HEART OF THE SWORD
By: Alithiel
Disclaimer: Hey all! Here's chapter 2.read and review, please! I hope you all like the story so far! Thank you to those two precious people who reviewed this humble story! Angels in disguse, you are!! Arigato Gozaimasu! Let me know too if it's easier to read. I do not own Tales of Destiny or Draconis. I do own Sariless and the bad guy, who as of now is nameless. Any suggestions? Enjoy the next installment.
Love ya all!
Alithiel
Chapter: Beginning's End
The noon sun beat with hammer blows on top of the young boy's head. However, he did not feel the heat even as he toiled in the barren fields of his birth. Sweat stung his dull green eyes as he pulled up yet another whithered weed in his gloved hands, tossing it into the sack at his side and beginning work on the next. The moment the weed left the earth, the raucious, crow-like voice of the overseer rang across the field.
"Rest!"
Gratefully, the boy rose and wobbled toward the scant shade of the scraggly trees that rimmed the edges of the field. Collapsing against one of the rough trunks, he uncapped his waterskin and took a drink of the warm liquid. Sputtering, he recaped it.
~How are you today, my boy?~ The voice in his head said pleasntly.
"Exhausted, master" The boy said wearily, rubbing his gloved hand absently. He always felt faintly dizzy when the vioce spoke.
~Do take off this glove. I need the air and light.~
Slowly, the boy drew off the battered leather glove. The brilliant sun winked off the blood-red stone, gleamed off of the wide bands of black metal encircling his right wrist. After a moment, the light was absorbed into the strange ornament.
"Why do you not let me see you? Like you did before?" The boy asked, chewing on a hard biscut from his meager lunch bag.
~Do you know, I once drew my power from the light?~ The gem mused, ignoring the boy's question. ~But, alas, the light betrayed me, plunged me into eternal darkness. Now, I shall have my revenge on the light and those who serve her.~
The overseer called the workers once again, and the boy stood, beginning to pull on the gloves.
"I understand the pain of betrayal." He said, pausing for a moment to look at the jewel. Bitter memories flooded his mind in a painful wave. Angrily he tamped it down.
~Then you will help me, my boy?~ The jewel flickered eagerly, the crimson of blood.
"I will help you, Berselius."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
The Swordian Masters, including Sariless, gathered on board the Draconis the day following the meeting. Garr had expressed he need to return to Heidelberg and inform his Prime Minister of his extended journey, and also to gather supplies.
"The Draconis cannot go everywhere. Besides, we must set up a search plan." He had said sensibly.
Thse ship roared to life and lurched off the ground like an overgrown whale. Sariless bit her lip and clutched the table, knuckles paling in the strength of her grip. All the blood ran from her face, leaving it pasty white. Rutee looked at her viciously. "Is the little witch afraid of heights?"
Philia gaped at her rude comment, but Sariless smiled grimly.
"If I am, it is none of your concern."
Rutee glared for a moment, then stormed from the room, slamming the door behind her. The three were housed in the women's cabin, a comfortable, low celinged room. Four beds, the fourth serving as a luggage rack at the moment, were bolted to the floor. Glass portholes were covered with thin curtains and looked out into the vast expanse of blue sky outside. Sariless sighed shakily, drawing her hand over her sweaty forehead. "Blast it."
Philia smiled gently. "Pay no attention to Rutee. She's always been rude."
"That's no excuse." Sariless sighed again, and risked a peek out of the porthole. The flight of the ship was much smoother now, and her stomach had finally stopped wobbling like a drunken sailor.
"You should get used to it. Heidelberg is not far distant, but there may be a time when we will have to be here longer than a few hours."
"I know." curiously, she turned to the priestess.
"Philia.how did you find Clemente?"
"Clemente?" Philia asked puzzeldly. "I was on a ship bound for Calvalese, when I heard a voice calling me. Stahn and the others didn't hear it. We went under the sea on a sea dragon, who took us to an underwater city. That's where I found Clemente."
Sariless looked thoughtful. "Strange to find a lightning sword underwater."
Phiilia smiled again, shrugging delicately. "I just take what Atamoni gives me."
"You have a lot of faith in Atamoni, then."
"I do. My faith is all I really have."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
The Swordian Masters met in the main cabin a short time later. The ship was soon to land outside of Heidelberg, the Phandarian capital. Garr led them unobtrusively to a hidden entrance in the outer wall of the city that convinently ended in the palace library. The library held the most famous literary works in all of Phandaria, all stored on tall shelves that towered over even Garr's head. While Philia wandered among the shelves, looking as if she were in heaven, the others sat at one of the dark wooden tables.
Rutee propped her feet up on the table. "Well, where do we start?"
Garr looked at the gem attached to Sariless' hand. "Chaltier, do you know where the others are?"
It seemed that a sigh came from the gem. ~Well.~
Stahn leaned forward eagerly. "Do you mean you do?"
~Not in this form.~ The stone pulsed purple, as if it was nervious.
Philia appeared from around one of the shelves, a thick book in her hand. "This form?"
Sariless grinned wickedly. "May as well show them, Chalt."
~Sariless! Don't call me Chalt!"
"Ok, Chalt."
Another sigh from the purple gem. ~All right.I'll show you what I mean. Do not be alarmed.~
The Swordian Masters looked at each other in puzzlement, then returned their attention to the Swordian of Earth. The core crystal on Sariless' hand began to glow a brilliant purple. The intensity increased until it was almost unbearable to look at, blinding the people sitting at the table. The light engulfed the chair the girl was sitting it, curtaning it in shining radience. When the light disappated, there was a translucent figure standing behind Sariless' chair. He was tall and thin and dressed in an outfit disturbingly similar to Leon's. His long hair was as black as night, and his violet eyes seemed to glow ereily in the dim library. His hands rested on the hilt of a scimitar.
"I forgot how cute you were." Sariless grinned as a brilliant blush colored the man's ghostly cheeks and he rolled his eyes. The others were in complete shock, mouths wide open and blinking dazedly.
"CHALTIER!??" Stahn stammered, nearly tumbling out of his chair in shock.
'Yes, it is I.' The man smiled slightly at the young man. 'This is as I was, before my consousness leaked into this sword.' He patted the hilt at his side.
"Chaltier." Garr sighed as he looked at the sword. "It has been too long since I have seen its sword form."
Rutee glared daggers at Sariless. "You mean that you saw him like this when he attatched to you?! AND YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING!?"
Sariless covered her ears. "Stop shrieking, dimwit! I can hear you fine!"
The lens hunter's face turned a most unbecoming shade of red, and she lunged across the table as of to strangle Sariless. The mocking smile melted from her face like ice in a desert sun, replaced by an expression of fear. The girl raised her hand toward Rutee, and it began to glow with a purple aura. A crackling noise filled the air.
"Please.don't make me use this on you." There was such a look of desperation on her face that Rutee's vengance fizzled out. Sariless was a mystery to her. Stahn watched the exchange. Was it his imagination, or were there tears in the girl's eyes as she made her threat?
Sariless dropped her hand, and the crackling died away. Her face was pale as marble. Philia looked at her in alarm.
'No that the bloodshed is over.' Chaltier cleared his etheral throat. 'In this form, I can feel the others.to a point, anyway. It uses a great deal of energy, though. With it, I can get a general idea of where they are through my affinity with the earth. Allow me to demonstrate.' The ghostly spirit walked to a large map of the world that hung on the only wall without shelves, staring at it unblinkingly. He began to glow vivid, pulsing purple, and the room was filled with murmuring voices. Garr tapped his index finger neviously against the table as he watched him, filling the air with a hollow pulsing noise in unusual counterpont to the whispers. Stahn was leaning eagerly toward the map. Chaltier slowly lifted his hand, placing a misty index finger on a location. A sizzling nose briefly filled the air, and hen he movd his hand there was a small, glowing green dot.
Chaltier began to fade a little around the edges. 'There.there is one.' A quick flash filled the room as he retreated back into his core.
Garr looked at the map.
"It's Igtenos. He's in Frosthiem."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
The group agreed to begin in the morning, without the Draconis and the attention it was sure to draw. Rutee caught up with Stahn as they left the library to go to their rooms.
"Did you see Sariless? She would have killed me!" Rutee had to jog to keep up with his long strides.
Stahn shook his head, his boyish face unusually thoughtful. Rutee thught it was a weird look for him. "No, she wouldn't. She was about ready to cry when she threatened you. There's much more to her than meets the eye."
"Any more of her and I'm gonna be sick."
Stahn rounded on her. This was the last straw. There was such a look of anger on his face that a spark of crimson seemed to gleam in his blue eyes.
"When are you going to put your petty crap away and quit making her life miserable?" He snarled with more acid than he intended. "Two days and you already hate her! Why do you hate Sariless so much? Is it because she has Chaltier?"
That bit beep, and Rutee was surprised at the sudden was of emotion she felt. She was taken aback by the harshness of his tone, but her own anger quickly grew.
"Petty!? Don't you even CARE that she's insulted me!?"
"All the people in Aquaveil insulted you, too. Do you hate them?" Stahn snapped.
"Well.no. But that's different!"
"There you go, then. You know it's not different. You're acting like a spoiled child who's had their favorite toy taken! Remember, she was the one who came to get us. If she leaves.if you leave.the whole thing's shot to hell!" He shook his head, then turned now-pleading eyes to Rutee. "Please, try to be at least civil, alright? We're in this together.whether you like it or not. Don't let your brother's ghost ruin it."
With that, he made his way down the hall. Rutee watched his retreating back from the doorway of her room.
"When did you grow up, country boy?"
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Sariless' dreams were disturbed that night. She writhed around on the soft bed, probably the softest she had slept on in years, sweating and muttering. Her white hair was a tangled mess covering her face, her simple nightgown in knots around her.
~The sky was dark gray, shifting in angry patterns. Lighting crackled. The battlefield was flowing with blood and the corpses of the dead. As it rose up to her knees, she saw brilliant light playng in the distance. She began running as fast as she could, nightgown dragging, through the waves of blood that threateded to swallow her whole. After what seemd like ages, she saw four figures, blades of multicolored light clenched in determined hands. They were fighting a great darkness, like a giant bat. Orange, red, green, and blue the lights shone, cutting the dark. The red burned brighter than them all, with a flicker of white within its firey core. The darkness laughed, then swallowed the field in a shattering burst of black. The lights flickered out like dying sparks. Laughing hystericly, the dark rose up to the sky, taking the dark couds with it and bathing the field in cold sunlight. She looked down, feeling a strange wight on her feet. Down into the dead face of Stahn Aileron. Panicked, she looked around. Rutee, Philia, Garr. All dead. She was engulfed in brilliant light as she screamed.~
Sariless snapped awake, still screaming. She was in pain, horrible, searing pain. She struggled wildly out of bed from her cocoon of sheets, looking at herself. The dim light of the lamp showed what she feared. The pounding of feet coming down the corridor was lost to her ringing ears.
Her nightgown was soaked in blood.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() TBC.
Alithiel~ Ahahahahahah! Done! Read and review, please! Erm.would that be a cliffhanger?
Trowa~ Yes.
Alithiel~ Argh! What are you doing here?! Didn't I tell you to wait in 'Facing Fate'!?
Trowa~ *Shrugs * I was bored.
Alithiel~ Bored?!
Kento~ So was I!
Alithiel~ Aahhhhh!! Kento!! You're in the wrong section! You're in the wrong GENRE!
Kento~ He's here. *points to Trowa *
Alithiel~ Shoo! Shoo! Go help Arlyssa! Leave me in peace!
Kento~ Why? She isn't writing on her RW story right now.
Trowa~ We're quite comfortable here. * Both sit down and start playing Scrabble. *
Alithiel~ When did this become Wayward Anime headquarters? .sigh.
ALITHIEL'S DUMB QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo!"
Athsmatic Luca Blight (Suikoden 2)
By: Alithiel
Disclaimer: Hey all! Here's chapter 2.read and review, please! I hope you all like the story so far! Thank you to those two precious people who reviewed this humble story! Angels in disguse, you are!! Arigato Gozaimasu! Let me know too if it's easier to read. I do not own Tales of Destiny or Draconis. I do own Sariless and the bad guy, who as of now is nameless. Any suggestions? Enjoy the next installment.
Love ya all!
Alithiel
Chapter: Beginning's End
The noon sun beat with hammer blows on top of the young boy's head. However, he did not feel the heat even as he toiled in the barren fields of his birth. Sweat stung his dull green eyes as he pulled up yet another whithered weed in his gloved hands, tossing it into the sack at his side and beginning work on the next. The moment the weed left the earth, the raucious, crow-like voice of the overseer rang across the field.
"Rest!"
Gratefully, the boy rose and wobbled toward the scant shade of the scraggly trees that rimmed the edges of the field. Collapsing against one of the rough trunks, he uncapped his waterskin and took a drink of the warm liquid. Sputtering, he recaped it.
~How are you today, my boy?~ The voice in his head said pleasntly.
"Exhausted, master" The boy said wearily, rubbing his gloved hand absently. He always felt faintly dizzy when the vioce spoke.
~Do take off this glove. I need the air and light.~
Slowly, the boy drew off the battered leather glove. The brilliant sun winked off the blood-red stone, gleamed off of the wide bands of black metal encircling his right wrist. After a moment, the light was absorbed into the strange ornament.
"Why do you not let me see you? Like you did before?" The boy asked, chewing on a hard biscut from his meager lunch bag.
~Do you know, I once drew my power from the light?~ The gem mused, ignoring the boy's question. ~But, alas, the light betrayed me, plunged me into eternal darkness. Now, I shall have my revenge on the light and those who serve her.~
The overseer called the workers once again, and the boy stood, beginning to pull on the gloves.
"I understand the pain of betrayal." He said, pausing for a moment to look at the jewel. Bitter memories flooded his mind in a painful wave. Angrily he tamped it down.
~Then you will help me, my boy?~ The jewel flickered eagerly, the crimson of blood.
"I will help you, Berselius."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
The Swordian Masters, including Sariless, gathered on board the Draconis the day following the meeting. Garr had expressed he need to return to Heidelberg and inform his Prime Minister of his extended journey, and also to gather supplies.
"The Draconis cannot go everywhere. Besides, we must set up a search plan." He had said sensibly.
Thse ship roared to life and lurched off the ground like an overgrown whale. Sariless bit her lip and clutched the table, knuckles paling in the strength of her grip. All the blood ran from her face, leaving it pasty white. Rutee looked at her viciously. "Is the little witch afraid of heights?"
Philia gaped at her rude comment, but Sariless smiled grimly.
"If I am, it is none of your concern."
Rutee glared for a moment, then stormed from the room, slamming the door behind her. The three were housed in the women's cabin, a comfortable, low celinged room. Four beds, the fourth serving as a luggage rack at the moment, were bolted to the floor. Glass portholes were covered with thin curtains and looked out into the vast expanse of blue sky outside. Sariless sighed shakily, drawing her hand over her sweaty forehead. "Blast it."
Philia smiled gently. "Pay no attention to Rutee. She's always been rude."
"That's no excuse." Sariless sighed again, and risked a peek out of the porthole. The flight of the ship was much smoother now, and her stomach had finally stopped wobbling like a drunken sailor.
"You should get used to it. Heidelberg is not far distant, but there may be a time when we will have to be here longer than a few hours."
"I know." curiously, she turned to the priestess.
"Philia.how did you find Clemente?"
"Clemente?" Philia asked puzzeldly. "I was on a ship bound for Calvalese, when I heard a voice calling me. Stahn and the others didn't hear it. We went under the sea on a sea dragon, who took us to an underwater city. That's where I found Clemente."
Sariless looked thoughtful. "Strange to find a lightning sword underwater."
Phiilia smiled again, shrugging delicately. "I just take what Atamoni gives me."
"You have a lot of faith in Atamoni, then."
"I do. My faith is all I really have."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
The Swordian Masters met in the main cabin a short time later. The ship was soon to land outside of Heidelberg, the Phandarian capital. Garr led them unobtrusively to a hidden entrance in the outer wall of the city that convinently ended in the palace library. The library held the most famous literary works in all of Phandaria, all stored on tall shelves that towered over even Garr's head. While Philia wandered among the shelves, looking as if she were in heaven, the others sat at one of the dark wooden tables.
Rutee propped her feet up on the table. "Well, where do we start?"
Garr looked at the gem attached to Sariless' hand. "Chaltier, do you know where the others are?"
It seemed that a sigh came from the gem. ~Well.~
Stahn leaned forward eagerly. "Do you mean you do?"
~Not in this form.~ The stone pulsed purple, as if it was nervious.
Philia appeared from around one of the shelves, a thick book in her hand. "This form?"
Sariless grinned wickedly. "May as well show them, Chalt."
~Sariless! Don't call me Chalt!"
"Ok, Chalt."
Another sigh from the purple gem. ~All right.I'll show you what I mean. Do not be alarmed.~
The Swordian Masters looked at each other in puzzlement, then returned their attention to the Swordian of Earth. The core crystal on Sariless' hand began to glow a brilliant purple. The intensity increased until it was almost unbearable to look at, blinding the people sitting at the table. The light engulfed the chair the girl was sitting it, curtaning it in shining radience. When the light disappated, there was a translucent figure standing behind Sariless' chair. He was tall and thin and dressed in an outfit disturbingly similar to Leon's. His long hair was as black as night, and his violet eyes seemed to glow ereily in the dim library. His hands rested on the hilt of a scimitar.
"I forgot how cute you were." Sariless grinned as a brilliant blush colored the man's ghostly cheeks and he rolled his eyes. The others were in complete shock, mouths wide open and blinking dazedly.
"CHALTIER!??" Stahn stammered, nearly tumbling out of his chair in shock.
'Yes, it is I.' The man smiled slightly at the young man. 'This is as I was, before my consousness leaked into this sword.' He patted the hilt at his side.
"Chaltier." Garr sighed as he looked at the sword. "It has been too long since I have seen its sword form."
Rutee glared daggers at Sariless. "You mean that you saw him like this when he attatched to you?! AND YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING!?"
Sariless covered her ears. "Stop shrieking, dimwit! I can hear you fine!"
The lens hunter's face turned a most unbecoming shade of red, and she lunged across the table as of to strangle Sariless. The mocking smile melted from her face like ice in a desert sun, replaced by an expression of fear. The girl raised her hand toward Rutee, and it began to glow with a purple aura. A crackling noise filled the air.
"Please.don't make me use this on you." There was such a look of desperation on her face that Rutee's vengance fizzled out. Sariless was a mystery to her. Stahn watched the exchange. Was it his imagination, or were there tears in the girl's eyes as she made her threat?
Sariless dropped her hand, and the crackling died away. Her face was pale as marble. Philia looked at her in alarm.
'No that the bloodshed is over.' Chaltier cleared his etheral throat. 'In this form, I can feel the others.to a point, anyway. It uses a great deal of energy, though. With it, I can get a general idea of where they are through my affinity with the earth. Allow me to demonstrate.' The ghostly spirit walked to a large map of the world that hung on the only wall without shelves, staring at it unblinkingly. He began to glow vivid, pulsing purple, and the room was filled with murmuring voices. Garr tapped his index finger neviously against the table as he watched him, filling the air with a hollow pulsing noise in unusual counterpont to the whispers. Stahn was leaning eagerly toward the map. Chaltier slowly lifted his hand, placing a misty index finger on a location. A sizzling nose briefly filled the air, and hen he movd his hand there was a small, glowing green dot.
Chaltier began to fade a little around the edges. 'There.there is one.' A quick flash filled the room as he retreated back into his core.
Garr looked at the map.
"It's Igtenos. He's in Frosthiem."
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
The group agreed to begin in the morning, without the Draconis and the attention it was sure to draw. Rutee caught up with Stahn as they left the library to go to their rooms.
"Did you see Sariless? She would have killed me!" Rutee had to jog to keep up with his long strides.
Stahn shook his head, his boyish face unusually thoughtful. Rutee thught it was a weird look for him. "No, she wouldn't. She was about ready to cry when she threatened you. There's much more to her than meets the eye."
"Any more of her and I'm gonna be sick."
Stahn rounded on her. This was the last straw. There was such a look of anger on his face that a spark of crimson seemed to gleam in his blue eyes.
"When are you going to put your petty crap away and quit making her life miserable?" He snarled with more acid than he intended. "Two days and you already hate her! Why do you hate Sariless so much? Is it because she has Chaltier?"
That bit beep, and Rutee was surprised at the sudden was of emotion she felt. She was taken aback by the harshness of his tone, but her own anger quickly grew.
"Petty!? Don't you even CARE that she's insulted me!?"
"All the people in Aquaveil insulted you, too. Do you hate them?" Stahn snapped.
"Well.no. But that's different!"
"There you go, then. You know it's not different. You're acting like a spoiled child who's had their favorite toy taken! Remember, she was the one who came to get us. If she leaves.if you leave.the whole thing's shot to hell!" He shook his head, then turned now-pleading eyes to Rutee. "Please, try to be at least civil, alright? We're in this together.whether you like it or not. Don't let your brother's ghost ruin it."
With that, he made his way down the hall. Rutee watched his retreating back from the doorway of her room.
"When did you grow up, country boy?"
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Sariless' dreams were disturbed that night. She writhed around on the soft bed, probably the softest she had slept on in years, sweating and muttering. Her white hair was a tangled mess covering her face, her simple nightgown in knots around her.
~The sky was dark gray, shifting in angry patterns. Lighting crackled. The battlefield was flowing with blood and the corpses of the dead. As it rose up to her knees, she saw brilliant light playng in the distance. She began running as fast as she could, nightgown dragging, through the waves of blood that threateded to swallow her whole. After what seemd like ages, she saw four figures, blades of multicolored light clenched in determined hands. They were fighting a great darkness, like a giant bat. Orange, red, green, and blue the lights shone, cutting the dark. The red burned brighter than them all, with a flicker of white within its firey core. The darkness laughed, then swallowed the field in a shattering burst of black. The lights flickered out like dying sparks. Laughing hystericly, the dark rose up to the sky, taking the dark couds with it and bathing the field in cold sunlight. She looked down, feeling a strange wight on her feet. Down into the dead face of Stahn Aileron. Panicked, she looked around. Rutee, Philia, Garr. All dead. She was engulfed in brilliant light as she screamed.~
Sariless snapped awake, still screaming. She was in pain, horrible, searing pain. She struggled wildly out of bed from her cocoon of sheets, looking at herself. The dim light of the lamp showed what she feared. The pounding of feet coming down the corridor was lost to her ringing ears.
Her nightgown was soaked in blood.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()() TBC.
Alithiel~ Ahahahahahah! Done! Read and review, please! Erm.would that be a cliffhanger?
Trowa~ Yes.
Alithiel~ Argh! What are you doing here?! Didn't I tell you to wait in 'Facing Fate'!?
Trowa~ *Shrugs * I was bored.
Alithiel~ Bored?!
Kento~ So was I!
Alithiel~ Aahhhhh!! Kento!! You're in the wrong section! You're in the wrong GENRE!
Kento~ He's here. *points to Trowa *
Alithiel~ Shoo! Shoo! Go help Arlyssa! Leave me in peace!
Kento~ Why? She isn't writing on her RW story right now.
Trowa~ We're quite comfortable here. * Both sit down and start playing Scrabble. *
Alithiel~ When did this become Wayward Anime headquarters? .sigh.
ALITHIEL'S DUMB QUOTE OF THE DAY:
"Hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo!"
Athsmatic Luca Blight (Suikoden 2)
