Nota Bene: I do not own Suikoden
Chapter 5
Curiosity is driving Thomas mad! He still has not uncovered the secret that is Eike and the longer he waits, the worse it gets. He may not be able to take it any longer.......
And Cecile has made her affections for Thomas quite clear, but how will he handle that? Whether or not the two ever get together is ultimately up to Thomas, if he ever takes the initiative.
- Jitterrue
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Day 136,
Hello Diary, I have not written in a bit, I know, do forgive me. But I do think that today is worth recording. I spoke privately with Captain Geddoe today. He had some very interesting things to say. We sat at the desk in my quarters looking over the map and discussing the Fire Champion and the Flame Bringer. Oh my. That doesn't sound right, does it diary. Excuse me, I do believe its the Flame Champion and the Fire Bringer. Yes, that sound better. Well anyway. There were rumors coming and going about that I've been harboring this Flame Champion here in Budehuc Castle. Geddoe explained to me who this was, since I had no idea. Fifty years ago, a man saved the Grasslands in a great war. And the Fire Bringer was his army. One day, the Fire Bringer vanished and now Geddoe has set out to find him. Quite interesting isn't it diary. Geddoe looked a bit grieved that I knew nothing then before leaving me, told me that I should search my castle a bit, for it is very, very old and holds so many answers and so many secrets. I sat in my seat, it meditative thought, almost deciphering the phrase..... Then opened the door, and who was there? None other than Eike. Staring at us, not shocked, not sleepily, but almost statuesque, and unblinking. Geddoe nodded politely to him and then looked back at me saying, You should converse with your Librarian. His memory is quite Keen..... Then Geddoe went dignified down the stairs and into our tavern.
Eike's memory...... Keen..... was Eike listening on us? I asked him this and all he could say was, I do believe I've seen this man before. Then Eike bowed to me and returned to his library, supposedly assisting his guest Ace with his search for interesting literature.
The curiosity...... I'm going crazy! I MUST know what Eike is hiding in the sub levels!
- Thomas
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Day 137,
Good day. I still don't know about the Sub levels. But I asked Kidd to search Eike a bit, and unnoticeably at that. I do not want Eike to become offended, but I must know more about him. Later today, as I sat at lunch with the large majority of my tenants, I saw Cecile intently gazing into the crystal I had given her for her birthday. I watched her for a bit, watching the happy glistening in her eyes..... I suppose she noticed me for she colored and I was quickly whisked away back into my castle by Juan.
Thomas, my good Master, have you yet to meet our good friend Mike? he said with a wry grin and an odd accent and way of speech that he NEVER talks in.
No...... and are you mocking the way in which I speak? Um.... not that I mind.... too much... or so....
Yeah, I'm mocking' you. But you should meet Mike, anyway, And laughing, he lead me into the castle room. (I guess this room is meant as a study of some sort, but its still so empty.) There were a few people in there, quietly talking over a card game, no doubt. I came to the table and met Mike, who looked sleepy until he saw me.
Master Thomas! How may I help you?
Oh well, I'd just like to meet you and see how you like it here. That is all.
It's great here, thank you.
My tenants speak wonders of you. Martha especially. Her lottery ticket sales have gone up tenfold since you've arrived.
Have they? He cried, laughing cordially. It's all about the game. Speaking of which, can I interest you in one?
So I agreed. Either I am truly that horrible or luck favors Mike, for he won every single time. Every one! All of them! The basic object of the game was to have your two or three cards adding up to 9. Closest to 9 wins. And I always lost. Always. I don't think it is even possible for me to win. But I wasn't frustrated. Actually I even enjoyed myself. Mike offered to give me a few tips, but I declined them for the moment. I shall come back another day perhaps, But I had things to do.
- Thomas
p.s. Cecile and I no longer avoid each other, nor do we spend an exceptional amount of time together either. Sometimes I wonder if anything happened at all. Simply, we are wonderful friends. I don't suppose it should be any other way....... Perhaps I simply don't know what to do. This is a knew situation for me. Sigh.
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Day 138,
Today I had a slight headache, so I visited Mio in our nursery. Like everyone else in our castle, she too had a deck of cards sitting in her window sill. I laughed and asked how much it had cost her to buy so many cards and she smiled at me and said, Nothing. Mike gave them to me. Isn't that nice? And don't you think he's rather handsome, Master Thomas? Then she blinked in a humorous manner and then began arranging bottles, humming as she went.
Suddenly I heard loud crashing noise coming from outside, so I quickly rushed out. A lizard, a Zexen, and a Karayan were in the middle of a heated fight. Excuse me! I shouted. But they ignored me. So I shouted again, louder this time.
A ring of spectators had formed around the fighters, some of them were cheering for one person or another. I pushed through them and yelled, What is the meaning of this? The Karayan stopped and looked at me, about to answer, but as the Lizard turned around, his great tail hit me hard on the head. I fell on the ground from the blow, but I was still painfully conscious. All the fighting and all the noise and all of everything simply stopped, and every eye was on me. Slowly I sat up and rubbed my head a bit. Just at this moment, Cecile and Sebastian came running up.
Who did this?! Cecile cried up angrily, bearing her weapon. Sebastian silenced her and I spoke.
I will not have brawls in my castle! If you must fight, do it outside my walls! This is a place of peace and unity, and I will not have that being destroyed. I stood up as I said this. I was surprised to hear the sternness of my own voice. It shocked me, really. But I got the message across. The fighters shook each others hands and bowed their heads to me and the crowd dispersed.
Oh come on, Thoms! Juan joked lazily, chewing on a blade of grass. Just when things get interesting around here.
Um....what do you mean? I thought it was always interesting here. Then Juan shook his head and laughed at me, before leaving us to continue with his nap.
Cecile and Sebastian rushed up to me and asked me if I was ok. I said I was, but my head was hurting very badly. Oh dear, sir! We should take you to the Nurse immediately! Sebastian said.
Yeah yeah! Oh no, Thomas! I'm soooo sooorrrryyy! I should have been there! I'm so sorry Thomas.
It's O.K. Cecile, I'm fine.
Oh no its not! You could have died!
Sebastian sighed, don't be silly. Please calm down.
I stumbled back up to my room, followed by Sebastian and Cecile, and plopped onto my bed. Splendid idea, Master Thomas. Sleep will do you well! Sebastian grinned taking up a few parchments from my desk.
Yes. Sleep is good. I replied.
Master Thomas! Cecile was saying, her eyes were very wide and her helmet was flopping over her head. Are you absolutely certain you'll be ok?
Yes, yes! I'm fine, I'm fine. I'm not going to die, I promise you.
Oh yes, of course! Then nodding ferociously, Cecile dashed out my room and clanked down the stairs. I laughed a bit before I fell asleep.
- Thomas
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Day 139,
Salutations. I'm feeling excellent today. I asked Kid was his results on Eike were.
Kidd began in a nasally voice. I have discovered something quite interesting.
You have?
Yes, I have! Eike actually sleeps with his eyes open!
Yes! And he speaks in a foreign language.
What language is that?
Dunno, sounds like gibberish to me.
Well, thank you, Kidd. I said and the detective waved his hand at me claiming he could always solve any case. But somehow I don't think he can solve this one.
- Thomas
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Day 140,
Today I ran into Cecile, sitting on the balcony. Toppo was practicing the violin below her and Cecile was sitting there, unnoticed, just listening. The sun was shining off her helmet and she had a dreamy look in her eye. Hello, Cecile, I said. She turned her head around quickly and stood up. Oh, I'm sorry, I did not mean to alarm you.
No no, Master Thomas! No, of course not! But she did not sit until I told her she could. Haha.
Toppo is very talented, I commented watching the musician happily fiddle away.
Yes, yes!
Then we just sat there and listened. Cecile would look at me a bit and turn away. But soon I stood and told her I should be off. She looked a bit forlornly, then quickly smiled nodding. I stood and left.
Now I'm writing, its pretty dark out. If one is very quiet, they can hear lots of things. I can hear my candle cracking and popping. I can hear the breeze gently blowing. I can here a few crickets.... I hear a duck quacking downstairs. I can hear Cecile clanking back and forth and the bottom of the stairs, probably not too far from the duck. I can hear all these things, but what I am really listening for is Eike's nighttime babblings that Kidd told me of. I can't hear them.
- Thomas
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Day 142
Today I gathered enough courage to talk to Eike myself. As usual, he was in the library, reading. Hello, Eike. I said.
So....... have you made friends with our intelligent scholar over there yet? I was making a bit of small talk, and Eike could tell.
What do you think of her?
She has very curly hair.
So she does..... er....
...............You would like to know how I recognized Captain Geddoe?
Eike was going straight to the point. I sighed and said, I don't mean to be rude, but, yes.
I've seen him in a book.
Then he must be very famous.
Do you know what a True Rune is?
Well...... yes. no.
It is said that they grant immortality.
There are some things about this castle you should know.
Yes yes! I fully agree!
Eike placed a pile of books on the table and began to leaf through them. There were illustrations there and charts and of course many many words. I think it is time you know the history of your castle. Finally I was getting somewhere! Perhaps Eike would tell me everything. But not all right now. Come back everyday, and I will tell you something new.
I agreed and smiled at Eike, thanking him profusely. I could have sworn that he almost smiled.
- Thomas.
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Day 142,
Today I read a bit of the paper. Nothing to intriguing. Then I read a note for me from Arthur. Here, I will place it in this page of my Diary:
Hey Thomas! I think I have a great lead, and it's about you! You and Cecile. I would like to interview you as soon as possible! ---Arthur
Oh no. Was Arthur.....did he? What does he? What does he think? Does he suspect me and Cecile of something? I wrote Arthur back saying there was nothing to report and that I was far too busy for an interview.
I think I lied..... a little.
Eike wrote me a small paragraph for today for me to read, about my castle:
Budehuc castle was first built nearly 200 years ago. It is unclear what exactly the date was. An old Zexen King created the Kingdom to appease his two sons, the older inheriting rule over Vinay Del Zexay, and the Younger given the castle. At this time it was called, Yokanis Castle after its king. Yokan, the younger new king, reigned from the day he turned 20, until his death, 30 years later. The castle endured a period of being ruled in an oligarchical fashion until it was taken over by a conquerer, Zinzi the Great, who originally hailed from Dunan. The people that Zinzi conquered began to rebel against him so he began to build passage ways into castle. One night Zinzi disappeared. No one knows of what happened to him, well, I supposed almost no one.
And that was the end of the passage. I get to learn more from Eike tomorrow.
- Thomas
This concludes Chapter 5.
So! Now that Thomas has finally met Mike, perhaps he may like to by a few cards for himself. And I don't know about you, but I think Mike has a bit of a crush on Mio. He did give her a whole deck for free, which no one else in the castle got. And will Thomas ever finally decide if he's going to develop a real relationship with Cecile? How much longer will he make her wait? And will Arthur push the story, even though Thomas so clearly does not want him to? We shall see. And more of Eike and Budehuc castle. We will see the long and intriguing history.
(Thank you DEL, for your inspirational story about Eike.)
***About the History, it doesn't have very much to do with the game. It incorporates the few facts that the game does include, but the rest is my interpretation.*******
