~continence of Chapter 1~
With a forceful thud that made the liquid inside the delicate goblet shimmer, the crowned prince of Arrolac placed his wine glass down upon the table. He let a deep and agitated sigh escape his lips.
"This is madness! How can father expect me to wed a girl that I have yet to meet!"
With a sympathetic voice Princess Hikari answered, "Brother he is only thinking of your future."
"My future," Taichi said with disdain, "It is always /my/ future never yours! It doesn't seem fair! I have yet to see father wedding you off to a stranger! You have been of age for several years now and yet he has not even put up the suggestion of courtship!"
"That is true." Kari said with a small frown, "But than you must remember that I am of different circumstances."
"Yes Yes I know," Taichi said brushing the justified reason off as if he had heard it many times before and indeed he had. " I am to be King someday. I /understand/ that! But still I am of his children just as you are!"
"Yes but the prophecy."
With a deep sigh Taichi nodded his head. " I'm sorry I had nearly forgotten. I did not mean to be so harsh Kari."
Hikari gave a faint smile. "That's alright Tai." She said calling him by his nick-name of Tai. "I have excepted it." But even as she spoke the words tears began to brim in her eyes.
Taichi silently moved towards his younger sister of three years. It was a true tragedy when the prophet Mufti had spoken the curse at Hikari's ßérmíthng. Had it only really been /four/years?
It had been just before Taichi had met Yamato for the first time so yes. four years.
~~ flashback ~~
The audience all crowded into their seats, and hushed one another as the ceremonial songs were sung. Than the great door s of the Bathi opened up wide, allowing the piercing sun light to stream threw the dimly lit hall.
The priest began to speak in the old tong as was custom on the coming of the prophet.
"Come Come!
The wise one Is near!
Let all know that she is near.
Coming to judge this fine lady as to what her future holds.
Come Come!
The wise one is near!
Come to be testimony to this days great events!!!"
Several hours later after many long drawn out ceremonies the Profit Mufti was finally able to deliver the prophecy. The crowd was silent and still and held a bit of excitement. Never before had the Prophet taken so long in un-coding the ancient path ways. They were all interested as to what this young Princess, might have in store for her future.
The Prophet Mufti rose with a cold, and demanding grace.
"LET ALL HERE BE TESTIMONY TO MY WORDS!' She shouted. "FOR THEY ARE OF THE UTMOST IMOPORTANCE. THIS CHILD, HIKARI IS BECOMING A WOMAN THIS DAY!" Her voice fell to a normal degree and the crowd held their breath so as to hear better. " But this child has a very undecided future. She will not marry of this kingdom, nor of any kingdom on the Shnalnar Plain."
The crowd immediately became an uproar of disbelief, and the King and Queen hung their heads. And Hikari just stood there in a mixture of calm and chaos.
"Not marry of the Shnnalnar Plain???"
"Surely than she will never marry"
"The Kingdom will become weak."
"what if Prince Taichi was to die--"
"-God Forbid."
"--Than this Kingdom would surly fall with no heirs!"
------- "SILENCE!"--------
The Mufti commanded.
They were quite.
"But she is strong. Her and her brother both, along with six others! They will SAVE the world. They will Save the Shnalnar Plain!!! SHE IS TO DO SOMETHING TRULY GREAT! Let that not slip from your minds!"
And with that she boldly stepped off the stage and out of the chamber leaving it in utter silence.
~~ end flashback ~~
Taichi patted Hikari's back.
"You will do something truly great. Remember that Hikari." He said pulling away from his brotherly embrace.
A soft, but unassured smile was his answer.
~
The two friends walked threw the dense forests in silence, not feeling that either one had to talk. Not out of distrust or that they were uncomfortable but of the sheer fact that there was really nothing to talk about at that moment.
Finally Yamato felt the need to find words for a question.
"How much fartha'?"
"I am uncertain."
There was a pause.
Yamato, who had been walking thus far in the front began to slow his step, Izumi didn't seem to notice and it soon came to be that Izumi was in the front leading. They walked this way for a few minutes until Izumi realized that no one was behind him.
~
Meanwhile, Yamato was becoming increasingly aware of the forests languor (quite stillness). He had unconsciously stopped his pace a few moments ago and now was all alone. For a moment he wondered, where Izumi had gone, but a sudden sound from behind him stopped his thoughts short. HE whirled round to see no one.
Another sound came from to his side. He whirled round again but still saw no one.
He than became aware of the fact that neither creature nor insect could be heard scurrying threw the forest floor. Not a sound came to ear of a bird rusting in the tree limbs. Even the leaves were silent even though a slight wind blew.
In a sudden sense of fright Yamato glanced up at the sky remembering the earlier conversation with Izumi. Near dusk.
His breath began to quicken with out him realizing it.
Something was wrong.
Something was very wrong.
"Yamato?"
He jumped from his trance-like state, and was much relieved that it was only Izumi, standing before him.
Izumi took on a worried look. "Are you alright Yamato? You stopped in the middle of the path."
With a deep sigh he answered, "yes.. yes I'm fine. I just. needed a rest that was all."
Izumi looked as if he were about to inquire more but he decided against it at the last minute. Instead he said more as a statement. "Perhaps your little spell of unconsciousness was more harmful than we had thought."
"Yes. Well I'm fine now." Yamato said and started walking once more to prove to Izumi just that.
"Yamato. We should rest for a bit before we set out again if your not feelin-"
'I'M FINE!" Yamato said a little louder than he had meant. Taking a deep breath to regain his composure he repeated. "I'm fine" than said, "I just needed some time to catch my breath."
"but-"
"aup!." Yamato warned turning around to face Izumi and pointing an accusing finger." I'm fine." And than he quickly added," I promise I am." Because of the scrutinizing face Izumi was giving him.
"Please lets continue shall we?"
Pause.
Izumi reluctantly agreed.. "Very well. But! First thing we do when we reach Arrolac is to have the healer look over you."
With a relieved chuckle Yamato agreed and the two continued on their way, Yamato at a markedly faster pase. He wanted to get out of that forest as soon as possible.
``
The figure gently pulled back from the shimmering watching pool. The Kanti had almost discovered him. He must remember to be weary of that one, as well as the other six.
~Six~ the figure thought with painful irony. ~Yes six, it would serve no purpose to be weary of ones self.~
-End of Chapter 1-
With a forceful thud that made the liquid inside the delicate goblet shimmer, the crowned prince of Arrolac placed his wine glass down upon the table. He let a deep and agitated sigh escape his lips.
"This is madness! How can father expect me to wed a girl that I have yet to meet!"
With a sympathetic voice Princess Hikari answered, "Brother he is only thinking of your future."
"My future," Taichi said with disdain, "It is always /my/ future never yours! It doesn't seem fair! I have yet to see father wedding you off to a stranger! You have been of age for several years now and yet he has not even put up the suggestion of courtship!"
"That is true." Kari said with a small frown, "But than you must remember that I am of different circumstances."
"Yes Yes I know," Taichi said brushing the justified reason off as if he had heard it many times before and indeed he had. " I am to be King someday. I /understand/ that! But still I am of his children just as you are!"
"Yes but the prophecy."
With a deep sigh Taichi nodded his head. " I'm sorry I had nearly forgotten. I did not mean to be so harsh Kari."
Hikari gave a faint smile. "That's alright Tai." She said calling him by his nick-name of Tai. "I have excepted it." But even as she spoke the words tears began to brim in her eyes.
Taichi silently moved towards his younger sister of three years. It was a true tragedy when the prophet Mufti had spoken the curse at Hikari's ßérmíthng. Had it only really been /four/years?
It had been just before Taichi had met Yamato for the first time so yes. four years.
~~ flashback ~~
The audience all crowded into their seats, and hushed one another as the ceremonial songs were sung. Than the great door s of the Bathi opened up wide, allowing the piercing sun light to stream threw the dimly lit hall.
The priest began to speak in the old tong as was custom on the coming of the prophet.
"Come Come!
The wise one Is near!
Let all know that she is near.
Coming to judge this fine lady as to what her future holds.
Come Come!
The wise one is near!
Come to be testimony to this days great events!!!"
Several hours later after many long drawn out ceremonies the Profit Mufti was finally able to deliver the prophecy. The crowd was silent and still and held a bit of excitement. Never before had the Prophet taken so long in un-coding the ancient path ways. They were all interested as to what this young Princess, might have in store for her future.
The Prophet Mufti rose with a cold, and demanding grace.
"LET ALL HERE BE TESTIMONY TO MY WORDS!' She shouted. "FOR THEY ARE OF THE UTMOST IMOPORTANCE. THIS CHILD, HIKARI IS BECOMING A WOMAN THIS DAY!" Her voice fell to a normal degree and the crowd held their breath so as to hear better. " But this child has a very undecided future. She will not marry of this kingdom, nor of any kingdom on the Shnalnar Plain."
The crowd immediately became an uproar of disbelief, and the King and Queen hung their heads. And Hikari just stood there in a mixture of calm and chaos.
"Not marry of the Shnnalnar Plain???"
"Surely than she will never marry"
"The Kingdom will become weak."
"what if Prince Taichi was to die--"
"-God Forbid."
"--Than this Kingdom would surly fall with no heirs!"
------- "SILENCE!"--------
The Mufti commanded.
They were quite.
"But she is strong. Her and her brother both, along with six others! They will SAVE the world. They will Save the Shnalnar Plain!!! SHE IS TO DO SOMETHING TRULY GREAT! Let that not slip from your minds!"
And with that she boldly stepped off the stage and out of the chamber leaving it in utter silence.
~~ end flashback ~~
Taichi patted Hikari's back.
"You will do something truly great. Remember that Hikari." He said pulling away from his brotherly embrace.
A soft, but unassured smile was his answer.
~
The two friends walked threw the dense forests in silence, not feeling that either one had to talk. Not out of distrust or that they were uncomfortable but of the sheer fact that there was really nothing to talk about at that moment.
Finally Yamato felt the need to find words for a question.
"How much fartha'?"
"I am uncertain."
There was a pause.
Yamato, who had been walking thus far in the front began to slow his step, Izumi didn't seem to notice and it soon came to be that Izumi was in the front leading. They walked this way for a few minutes until Izumi realized that no one was behind him.
~
Meanwhile, Yamato was becoming increasingly aware of the forests languor (quite stillness). He had unconsciously stopped his pace a few moments ago and now was all alone. For a moment he wondered, where Izumi had gone, but a sudden sound from behind him stopped his thoughts short. HE whirled round to see no one.
Another sound came from to his side. He whirled round again but still saw no one.
He than became aware of the fact that neither creature nor insect could be heard scurrying threw the forest floor. Not a sound came to ear of a bird rusting in the tree limbs. Even the leaves were silent even though a slight wind blew.
In a sudden sense of fright Yamato glanced up at the sky remembering the earlier conversation with Izumi. Near dusk.
His breath began to quicken with out him realizing it.
Something was wrong.
Something was very wrong.
"Yamato?"
He jumped from his trance-like state, and was much relieved that it was only Izumi, standing before him.
Izumi took on a worried look. "Are you alright Yamato? You stopped in the middle of the path."
With a deep sigh he answered, "yes.. yes I'm fine. I just. needed a rest that was all."
Izumi looked as if he were about to inquire more but he decided against it at the last minute. Instead he said more as a statement. "Perhaps your little spell of unconsciousness was more harmful than we had thought."
"Yes. Well I'm fine now." Yamato said and started walking once more to prove to Izumi just that.
"Yamato. We should rest for a bit before we set out again if your not feelin-"
'I'M FINE!" Yamato said a little louder than he had meant. Taking a deep breath to regain his composure he repeated. "I'm fine" than said, "I just needed some time to catch my breath."
"but-"
"aup!." Yamato warned turning around to face Izumi and pointing an accusing finger." I'm fine." And than he quickly added," I promise I am." Because of the scrutinizing face Izumi was giving him.
"Please lets continue shall we?"
Pause.
Izumi reluctantly agreed.. "Very well. But! First thing we do when we reach Arrolac is to have the healer look over you."
With a relieved chuckle Yamato agreed and the two continued on their way, Yamato at a markedly faster pase. He wanted to get out of that forest as soon as possible.
``
The figure gently pulled back from the shimmering watching pool. The Kanti had almost discovered him. He must remember to be weary of that one, as well as the other six.
~Six~ the figure thought with painful irony. ~Yes six, it would serve no purpose to be weary of ones self.~
-End of Chapter 1-