Disclaimer: Don't own any of the healing items/ summons/ jobs, those are Squaresofts. This is non-profit fun.
AN: Hey all! It feels like I haven't updated in forever. School does that to you I guess. Well here it is, enjoy! Don't forget to review, I like to know if it's being read and how I can improve it. Also go ahead and ask questions if you have them, I enjoy answering them. *winks * Now read!
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One hundred ninety eight, one hundred ninety
nine, two hundred. Ashen laid on the floor after his final sit
up, wiping the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand. The
light of the early morning sun drifted into the room from the
window despite the curtains meant to keep it out. He didn't
sleep at all after Aleura left, a fact which gnawed at him with a
question. Why? An answer for which, he could not find. He exhaled
in frustration a sign he needed fresh air. Time to go outside, he
forced himself off the ground.
The air outside was crisp, cooling off his watery brow. Leaning
his elbows on the balcony, he looked over the landscape. Still
vibrant green even in the orange hue of the morning sun. The
calming sounds of trickling water from the creek that ran through
the monastery was over lapped by the sharp kah' of an
alien crow.
Something new drowned out the rest of the sounds of the morning;
scuffling of many feet. His eyes glanced down catching streams of
monks and priestesses scurrying down the halls, their normally
cheery faces cast in worry.
"Ashen!!" A familiar voice called from the distance.
Ashen looked down the hall to his right, there was Kazu and
Sesshin were running towards him. Out of breath by the time they
had reached him.
"Mr" Sesshin huffed out, he gulped
hard, "The High Priestess says you are to stay
by us at all times when we reach the front"
"What's going on?" Ashen asked eyeing the flood of
people below.
Kazu looked uncomfortable, his eyes quickly passing to Sesshin
then back to Ashen, "Thereare some people here."
He stared out at the congregation on their knees, their white and
red uniformity made the white-haired youth all the more easy to
spot. Tenth pulled himself to his full height as he folded his
arms in his trademark fashion, he made sure the youth could see
the amused smile on his face when they locked eyes. As if to say
I'm impressed to see you lived, you know what happens
now, don't you?'
The sound of metallic clacks alerted him to the forty some odd
grunts behind him clicking off the safeties to their guns. He
leaned over to the MAGE at his right, whispering, "Tell them
to keep their guns down. I want to avoid all unnecessary blood
shed. Let's just get what we came for then head back.
Understood?"
The man gave a sharp nod then turned to the group behind them, he
lifted his hand in code for at ease, boys.' A tense
silence ensued, only Tenth seemed to be unaffected. The two
groups, those of Ghri and those of the Sect, separated by only a
short span of ground, all one need do is cross the line.
Suddenly a short white robed girl scurried onto the scene,
followed by two others, a woman with red hair and a burly elder
monk. The rings on the brow of her gold trimmed headdress jingled
like mad as she came to a halt. The entirety of the costume meant
to obscure her femininity, including her hair, in a symbolic
gesture of purity. She and her companions brought their
overlapping hands to their foreheads in a religious act of
welcome.
"I hope the day finds you well, good sir." Her anxious
green eyes trail up to meet his calm dark gaze, "How is it
that I and my humble congregation may serve you this day?"
Tenth smiled down at her warmly, he bowed his head slightly in
recognition of her position, "Forgive uswe do not wish
to keep you from your duties long, but we are here out of
desperation."
His eyes shot momentarily to Ashen then back to the girl before
him, "A few days ago a criminal escaped over the iron gates
of Ghri territory. We have been charged to find him and bring him
to justice."
"May I askwhat were his crimes?" She quivered a
bit knowing she was treading on thin ice, "And, how will you
bring him to justice?"
"I'm sorrythat information is classified,"
His eye closed momentarily, "But I can assure you our
reasons are just and his punishment will fit his crimes."
"Oh" She edged her head slightly over her
shoulder, catching sight of Ashen. Her eyes returned to the dark
clad man before her, the fearful quiver now replaced by strong
determination. "I am also sorry, but I cannot be of help in
this matter. We did find someone from Ghri, but he has asked us
for sanctuary. Our laws forbid us to turn away anyone who asks
for sanctuary, so we are unable to hand him over to you."
"I see" The smooth voice took on a serious air,
not quite distant, but mingled with his own thoughts. While
examining her face he caught something move in his peripheral
vision, his eyes narrowed focusing on her veil which seemed to
wave very lightly as if by a breeze. Curiously enoughthere
was no wind blowing. He doubted anyone else caught it but him.
"That is unfortunate"
A new silence enveloped the two, this one more tense then the
later. It slowly became apparent to a few that this was a waiting
game. Who would make the next move and what move would it be?
Suddenly a ringing erupted breaking the tense silence. The MAGE
to the left of Tenth held his earpiece to his ear, he talked to
someone in low tones. The MAGE finally turned to Tenth holding
the earpiece in his hand, he whispered something to Tenth who
took the earpiece from him. Tenth put the earpiece to his ear,
never taking his eyes off of Aleura.
"MAGE number 1010, what the hell are you thinking?! No one
gave you permission to go on a little excursion in the Frontier
with forty grunts!" yelled some rather upset supervisor for
the military deployment aspect of Dynasty.
Tenth remained with a stoic expression on his angelic face,
patiently waiting for the man to get to the point.
"Are you even listening to me, 1010? Look;
just get your ass back here! Director Meth is asking for you, he
says to tell you the winds of change are blowing',
whatever the hell that means...." Tenth didn't show it
outwardly but his insides jumped at the news. He took the
earpiece from his ear and handed it back to the MAGE, his warm
smile returned. "Looks like things have changed. We have
been ordered back to Ghri."
"It must be the will of God." Aleura smiled relieved.
"It must be..." he humored the girl. "Good day,
your Holiness. I don't think we'll be bothering you or
your congregation again."
"God be with you on your journey, sir" she said
as he gave one last look back at Ashen and then to her before
turning to leave.
"MOVE OUT!" yelled one of the MAGE's to the
grunts, forcing them to turned about face and head back to the
trucks.
