Chapter Four: Flames of Purity
Over the next two days, Miguel had arranged for an interview for Aiko with Lord Folken. He told her it was simply because he wanted to meet with her. She was so interesting suddenly.
"Everyone's talking about you," he had told her. "You are the girl from the Mystic Moon."
In fact, Aiko was seeing a lot of Miguel, and Folken, and various other people and creatures she had never really learned the names of! The only people she seemed never to cross paths with were this elusive Emperor Dornkirk, and Dilandau- perhaps the only person she actually cared to see.
On the third day, she decided to go to the weapons room, where she thought the Dragon Slayers might be training. There were many boys in there, dueling with swords masterfully. Aiko saw Dilandau on the other side of the room. She smiled and tried to catch his eye. He didn't see her, but Miguel did. He walked right over.
"Aiko!" he said, chuckling the way he always did when he said her name. She hated it. If he were going to chuckle, she'd much prefer it if he did so before or after he had said her name- not during! 'Ah-ah-Aiko ha ha!' she would mock sassily later in her room. But for now she forced a polite smile.
"H..hi Commander Miguel."
"Please, please," he chuckled, a great smile on his face. "Call me just Miguel!'
"Alright, Just Miguel." Aiko wished she hadn't done that. Miguel really had an annoying laugh.
"Great! So, have you come here to learn some perfect swordplay techniques? I can show you everything you need to know!" Miguel beamed.
Aiko didn't want to hurt his feelings. "I. I don't know, Miguel."
"Come on! Pick an opponent! I'll walk you through the stages of a good parry, and a swift thrust!"
"I really don't." then she got an idea. "Okay! I'll oppose Dilandau!"
Dilandau, who had been watching with vague interest, suddenly felt the stares of many of his companions. 'Why me?' he thought. For all he could see, Miguel and Aiko were really hitting it off.
Soon, Dilandau and Aiko faced each other in battle stances.
"Now, go easy on her, Albatou, ah ha ha!" Miguel laughed his sentence out, yet again. Dilandau saw Aiko roll her eyes.
"I've never done this, Dilandau. What should I do first?"
"Take a guarded stance. Brace yourself for the impact sword against sword will have on you. Don't ever show fear."
"Don't scare her, Dil," came Miguel's giddy voice from behind Aiko.
"I'm not scared." Dilandau demonstrated the impact he was talking about. It sent a painful jolt through Aiko's arms. "How was that?" she said through clenched teeth. A small smile appeared on Dilandau's lips, and Aiko returned it. Then Miguel moved in behind her, holding her arms.
"Grip the sword like this. And swing, and swing." He began guiding her steps and swings. "You've got it. Come on, Albatou! Give us your best! She's ready."
Dilandau, who was angry and he didn't really know why, stepped towards them menacingly. His sword maneuver and blow to the blade tore the weapon right out of Aiko's hands and sent it flying across the room. Then Dilandau turned haughtily and left the room.
"Maybe that's enough for today," said Miguel uneasily.
"You know, Commander Miguel. I'm just not cut out for this. I don't think I'll be taking anymore lessons, thanks." With that, Aiko left and went to the library.
* * *
She wanted to know things, like why he had saved her in the first place, and where he had been all of these days. Dilandau is the only person she was interested in knowing and she didn't know anything about him. 'I know more about Giddy McChuckles, for goodness sakes! He never stops talking about himself.' She thought.
"You don't look very cheery. Are you homesick?" It was Dalet, come to join her. Gatti was with him.
"No. Not homesick at all. It's. nothing." Aiko sighed. Gatti and Dalet exchanged glances, and sat down at the table with her. "When are you going to slay dragons again?" She asked. "I want to go back to that beautiful place! I want to be outside again."
The boys shrugged. "We have to wait for a command. You should express this desire to Commander Miguel. Maybe he'll take you with us when we go."
'I don't want to "express my desire" to Commander Miguel!' Aiko silently mocked inside her head. "What about Dilandau? Is he always so elusive? I run into you two all the time, but he's never around. no offence."
"None taken," said Dalet.
"He likes to be, well. he tends to keep to himself." Answered Gatti.
"You know, there isn't anything really wrong with him. he's the very best at everything, and I mean everything! He is the elite of the elite, that's for sure!" Added Dalet.
"Yes, truly the perfect soldier. One would think he should be Commander, instead of Miguel."
"But you saw the way he lost his temper today. That is not a good leadership quality. And there are other things."
"He sees that lady. Ellen, or something. She talks to him every week about his instabilities." Gatti shook his head. knowing the name he gave didn't sound right. But Aiko didn't notice.
"I wish he didn't hide all of the time." Muttered Aiko.
Dalet and Gatti exchanged glances a second time.
"You should just confront him," suggested Dalet.
"I should?" Aiko was unsure. They made Dilandau sound so. unstable.
"Yes. I'll show you where his room is. You should just go and see him. He's probably in there anyway." Offered Gatti, standing.
"Are you sure he's there. maybe." Aiko remained seated.
"Of course he is! Where else would he be? Come on, come on!"
* * *
And so Aiko was guided to Dilandau's room. She stood outside the door, contemplating what she should do. Gatti raised his eyebrows at her. She still did nothing. He banged his fist three times on the door, and then walked away, turning down the nearest side corridor.
There was movement from within, however slight, and finally a voice called, "Enter?" It sounded unsure and filled with surprise.
When the door mechanically slid open, Aiko's breath was stolen from her. The room was filled with delightful candles, and many red things. After she had entered, staring around her, and when she could speak again, she said. "Oh Dilandau! This is the only room I have yet seen with any warmth and colour. It is so beautiful."
Apparently, Dilandau hadn't gotten his speech back yet. "Ai. Aiko! What are you doing here?"
"I came to say hi. I haven't seen you since you saved my life from that awful reptile, and I haven't even properly thanked you yet."
"How did you know where I was?"
"Gatti showed me."
Dilandau frowned. "Oh? What were they saying about me?"
"You shouldn't worry about what others say, you know. And to be perfectly honest, they said only nice things. Like you are the best at everything."
"Yeah! What else did they say?"
Aiko frowned. Dilandau looked away. "Aiko. are you. when are you going home?"
"I don't want to go back!" said Aiko, becoming defensive.
"Oh. May I ask why?" Dilandau offered her a chair. The table had a single candle on it. It wasn't very tall, but it was very ornate. It had been lit before, but was the only one that wasn't lit at the moment.
"Well. Someone was hurting me."
"Who?"
"My father." Aiko had just said it, as if it was normal, as if she were expressing her like for apples and her dislike for olives. The councilors couldn't ever get her to say it, and never had anything to lock him up. "But I'm so far away from that now, and I never want to go back! He can't hurt me anymore!"
Dilandau's face contorted with confusion and sympathy. "Why would he do that?"
"He drinks. it's a nightmare. but it's over. I'm awake now."
"Aiko." Said Dilandau, his voice soft and different from his usual tone. "There is so much pain inside of your body and mind. I can see it in your eyes. It is so beautiful."
Aiko wrinkled her nose, trying to find the compliment. Dilandau thought he'd better explain himself. "I find it so beautiful that creatures, such as ourselves, can endure and retain so much physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. It is amazing and inspiring. With time, pain subsides, but the memory of pain always remains in the eyes. Eyes are filled only with wisdom and sorrow. Eyes that know no pain, know no beauty."
Aiko's jaw hung open as she stared at Dilandau with more awe and admiration than when he slew the dragon. She sighed deeply, held her breath for many moments, and then exhaled with a pretty smile on her face. She had been completely swept off of her feet. She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands and just staring dreamily at Dilandau, studying his delicate features. Hair the colour of his Unicorn horse, eyes the colour of that energist-thing he took from the Dragon, a small smile smiling clumsily, every time he saw her.
"Aiko. I want to share something with you. I have never told anyone about this, ever! This will probably be a mistake, but I really want to share this with you."
"Okay. What is it?" Dilandau smiled, and rose to get a candle. He brought it to the table, lit the one that was there, returned the candle to its place, and retook his seat.
"Put your arm on the flame."
Aiko giggled. Then her smile faded. "Are you serious?"
"Yes."
Her eyes widened. "No."
"Please, let me share this with you." Dilandau seemed as if he felt defeated by everything. He was struggling to say what he meant, but couldn't quite word it. "If you could just feel it the way I do." was all he could manage to form.
"I have felt it. It hurts. I don't like it."
"If only you could understand." He pleaded.
"Understand what?"
"It's hard to explain. Yes. It hurts, but only for a moment. Afterwards, it is complete bliss! It. all of the pain you have been harbouring in your soul over the years, be it emotional or physical, whether the wounds have healed or not, all of it, all of that pain rises to the surface of your skin in that one place where the flame touches you. Then, by the heat, it all just melts away. Then I will treat the wound from the candle, and it won't hurt anymore. I can treat a small burn, but a thousand emotional wounds can never be treated. This way, they will vanish. You will be purified, cleansed. The feeling of being painless, with only the memories of pain flickering in your eyes. Aiko. Let me share this with you. I'll share it with no one else, in all of my life. I know it."
Aiko looked at the flame. She looked away. "But I know it will hurt."
"Only for a little while, a few moments. You can pull away whenever you want to. I will be right here. I will always be right here, Aiko."
After a long pause, she took a deep breath, and put a determined look on her face. She extended her left arm to him. On the soft underside of her forearm, roughly between her palm and the nook of her elbow, she felt the first hotness. It was almost unbearable, but she glances to see, and Dilandau hadn't even let her arm touch the flame yet. Through clenched teeth, she whimpered softly. Dilandau held her arm steady.
A tear trickled down her right cheek, and Dilandau, sitting across from her, lifted his hand to gently brush it away. Her grip on his hand relaxed slightly. But she could bear the searing pain no longer. Her right arm trembled and she jerked her left arm, trying to take it back from Dilandau. He let go immediately. While she caressed the wound gingerly, he blew out he candle and stood up.
He gathered some things, saying nothing, his face showing nothing. But if Aiko had seen his eyes! Pride flickered there. He was so proud of her.
He helped her out of the chair and down to the floor. He laid her on her back, and sat next to her at her left.
"There." He whispered. "The pain of a thousand wounds is leaving your spirit." He began to tenderly treat this new wound. He washed it, and then put something cool on it that almost instantly ceased the throbbing, burning pain. Lastly, and with the most care, he dressed the burn with bandages.
He lay down beside her and said nothing. He just listened to her breathing. After many moments, it returned to a normal, rhythmic pattern. "So you will stay here, on Gaea?" He finally broke the comfortable silence.
"Mmm hmm," she agreed.
"And will you stay here with me?"
"Mmm hmm."
"Whatever makes you happy, Aiko. I'll concern myself with only this."
"I would be happy to lie here with you until I fall asleep, hearing your heartbeat and the beautiful, poetic things you say. This would content my soul."
But Dilandau had nothing more to say. His breathing and his heartbeat lulled Aiko to sleep, and neither of them moved for the entire afternoon, and all through the night.
Over the next two days, Miguel had arranged for an interview for Aiko with Lord Folken. He told her it was simply because he wanted to meet with her. She was so interesting suddenly.
"Everyone's talking about you," he had told her. "You are the girl from the Mystic Moon."
In fact, Aiko was seeing a lot of Miguel, and Folken, and various other people and creatures she had never really learned the names of! The only people she seemed never to cross paths with were this elusive Emperor Dornkirk, and Dilandau- perhaps the only person she actually cared to see.
On the third day, she decided to go to the weapons room, where she thought the Dragon Slayers might be training. There were many boys in there, dueling with swords masterfully. Aiko saw Dilandau on the other side of the room. She smiled and tried to catch his eye. He didn't see her, but Miguel did. He walked right over.
"Aiko!" he said, chuckling the way he always did when he said her name. She hated it. If he were going to chuckle, she'd much prefer it if he did so before or after he had said her name- not during! 'Ah-ah-Aiko ha ha!' she would mock sassily later in her room. But for now she forced a polite smile.
"H..hi Commander Miguel."
"Please, please," he chuckled, a great smile on his face. "Call me just Miguel!'
"Alright, Just Miguel." Aiko wished she hadn't done that. Miguel really had an annoying laugh.
"Great! So, have you come here to learn some perfect swordplay techniques? I can show you everything you need to know!" Miguel beamed.
Aiko didn't want to hurt his feelings. "I. I don't know, Miguel."
"Come on! Pick an opponent! I'll walk you through the stages of a good parry, and a swift thrust!"
"I really don't." then she got an idea. "Okay! I'll oppose Dilandau!"
Dilandau, who had been watching with vague interest, suddenly felt the stares of many of his companions. 'Why me?' he thought. For all he could see, Miguel and Aiko were really hitting it off.
Soon, Dilandau and Aiko faced each other in battle stances.
"Now, go easy on her, Albatou, ah ha ha!" Miguel laughed his sentence out, yet again. Dilandau saw Aiko roll her eyes.
"I've never done this, Dilandau. What should I do first?"
"Take a guarded stance. Brace yourself for the impact sword against sword will have on you. Don't ever show fear."
"Don't scare her, Dil," came Miguel's giddy voice from behind Aiko.
"I'm not scared." Dilandau demonstrated the impact he was talking about. It sent a painful jolt through Aiko's arms. "How was that?" she said through clenched teeth. A small smile appeared on Dilandau's lips, and Aiko returned it. Then Miguel moved in behind her, holding her arms.
"Grip the sword like this. And swing, and swing." He began guiding her steps and swings. "You've got it. Come on, Albatou! Give us your best! She's ready."
Dilandau, who was angry and he didn't really know why, stepped towards them menacingly. His sword maneuver and blow to the blade tore the weapon right out of Aiko's hands and sent it flying across the room. Then Dilandau turned haughtily and left the room.
"Maybe that's enough for today," said Miguel uneasily.
"You know, Commander Miguel. I'm just not cut out for this. I don't think I'll be taking anymore lessons, thanks." With that, Aiko left and went to the library.
* * *
She wanted to know things, like why he had saved her in the first place, and where he had been all of these days. Dilandau is the only person she was interested in knowing and she didn't know anything about him. 'I know more about Giddy McChuckles, for goodness sakes! He never stops talking about himself.' She thought.
"You don't look very cheery. Are you homesick?" It was Dalet, come to join her. Gatti was with him.
"No. Not homesick at all. It's. nothing." Aiko sighed. Gatti and Dalet exchanged glances, and sat down at the table with her. "When are you going to slay dragons again?" She asked. "I want to go back to that beautiful place! I want to be outside again."
The boys shrugged. "We have to wait for a command. You should express this desire to Commander Miguel. Maybe he'll take you with us when we go."
'I don't want to "express my desire" to Commander Miguel!' Aiko silently mocked inside her head. "What about Dilandau? Is he always so elusive? I run into you two all the time, but he's never around. no offence."
"None taken," said Dalet.
"He likes to be, well. he tends to keep to himself." Answered Gatti.
"You know, there isn't anything really wrong with him. he's the very best at everything, and I mean everything! He is the elite of the elite, that's for sure!" Added Dalet.
"Yes, truly the perfect soldier. One would think he should be Commander, instead of Miguel."
"But you saw the way he lost his temper today. That is not a good leadership quality. And there are other things."
"He sees that lady. Ellen, or something. She talks to him every week about his instabilities." Gatti shook his head. knowing the name he gave didn't sound right. But Aiko didn't notice.
"I wish he didn't hide all of the time." Muttered Aiko.
Dalet and Gatti exchanged glances a second time.
"You should just confront him," suggested Dalet.
"I should?" Aiko was unsure. They made Dilandau sound so. unstable.
"Yes. I'll show you where his room is. You should just go and see him. He's probably in there anyway." Offered Gatti, standing.
"Are you sure he's there. maybe." Aiko remained seated.
"Of course he is! Where else would he be? Come on, come on!"
* * *
And so Aiko was guided to Dilandau's room. She stood outside the door, contemplating what she should do. Gatti raised his eyebrows at her. She still did nothing. He banged his fist three times on the door, and then walked away, turning down the nearest side corridor.
There was movement from within, however slight, and finally a voice called, "Enter?" It sounded unsure and filled with surprise.
When the door mechanically slid open, Aiko's breath was stolen from her. The room was filled with delightful candles, and many red things. After she had entered, staring around her, and when she could speak again, she said. "Oh Dilandau! This is the only room I have yet seen with any warmth and colour. It is so beautiful."
Apparently, Dilandau hadn't gotten his speech back yet. "Ai. Aiko! What are you doing here?"
"I came to say hi. I haven't seen you since you saved my life from that awful reptile, and I haven't even properly thanked you yet."
"How did you know where I was?"
"Gatti showed me."
Dilandau frowned. "Oh? What were they saying about me?"
"You shouldn't worry about what others say, you know. And to be perfectly honest, they said only nice things. Like you are the best at everything."
"Yeah! What else did they say?"
Aiko frowned. Dilandau looked away. "Aiko. are you. when are you going home?"
"I don't want to go back!" said Aiko, becoming defensive.
"Oh. May I ask why?" Dilandau offered her a chair. The table had a single candle on it. It wasn't very tall, but it was very ornate. It had been lit before, but was the only one that wasn't lit at the moment.
"Well. Someone was hurting me."
"Who?"
"My father." Aiko had just said it, as if it was normal, as if she were expressing her like for apples and her dislike for olives. The councilors couldn't ever get her to say it, and never had anything to lock him up. "But I'm so far away from that now, and I never want to go back! He can't hurt me anymore!"
Dilandau's face contorted with confusion and sympathy. "Why would he do that?"
"He drinks. it's a nightmare. but it's over. I'm awake now."
"Aiko." Said Dilandau, his voice soft and different from his usual tone. "There is so much pain inside of your body and mind. I can see it in your eyes. It is so beautiful."
Aiko wrinkled her nose, trying to find the compliment. Dilandau thought he'd better explain himself. "I find it so beautiful that creatures, such as ourselves, can endure and retain so much physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. It is amazing and inspiring. With time, pain subsides, but the memory of pain always remains in the eyes. Eyes are filled only with wisdom and sorrow. Eyes that know no pain, know no beauty."
Aiko's jaw hung open as she stared at Dilandau with more awe and admiration than when he slew the dragon. She sighed deeply, held her breath for many moments, and then exhaled with a pretty smile on her face. She had been completely swept off of her feet. She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands and just staring dreamily at Dilandau, studying his delicate features. Hair the colour of his Unicorn horse, eyes the colour of that energist-thing he took from the Dragon, a small smile smiling clumsily, every time he saw her.
"Aiko. I want to share something with you. I have never told anyone about this, ever! This will probably be a mistake, but I really want to share this with you."
"Okay. What is it?" Dilandau smiled, and rose to get a candle. He brought it to the table, lit the one that was there, returned the candle to its place, and retook his seat.
"Put your arm on the flame."
Aiko giggled. Then her smile faded. "Are you serious?"
"Yes."
Her eyes widened. "No."
"Please, let me share this with you." Dilandau seemed as if he felt defeated by everything. He was struggling to say what he meant, but couldn't quite word it. "If you could just feel it the way I do." was all he could manage to form.
"I have felt it. It hurts. I don't like it."
"If only you could understand." He pleaded.
"Understand what?"
"It's hard to explain. Yes. It hurts, but only for a moment. Afterwards, it is complete bliss! It. all of the pain you have been harbouring in your soul over the years, be it emotional or physical, whether the wounds have healed or not, all of it, all of that pain rises to the surface of your skin in that one place where the flame touches you. Then, by the heat, it all just melts away. Then I will treat the wound from the candle, and it won't hurt anymore. I can treat a small burn, but a thousand emotional wounds can never be treated. This way, they will vanish. You will be purified, cleansed. The feeling of being painless, with only the memories of pain flickering in your eyes. Aiko. Let me share this with you. I'll share it with no one else, in all of my life. I know it."
Aiko looked at the flame. She looked away. "But I know it will hurt."
"Only for a little while, a few moments. You can pull away whenever you want to. I will be right here. I will always be right here, Aiko."
After a long pause, she took a deep breath, and put a determined look on her face. She extended her left arm to him. On the soft underside of her forearm, roughly between her palm and the nook of her elbow, she felt the first hotness. It was almost unbearable, but she glances to see, and Dilandau hadn't even let her arm touch the flame yet. Through clenched teeth, she whimpered softly. Dilandau held her arm steady.
A tear trickled down her right cheek, and Dilandau, sitting across from her, lifted his hand to gently brush it away. Her grip on his hand relaxed slightly. But she could bear the searing pain no longer. Her right arm trembled and she jerked her left arm, trying to take it back from Dilandau. He let go immediately. While she caressed the wound gingerly, he blew out he candle and stood up.
He gathered some things, saying nothing, his face showing nothing. But if Aiko had seen his eyes! Pride flickered there. He was so proud of her.
He helped her out of the chair and down to the floor. He laid her on her back, and sat next to her at her left.
"There." He whispered. "The pain of a thousand wounds is leaving your spirit." He began to tenderly treat this new wound. He washed it, and then put something cool on it that almost instantly ceased the throbbing, burning pain. Lastly, and with the most care, he dressed the burn with bandages.
He lay down beside her and said nothing. He just listened to her breathing. After many moments, it returned to a normal, rhythmic pattern. "So you will stay here, on Gaea?" He finally broke the comfortable silence.
"Mmm hmm," she agreed.
"And will you stay here with me?"
"Mmm hmm."
"Whatever makes you happy, Aiko. I'll concern myself with only this."
"I would be happy to lie here with you until I fall asleep, hearing your heartbeat and the beautiful, poetic things you say. This would content my soul."
But Dilandau had nothing more to say. His breathing and his heartbeat lulled Aiko to sleep, and neither of them moved for the entire afternoon, and all through the night.