(Author's Note: Some of you may notice that I like the Elazul/main female
(who I call Lethia!) pairing. Yep, I do. I think it's sweet. You'll see
it through out my stories with those two. It might be major or subtle
hints, but it'll be there somehow. Okay, no spoilers here. Just fluffy
Elazul and Lethia stuff. I got the dialogue for Rubens and Esmeralda from:
http: //www. etansel. net/ script /. I love this site. That's the only
credit I need to give for the story! Oh yeah, keep a look out for my story
Seiken Densetsu 4: Legend of Mana and it's follow up Secret of Mana. It
may be a while for the later, but you'll see them. Enjoy!!)
................
An Unseen Jewel
They had traveled through the Underworld many times. Lethia had taken Elazul there when ever he asked. It was strange, but the Lapis Knight was amazed by the facts of death and wished to see what happened when a being died. Lethia could only agree to aid the Jumi in his quest for understanding. In a way she felt bad for him; the Jumi knew so little about the facts of death and what happened afterwards. The other beings in the world had many theories but a race with people who seemed to live forever had no need for such stories.
"What would you like to do this time around?" Lethia asked softly. She dragged her staff beside her, creating a small trail behind the two of them. Lethia looked at Elazul, a little surprised that the Jumi didn't answer swiftly. His eyes were on the ground, misted over as he disappeared into his thoughts. Lethia waited and asked the question once more.
Elazul looked at Lethia, his eyes never losing that sad sense. "Lethia, does every soul live in the Underworld?"
Lethia blinked. "What do you mean?"
"If Duelle died, would his soul reside here?" Elazul said softly.
"The Underworld is for every soul, no matter what race. I have seen many creatures wander through here." Lethia replied. She had a feeling what Elazul really meant; did the souls of dead Jumi live in the Underworld. She had seen them before, but never approached the souls the Jumi. Lethia knew too much about the race and feared the questions they might ask. It was in her character to answer truthfully and she wouldn't be able to deny them the answers.
For a few moments Elazul was silent. He heaved as sigh. "Do you think we could find the deceased Jumi?" His blue eyes turned to me, pleading silently. "Could you help me?"
A soft, reassuring smile formed on Lethia's face. "Of course. I've seen them wander the corridors before, but I've never been able to approach them." The sadness in Elazul's eyes never seemed to disappear. Lethia felt her heart sink. She seized the Jumi's hand, causing him to falter. Lethia smiled softly. "I can take you to Esmeralda. Her room isn't far from here."
Elazul smiled slightly. "Thank you."
The two wandered down the corridor, neither letting go of the other's hand. The simple touch seemed to ease the other; Lethia knew it eased Elazul's trouble mind. As for the Lapis Knight, he had longed for a physical touch after he lost Pearl to her true self, BlackPearl. He feared that with the resurfacing of the Knight he would be of no use and that his long time Jumi companion was lost to him. With Lethia, though, it seemed like she had never left his side. In their last adventures in the Underworld it was he who helped her, but now she was there for him.
Elazul's core slowly began to sparkle. He paused for a moment. "She's near." he whispered, his eyes turning to Lethia. She nodded and quickly lead him through a doorway. Elazul quickly stopped, letting his hand slip out of Lethia's grasp.
"Esmeralda." Elazul whispered.
The young Emerald Jumi sat at the chamber's bed looking at her hands. Lethia took a step towards her and Esmeralda slowly looked up. A weary smile crossed the young Jumi's face. "I thought the Underworld would be much scarier. Some creatures called Shadoles are here, so it's lively." Esmeralda paused, looking back down at her hands. "Do you think the Jumi will die out? Florina kept us going all by herself. I wish I could shed tears, too. I wonder why we can't cry. . . . But I won't give up. I bet everyone thinks the same, even Diana. . . ."
Elazul approached the Jumi and knelt before her. He tried, in vain, to make her look at him. In slight annoyance he waved his hand before her eyes but she didn't seem to notice. "You can't see me." Elazul whispered.
Esmeralda's head suddenly jerked up, her eyes wide. Her core began to glow and Elazul's core did the same. "I can sense another Jumi near me. . . . Hello?"
"She can still sense me." Elazul cried. He looked at Lethia, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Esmeralda, please hear me. I'm with you; beside you. Please try. . . ." he pleaded. He studied the Jumi's face hoping to see her eyes turn to his own.
"I guess. . . . I guess they're not there." Esmeralda whispered, lowering her eyes sadly.
"So, you can't even see me. The laws of the Underworld are strict." Elazul stood slowly and turned his attention to Lethia. She hovered near Esmeralda, her eyes sad as her heart went out to the both of them. "Could you ask why she had the argument with Diana. . . . Please?"
Lethia looked at Esmeralda. "Why did you argue with Diana? I thought the two of you were close."
Esmeralda closed her eyes and a soft sigh escaped her. "The Jewel Hunter told me that Diana was taking Florina's Teardrop Crystal. I believed her then, but I don't know now. Now I know what really happened. The Teardrop Crystals are shards of life! And just stealing them. . . . ." Esmeralda's voice trailed off. "I said terrible things to Diana. I wish I hadn't."
"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, Esmeralda." Elazul whispered.
A soft smile suddenly crossed Esmeralda's face. She opened her eyes and looked up at Lethia. "I sense that someone is thinking about me. Thank you. . . . Who ever you are. Thank you, Lethia, for becoming my knight."
"There is no reason to thank me." Lethia replied.
Elazul turned away from the Jumi, closing his eyes tightly. "Lethia, I think we should leave, please."
Lethia bid the young Jumi good bye and slowly left, her eyes studying Elazul with every step. She knew that he was heartbroken.
"So, it's you." The two travelers stopped. Lethia's eyes met with Rubens who stood beside the opening to Esmeralda's room. "I heard you're helping my Jumi friends." Rubens stood straight and suddenly extended his hand. Lethia took the Jumi's hand. "Thank you."
Elazul studied the Ruby Jumi. "Rubens?" he whispered. His eyes widened. "Rubens! He can't see me. . . . Damn it! I need to ask. . . . That's right." Elazul looked at Lethia, who returned his glance. "Lethia, ask him for me. Ask Rubens about the Jewel Hunter."
"Rubens," Lethia said, complying with her comrade's request. "do you know anything about the Jewel Hunter?"
The Jumi narrowed his eyes. "So it was her. I knew I had seen her face before. I wish it was a mistake."
"A traitor did this to you." Elazul said through clenched teeth. "I will avenge you. I promise you that much."
Suddenly both Jumi's core began to glow. Elazul watched as Rubens studied himself. A sad smile crossed his face. "Somewhere out there, there is a Jumi thinking of me." Rubens turned his eyes towards the ceiling. "Thank you. May your core shine bright." The Ruby Jumi lowered his eyes slowly. "I'm sure Diana would say the same."
Elazul reached for Rubens, his eyes growing watery, as if he would cry. "Rubens." he whispered. His gloved hands suddenly went through the Ruby Jumi as if he was only a reflection. Elazul let out a stifled gasp and took a step backwards, his eyes wide with horror. He watched silently as the dead Jumi wandered away, saying a brief farewell to Lethia.
"I didn't know they wouldn't be able to see you, Elazul." Lethia whispered, slowly approaching Elazul. "I shouldn't have brought you to see them"
"No. I'm happy that you did." Elazul said softly. "I wanted to see them one last time. You did that for me. Thank you."
Elazul raised his eyes to Lethia's and slowly put his arms around her, locking the sprite in an embrace. Lethia could only embrace the Jumi in response, feeling tears welling up inside her. She wanted to cry for Elazul, but time and time again the Jumi she had aided told her not to; she would turn to stone if she did.
Closing her eyes tightly, Lethia held Elazul close. She didn't want this moment to end. No matter how many battles she went through or how many times she aided Elazul this was the closest she ever felt to him.
"Thank you." Elazul whispered in Lethia's ear, his breath tickling her neck and sending a strange sensation through her body. He slowly broke the embrace, but remained close to the Lethia.
"You don't have to thank me." Lethia replied, her eyes locking onto Elazul's. She knew he could see that she nearly cried and a look of sadness crossed his face once more. Lethia shook her head and smiled softly. "You wanted to see them. I just want you to be happy."
Elazul raised a gloved hand and touched Lethia's cheek softly. "I want you to be happy to. I don't want you to cry, Lethia. There shouldn't be a reason for you to cry. And you shouldn't cry for me." He took Lethia's face into his hands. The young sprite tensed at the sudden touch, but her eyes remained on Elazul. "I don't want to see you sad."
Slowly Elazul leaned his face closer. Lethia felt her heat race and she let her eyes close; she began to wonder if this was really happening. Elazul kissed Lethia softly and he felt something inside of him change. He broke the kiss and noticed that something seemed to change in her eyes.
"We need to get back to the surface." Lethia whispered.
"I know." Elazul replied. He took Lethia's hand into his own and followed close beside her. They now shared a bond Elazul thought he once had with Pearl, but this was something different; Lethia had shown him something new. He now knew what it meant to care for someone so much that he would sacrifice his own life, and it didn't feel like it was his duty.
................
An Unseen Jewel
They had traveled through the Underworld many times. Lethia had taken Elazul there when ever he asked. It was strange, but the Lapis Knight was amazed by the facts of death and wished to see what happened when a being died. Lethia could only agree to aid the Jumi in his quest for understanding. In a way she felt bad for him; the Jumi knew so little about the facts of death and what happened afterwards. The other beings in the world had many theories but a race with people who seemed to live forever had no need for such stories.
"What would you like to do this time around?" Lethia asked softly. She dragged her staff beside her, creating a small trail behind the two of them. Lethia looked at Elazul, a little surprised that the Jumi didn't answer swiftly. His eyes were on the ground, misted over as he disappeared into his thoughts. Lethia waited and asked the question once more.
Elazul looked at Lethia, his eyes never losing that sad sense. "Lethia, does every soul live in the Underworld?"
Lethia blinked. "What do you mean?"
"If Duelle died, would his soul reside here?" Elazul said softly.
"The Underworld is for every soul, no matter what race. I have seen many creatures wander through here." Lethia replied. She had a feeling what Elazul really meant; did the souls of dead Jumi live in the Underworld. She had seen them before, but never approached the souls the Jumi. Lethia knew too much about the race and feared the questions they might ask. It was in her character to answer truthfully and she wouldn't be able to deny them the answers.
For a few moments Elazul was silent. He heaved as sigh. "Do you think we could find the deceased Jumi?" His blue eyes turned to me, pleading silently. "Could you help me?"
A soft, reassuring smile formed on Lethia's face. "Of course. I've seen them wander the corridors before, but I've never been able to approach them." The sadness in Elazul's eyes never seemed to disappear. Lethia felt her heart sink. She seized the Jumi's hand, causing him to falter. Lethia smiled softly. "I can take you to Esmeralda. Her room isn't far from here."
Elazul smiled slightly. "Thank you."
The two wandered down the corridor, neither letting go of the other's hand. The simple touch seemed to ease the other; Lethia knew it eased Elazul's trouble mind. As for the Lapis Knight, he had longed for a physical touch after he lost Pearl to her true self, BlackPearl. He feared that with the resurfacing of the Knight he would be of no use and that his long time Jumi companion was lost to him. With Lethia, though, it seemed like she had never left his side. In their last adventures in the Underworld it was he who helped her, but now she was there for him.
Elazul's core slowly began to sparkle. He paused for a moment. "She's near." he whispered, his eyes turning to Lethia. She nodded and quickly lead him through a doorway. Elazul quickly stopped, letting his hand slip out of Lethia's grasp.
"Esmeralda." Elazul whispered.
The young Emerald Jumi sat at the chamber's bed looking at her hands. Lethia took a step towards her and Esmeralda slowly looked up. A weary smile crossed the young Jumi's face. "I thought the Underworld would be much scarier. Some creatures called Shadoles are here, so it's lively." Esmeralda paused, looking back down at her hands. "Do you think the Jumi will die out? Florina kept us going all by herself. I wish I could shed tears, too. I wonder why we can't cry. . . . But I won't give up. I bet everyone thinks the same, even Diana. . . ."
Elazul approached the Jumi and knelt before her. He tried, in vain, to make her look at him. In slight annoyance he waved his hand before her eyes but she didn't seem to notice. "You can't see me." Elazul whispered.
Esmeralda's head suddenly jerked up, her eyes wide. Her core began to glow and Elazul's core did the same. "I can sense another Jumi near me. . . . Hello?"
"She can still sense me." Elazul cried. He looked at Lethia, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Esmeralda, please hear me. I'm with you; beside you. Please try. . . ." he pleaded. He studied the Jumi's face hoping to see her eyes turn to his own.
"I guess. . . . I guess they're not there." Esmeralda whispered, lowering her eyes sadly.
"So, you can't even see me. The laws of the Underworld are strict." Elazul stood slowly and turned his attention to Lethia. She hovered near Esmeralda, her eyes sad as her heart went out to the both of them. "Could you ask why she had the argument with Diana. . . . Please?"
Lethia looked at Esmeralda. "Why did you argue with Diana? I thought the two of you were close."
Esmeralda closed her eyes and a soft sigh escaped her. "The Jewel Hunter told me that Diana was taking Florina's Teardrop Crystal. I believed her then, but I don't know now. Now I know what really happened. The Teardrop Crystals are shards of life! And just stealing them. . . . ." Esmeralda's voice trailed off. "I said terrible things to Diana. I wish I hadn't."
"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, Esmeralda." Elazul whispered.
A soft smile suddenly crossed Esmeralda's face. She opened her eyes and looked up at Lethia. "I sense that someone is thinking about me. Thank you. . . . Who ever you are. Thank you, Lethia, for becoming my knight."
"There is no reason to thank me." Lethia replied.
Elazul turned away from the Jumi, closing his eyes tightly. "Lethia, I think we should leave, please."
Lethia bid the young Jumi good bye and slowly left, her eyes studying Elazul with every step. She knew that he was heartbroken.
"So, it's you." The two travelers stopped. Lethia's eyes met with Rubens who stood beside the opening to Esmeralda's room. "I heard you're helping my Jumi friends." Rubens stood straight and suddenly extended his hand. Lethia took the Jumi's hand. "Thank you."
Elazul studied the Ruby Jumi. "Rubens?" he whispered. His eyes widened. "Rubens! He can't see me. . . . Damn it! I need to ask. . . . That's right." Elazul looked at Lethia, who returned his glance. "Lethia, ask him for me. Ask Rubens about the Jewel Hunter."
"Rubens," Lethia said, complying with her comrade's request. "do you know anything about the Jewel Hunter?"
The Jumi narrowed his eyes. "So it was her. I knew I had seen her face before. I wish it was a mistake."
"A traitor did this to you." Elazul said through clenched teeth. "I will avenge you. I promise you that much."
Suddenly both Jumi's core began to glow. Elazul watched as Rubens studied himself. A sad smile crossed his face. "Somewhere out there, there is a Jumi thinking of me." Rubens turned his eyes towards the ceiling. "Thank you. May your core shine bright." The Ruby Jumi lowered his eyes slowly. "I'm sure Diana would say the same."
Elazul reached for Rubens, his eyes growing watery, as if he would cry. "Rubens." he whispered. His gloved hands suddenly went through the Ruby Jumi as if he was only a reflection. Elazul let out a stifled gasp and took a step backwards, his eyes wide with horror. He watched silently as the dead Jumi wandered away, saying a brief farewell to Lethia.
"I didn't know they wouldn't be able to see you, Elazul." Lethia whispered, slowly approaching Elazul. "I shouldn't have brought you to see them"
"No. I'm happy that you did." Elazul said softly. "I wanted to see them one last time. You did that for me. Thank you."
Elazul raised his eyes to Lethia's and slowly put his arms around her, locking the sprite in an embrace. Lethia could only embrace the Jumi in response, feeling tears welling up inside her. She wanted to cry for Elazul, but time and time again the Jumi she had aided told her not to; she would turn to stone if she did.
Closing her eyes tightly, Lethia held Elazul close. She didn't want this moment to end. No matter how many battles she went through or how many times she aided Elazul this was the closest she ever felt to him.
"Thank you." Elazul whispered in Lethia's ear, his breath tickling her neck and sending a strange sensation through her body. He slowly broke the embrace, but remained close to the Lethia.
"You don't have to thank me." Lethia replied, her eyes locking onto Elazul's. She knew he could see that she nearly cried and a look of sadness crossed his face once more. Lethia shook her head and smiled softly. "You wanted to see them. I just want you to be happy."
Elazul raised a gloved hand and touched Lethia's cheek softly. "I want you to be happy to. I don't want you to cry, Lethia. There shouldn't be a reason for you to cry. And you shouldn't cry for me." He took Lethia's face into his hands. The young sprite tensed at the sudden touch, but her eyes remained on Elazul. "I don't want to see you sad."
Slowly Elazul leaned his face closer. Lethia felt her heat race and she let her eyes close; she began to wonder if this was really happening. Elazul kissed Lethia softly and he felt something inside of him change. He broke the kiss and noticed that something seemed to change in her eyes.
"We need to get back to the surface." Lethia whispered.
"I know." Elazul replied. He took Lethia's hand into his own and followed close beside her. They now shared a bond Elazul thought he once had with Pearl, but this was something different; Lethia had shown him something new. He now knew what it meant to care for someone so much that he would sacrifice his own life, and it didn't feel like it was his duty.
