down towards the end of the chapter.
'It is impossible; nothing more than a pleasant fantasy. Even if this thing did exist, only one from another w-"
The language written at the bottom of the page caught his eye. It was Japanese, the native tongue of his mother. His Aunt Fuu had insisted that he and his sibilings, along with their adopted cousins, learn to speak, read, and write the language, though to Zagato it always seemed useless. Now he sent a silent prayer to Aunt Fuu, thanking her for doing so, for contained in these words were the very thing that he needed. Joyfully, he raced out of the room, nearly tripping over Ascon in the process. Without a word of apology, he raced off, leaving Ascon curious over the behavior. He walked into the library and saw the book on the table. He glanced down at it; the mere look was enough to turn him ghost white and send a chill throughout his spine.
"Oh, no."
5 months, two weeks earlier.
Kila woke up, still drowsy. She looked around, not being able to see past her nose. She tried to raise her arms, only to see that they were restrained by something.
Chains.
An attempt to sit up left her flat on the ground.
"Oh, don't try to move yet; the drugs will where off momentarily."
Kila turned and barely made out the features of a short, fat man.
"Two questions, I am sure, are currently running through your mind right now: Why am I here, and who are you?" He laughed; it was a cruel, evil one. "The answer to the first is that you are here because your annoying brother ruined my reputation and undid several weeks worth of work; think of yourself as a replacement fee. Second, I am Tello, and I will be your new master from now on, slave."
Kila flashed her sweetest smile before responding, "Listen up, fat boy, I have a name, and it's Kila. Second, if you let me go now, I may be able to restrain my brothers from ripping your heart out."
Tello was taken aback from this brave front and involuntarily taking a step back; he wasn't used to this type of response from anyone, not even his superiors. Scowling at his sudden show of cowardice, Tello produced a small, multi-thronged whip, each end spiked.
"I see we need an attitude adjustment, well I'll fix that right quick and in a hurry."
As he rose it over his head, Kila shut her eyes and mentally prepared herself for the searing hot pain that was sure to follow; she had already resolved that, no matter what, she wouldn't give Tello the satisfaction of hearing her cry out.
He clenched his fists together tightly; the feeling, that feeling, would never go away, not until he got her back. He turned to his silver- haired companion, "Eagle, how long has it been."
"Since we left Autozam?" Eagle finished for him. "In Cephiro time, three months, with another two before we reach Tartor."
The black knight shook his head. "No, I mean, how long since we started this whole crazy mess?"
Eagle didn't want to say it, but felt that he had an obligation to do so. "In Cephiro time.when we reach Tartor.. it will have been 15 months."
The knight felt like something just exploded in his chest. "She'll be turning 18 this year." He sat back and, having nothing else to do, slept, mentally accounting for all the time that had passed.
It was rather easy to account for those first six months, as there was a frantic searching throughout Cephiro. Due to the emergency situation, Lafarga remained on as Captain of the Guard. Zagato and Lintas, on the other hand, were declared unfit for active duty after three weeks; they spent most of their time moping around, trying to comprehend the reality of the situation, though they knew all too well. That Kila was gone, and most likely never coming back. Zagato was certainly the most visible with his pain; sometimes he couldn't walk five steps without sinking to his knees, his glassy eyes constantly in a dream-like state. Both he and Lintas became quiet, moody, and almost unapproachable. After the three months, the remaining three were spent pining with word from the other countries, as King Ferio humbly requested the aid of their Autozam, Fahren, and Chizeta friends. Those other three months past, and still nothing, no turn-ups, no sightings, not even a glimmer of false hope. Afterwards, though they continued the search, everyone considered it fact that Kila was lost forever; Fuu, Ferio, Emera, Umi, Ascot, Ascon, Clef, even Lintas.everyone, except one person.
Zagato tried desperately to look for a way to occupy his time. No longer on active duty, he tried desperately to find anything that would give him help, even fictional. He read most of the volumes in Crystal Castle's library, but none really helped, as most were historical texts and spells that he had either already mastered or were completely useless to him. In the few dreams he had, he saw Tello, running from him.the joy of catching him, holding him above his head.hearing the delicious sound of a spine snapping above his head.
Clef looked at Zagato in growing concern. Recently he had taken to remaining in Kila's old bedroom. It wasn't healthy, and he and the others often brought Zagato's uncharacteristic behavior in their discussions. They decided that if he couldn't occupy his time properly, than they would do so for him. But no matter what they gave him, chores, books, nothing seemed to help. Finally, Emera couldn't take it anymore. At breakfast one day, she excused herself early and went to Kila's room. She stopped right at the door and hesitated before knocking. She never understood what she saw in him; to her he was too reserved, quiet, and almost too formal. He seemed separated, preferring isolation and normally never making any advances towards people he didn't immediately know, friendly or otherwise. But then she also saw in him strength, dedication, compassion and a desire to support those who couldn't support themselves. And whenever she looked into his eyes, she got a sudden warmth in his loins.
She coughed and walked in. What she saw made her gasp in shock; hair long and unkempt, Zagato seemed like he was withering away. He looked pale, his eyes glazed over from lack of sleep. Sitting on the bed, Zagato twirled his curved sword by the hilt on the floor. He didn't even bother looking up; he had sensed her presence from the outside.
"How may I be of service, Princess?" Zagato asked with a bitterness he did not feel.not towards the Princess anyway.
Emera was slightly taken aback from this cool, almost mocking formality, but knowing it to be abnormal behavior from Zagato, merely strengthened her convictions.
"You may serve me by stopping this pinning and fretting and doing something!"
Zagato laughed and looked up; it was a cruel, stinging laugh. "And what would you have me do, Emera?" he stated as he rose to his legs, the royal title purposely dropped from his speech. "I've read virtually every written document in the palace; thanks to a decree by your parents and my commander, I can not travel outside the castle grounds in addition to not being able to perform my duties as an officer in the Inner Guard, so what would you have me do?"
Emera flushed and assumed her mother's tone; "If you insist on being blunt, then I shall as well. Get over it! I know what I am saying sounds terribly cruel and uncaring, but I don't know how else to say to you what has been said virtually every other way. Kila is gone, accept it."
Zagato sighed and decided to give in. In the three conversations he had with Eagle, he was told as much, as had everyone else he had spoken to on the subject, even his own brother.
"Perhaps you are right."
Emera stood shocked; she expected radical behavior from Zagato, but never submissive. That was just too much unlike Zagato. Noticing the disbelieving look, he smiled sadly.
"There is nothing I can do. Everyone has told me as such, even Eagle, who knows noth-." At that point Zagato stopped. His glazed eyes seemed to shine with a brand new fire. "Eagle." he immediately rushed out of the room, stopped at the door, turned around and gave Emera a swift kiss on the cheek.
"Thank you," he whispered genuinely, and stormed off, leaving Emera touching her cheek, and whispering reverently, longingly, at the man she loved.
"Zagato.."
Had they been in Mind Gate connection rather then through Eagle's telepathy, Eagle would have shaken his head. "Zagato, I'm telling you that I don't know anything about Cephiro's legends beyond what your father told me."
Zagato waited patiently; he had purposely chosen not to use Mind Gate for this conversation, and he could feel Eagle beginning to crack. "Eagle, from what I understand, my father was incredibly, almost suggestively, open to you."
Eagle mentally coughed; he was well aware of the rumors that his relationship with Lantis was something more than platonic.
"Furthermore, Eagle, I can sense that you are hiding something from me. That was always your one big flaw, that you could never hide anything for long from anybody."
Eagle hushed his 'voice', and 'spoke' in a slow whisper, "He did tell me of something, something that could possibly help you, but that depends on what you want."
Zagato spoke with almost no hesitation, "I want Kila back, and revenge."
Eagle shuddered at the coldness in Zagato's voice. "Vengeance isn't like you at all, Zagato."
"People change."
Eagle gave a sigh, simultaneously to his decision to give in. "If vengeance is truly your goal, then I do know something. Your father often spoke of legends in the shadowy area of Cephiro's past."
Eagle fell silent, and Zagato waited for him to continue. When it became obvious that Eagle said all he intended to say, Zagato blurted out, "That's it?"
"I have already said too much, I fear."
Zagato angrily turned heel and stormed out. He never stopped walking until he felt part of the anger pass. He looked around to see where he was, and saw himself in front of the study. Slowly, as if drawn by some other power, he walked in, glancing at the books. He had been here hundreds of times; what did he expect to find different? As he glanced at all the titles, one in particular caught his eye, one he never noticed before; a rather lengthy volume entitled The Dark Legends of Cephiro. Zagato stared at it curiously, wondering if this is what Eagle was talking about. Not knowing what else to do, he sat down and began to read.
For the next three hours, he read of all the evil beings and powerful monsters in Cephiro's supposed past; Master Mage Klent, who in his madness tried to destroy the Pillar, Relgada, who attempted to incite a war between Autozam and Cephiro to give himself a sense of purpose. Oh Pillar, thought Zagato, what am I doing here? He skimmed through a few more chapters, and decided to go to Eagle and give him an earful for wasting his time when the title of the next chapter caught his eye. He sat down at a nearby table and resumed his reading, absorbing every word of the chapter. His eyes grew wide only to grow wider with each passing word. As he read his hopes soared; a realization brought him down towards the end of the chapter.
'It is impossible; nothing more than a pleasant fantasy. Even if this thing did exist, only one from another w-"
The language written at the bottom of the page caught his eye. It was Japanese, the native tongue of his mother. His Aunt Fuu had insisted that he and his sibilings, along with their adopted cousins, learn to speak, read, and write the language, though to Zagato it always seemed useless. Now he sent a silent prayer to Aunt Fuu, thanking her for doing so, for contained in these words were the very thing that he needed. Joyfully, he raced out of the room, nearly tripping over Ascon in the process. Without a word of apology, he raced off, leaving Ascon curious over the behavior. He walked into the library and saw the book on the table. He glanced down at it; the mere look was enough to turn him ghost white and send a chill throughout his spine.
"Oh, no."
5 months, two weeks earlier.
Kila woke up, still drowsy. She looked around, not being able to see past her nose. She tried to raise her arms, only to see that they were restrained by something.
Chains.
An attempt to sit up left her flat on the ground.
"Oh, don't try to move yet; the drugs will where off momentarily."
Kila turned and barely made out the features of a short, fat man.
"Two questions, I am sure, are currently running through your mind right now: Why am I here, and who are you?" He laughed; it was a cruel, evil one. "The answer to the first is that you are here because your annoying brother ruined my reputation and undid several weeks worth of work; think of yourself as a replacement fee. Second, I am Tello, and I will be your new master from now on, slave."
Kila flashed her sweetest smile before responding, "Listen up, fat boy, I have a name, and it's Kila. Second, if you let me go now, I may be able to restrain my brothers from ripping your heart out."
Tello was taken aback from this brave front and involuntarily taking a step back; he wasn't used to this type of response from anyone, not even his superiors. Scowling at his sudden show of cowardice, Tello produced a small, multi-thronged whip, each end spiked.
"I see we need an attitude adjustment, well I'll fix that right quick and in a hurry."
As he rose it over his head, Kila shut her eyes and mentally prepared herself for the searing hot pain that was sure to follow; she had already resolved that, no matter what, she wouldn't give Tello the satisfaction of hearing her cry out.