Chapter 12

"I'm bored," Lowe complained. He was currently sitting at the castle's front desk, waiting to register the tournament's participants. Tine went by slowly, and there was really nothing to do but just sit and wait. Along with that, now Hans had dropped in, and Lowe had to deal with Hans's chatter, which was starting to get on his nerves.

Hans glanced at him. "You should have thought before your little 'incident' a week ago. Damn, how many beers did you have again?"

"Don't remind me. I still have the hangover I got from that little drinking binge. "

Hans grinned. "Thus, you're parked here, while the rest of us are out enjoying a great time."

Lowe resisted the urge to bash Hans over the head. "Why are you here, anyway?"

Hans shrugged. "I told Luke and Tao to meet me down here, before we go bar hopping. And hopefully, meet some cute girls." Hans grinned.

Lowe couldn't help it. He broke out laughing. "You, the spindly wimp?"

Hans put on a hurt look. "Hey, I can't help it if I'm so much more appealing to the ladies then you are." He smiled. "Plus, you know this 'war hero' thingy makes for a great introduction. In fact, just last week, there was this brunette, and..."

Lowe rolled his eyes. "No details please. I'd like to keep the contents of my stomach, thank you. Bah, you the war hero."

"Max, don't put me in the front! I don't like getting hurt. Oh, I think I broke a nail, let's retreat." Lowe mimicked Hans voice.

Hans snorted. "You're just jealous. Just because you lack my style, my looks..."

"Your self-absorption, your ego..."

Hans narrowed his eyes. "Shut up."

At that moment, Luke and Tao came down from their guest quarters upstairs. "Who's self absorbed?" Tao asked.

"Hans." Lowe said, straight-faced.

Tao thought that over. "Fair enough."

Hans looked hurt. "Hey, I am not."

Luke laughed. "Well, you're not as vain as Arthur, if that's any consolation."

"That's because it isn't possible," Tao said wryly.

"True," Luke said. "So anyway, where are we headed?"

Hans shrugged. "I don't know. Let's just go out, and pick somewhere at random. Lowe, sure you can't just play hooky and come along?"

Lowe shook his head. "This is Anri we're talking about. If she finds out, my head in a jar for sure."

Tao tilted her head to the side, and listened carefully. "Speaking of people who'll take your head off, here comes Earnest."

Luke blinked. "Huh? How do you know that?"

Tao grinned. "Elvish heritage. Hans?"

Hans nodded in agreement. "She's right. And...accompanied by two people, I should say. Both are weighed down by swords, and armor."

Lowe whistled in amazement. "That's amazing."

Hans had a smug expression on. "Just one of my many talents."

Lowe was about to retort, but decided not to waste his time, and decided to check out the newcomers instead. One man, in some bizarre dress. Crazy multi coloured clothing, and some mask that covered up his features. Yet there was something about him...Lowe turned his attention to the person beside him, and his jaw dropped.

Coming toward him was one of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Hair shaded a honey blond, delicate, classical features, with the centerpiece of being a pair of sparkling green eyes.

Hans whistled lowly. "Looks like I won't have to look any farther tonight to meet someone."

Tao snorted. "Assuming she would put up with the likes of you." The mage glanced at Lowe, who was gaping like a fish out of water. "Lowe, pick your jaw up off the floor."

Lowe blinked. "Wha...huh?"

Earnest waved. "Guys, I'd like to introduce you to some people I just met. This is Peregrin," Earnest indicated the man beside him, "and this is Serena Draco."


Earnest nodded. "Anyway, Serena, Peregrin, these are some of my friends. Let me introduce them to you."

"The girl with the radical hair is Tao."

Tao rolled her eyes. "Hi," she said, extending her hand to Serena.

Serena took it, and shook firmly. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Tao looked over in Peregrin's direction, and shook hands with him as well. "Hi," she said. "Are you a mage?"

Peregrin blinked. "No, why?"

"Well...you seem to have a small residue of magical talent within you. However, it doesn't seem to have an affinity for an particular element, and it's fairly small."

Peregrin shuffled his feet uncomfortably. "Well, I don't know anything about that."

Tao shrugged. "Well, it doesn't matter, really. It's just interesting, that's all."

"Anyway, the squinty eyed guy with the axe is Luke."

"Hi!" Luke said cheerfully. He shook hands with Serena, and Peregrin.

Earnest continued the introductions. "Anyway, that guy over there is Hans. He's just a miserable old drunk whose only pleasure is to hop from bar to bar, so he can forget the troubles of his meaningless life."

Hans smirked. "Hey, I resent the use of the word 'old.' He shook hands with Peregrin, and instead of shaking hands with Serena, he grasped her hand, and brought his lips to her knuckles. "Enchante, mademoiselle. If you have any needs, remember, I am fully in your service."

Serena looked confused. "Huh? What's with you?"

Hans turned away downcast. "Must be losing my touch..."

Earnest resisted the urge to laugh. "Right. Anyway, the final member of this crazy bunch is Lowe over there."

Lowe extended a shaking hand to Serena. "H...H..." Lowe couldn't get one simple word out. Why did this have to happen now, dammit! Come on, say something, they're all looking at you, Lowe. "Hi," he finally said.

Serena smiled back at him. "Hello yourself." Lowe pulled at his collar. Was it suddenly getting hot in here?

He extended a hand toward the stranger in the even stranger getup. "Hello."

Peregrin shook his hand. His hand seemed to be trembling strangely, Lowe noticed. He looked distinctly uncomfortable to Lowe, and seemed to be sweating slightly.

Earnest smiled. It seemed like an expression he was just getting used to. "Anyway, Peregrin is here to register for the tournament."

Tao blinked in surprise. "Ah, so you're that Peregrin? The one who took out a vicious bunch of slavers?"

"It was nothing," Peregrin muttered. Lowe noticed that he seemed to have a raspy quality to his voice, as if he was choked up.

Tao smiled. "Don't be so modest. When we heard about your exploits, we were all very impressed. Max couldn't have done better himself."

Peregrin seemed uncomfortable with this remark. "Really, it was mostly Serena and her friends that did most of the work. She led the other side of the pincer movement, which was the key to our success."

Hans blinked. "So you were involved too Serena?"

Serena nodded. "Peregrin trained me, and a few others from the village into a team that could function together, and support each other. With his training, they never had a chance."

Luke nodded. "That's just what Max did with us. He molded us all into a force that could work together, and cover each other's backs."

Serena looked down. "Have you guys ever found any signs of Max?" she asked. She looked at each of them in turn, and they glanced away.

"Nothing," Tao said softly. "We haven't found a trace of him."

"We will never lose hope though," a new voice said.

Tao looked up and smiled. "You're right, Nova."

Nova nodded gravely. He turned to Peregrin and Serena. "My name is Nova, servant and advisor to the Kingdom of Guardiana."

"I'm Serena, it's a pleasure." Serena said, smiling.

"Peregrin, it's an honour." Peregrin said.

Nova inclined his head gracefully. "Sir Peregrin, could you spare a moment of your time so we could have a word in private?"

Peregrin looked startled. "Of course. Lead the way." They both ducked into a side room down the hall.

"Wonder what they're up to," Tao said curiously.

*

Max's mind reeled. He hadn't expected to see his old friends too soon. Max was overcome with conflicting emotions. Happiness, anxiety, and nervousness all played a tug of war with his heart.

Nova gestured to a comfortable chair. "Please, sit down."

Max sat down, and waited as Nova sat down across from him. He knew what this was about.

"Max, I'm glad to see that you survived," Nova said, quietly.

"Thank you, Nova." said Max.

"You knew, of course, with my ability to sense and identify auras, that you could not hide your identity from me." Nova stated.

Max nodded. "Yes," he said simply.

Nova gathered his thoughts. "Obviously, you want to remain unknown, and not reveal your true identity to your friends. Though I do not know why, you can rest assured that I will keep your secret safe."

Max smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Nova. I was counting on that when I decided to come back here."

"Max, why have you decided to keep your identity a secret?"

Max sighed. "It's hard to explain. You see, after I escaped from Dark Dragon..."

"Forgive me for interrupting, but I am curious. How exactly did you manage to escape to safety?" Nova inquired.

Max shrugged. "I don't know. I had resigned myself to death, in order to make sure the seal was complete. Everything was going down, and I fell unconscious. When I woke up, I was far away from the Castle of the Ancients, somehow."

"Perhaps the Goddess decided to spare your life," Nova said quietly.

"Perhaps. I came to a small village, and decided to just live the rest of my life out there peacefully. I was tired of war, of fighting. Nova, I'd seen too much bloodshed, too many people get killed around me. I just decided to...retire."

"Are you not the man who managed to defeat Adom's mercenaries?" Nova asked. "If you decided to forget about fighting, then why did you help out?"

Max fell silent, not because he didn't know the reasons, but because he was trying the find the best way to express his thoughts. "Although I am tired of fighting, as all that leads to is death, I value life even more. if I had done nothing, the town would have been slaughtered, and their blood would have been on my hands. I could not allow that to happen."

"Then why come back after all this time, Max? You had stopped Adom. You could have lived your life in obscurity, remembered as a hero by all. Why have you chosen to come back now, hidden?

Max sighed. "To see how you all were doing. I had to see if what I did for Rune had made any difference. How Guardiana was coming along. If my friends were alright."

"You could have done that as Max, and not as Peregrin," reminded Nova. "Why didn't you?"

"I don't know. I'm just not ready yet to rise from the grave. I like my life the way it is now. I make a difference by giving back to the land I've taken from. It's satisfying." Max put on a sloppy grin. "Besides, this tournament sounds like it could be a bucketload of fun."

Nova smiled. "I understand. Max, remember, that I'm here as your advisor, and your friend. Feel free to talk to me at any time."

"Thank you Nova." Max said. "I have a few questions of my own, if you don't mind."

"Please, ask whatever you wish," Nova said, with a wave of his hand.

"I've seen that the town has been rebuilt. How is the military situation right now?"

Nova thought. "The death of Darksol, and Dark Dragon has left the enemy bewildered, and scattered. Up until recently, it has been an relatively easy matter to sweep the land for pockets of resistance. However, a new leader seems to have arisen, and is organizing the remaining forces. He, she, or it lacks Darksol's tactical ability, as well as his talent to motivate his forces. As well, the resources of Runefaust are no longer available. However, many kingdoms have scaled down their military forces, believing the war to be over already."

Max nodded. "So we're not out of the woods yet. Who's leading Guardiana's military forces now? Mae, I presume."

"Correct. She's done a fine job taking over for Lord Varios."

Max smiled. "I knew she would." Max's face took on a sober tone. "Did we lose anyone from the Dark Dragon battle? Although I did manage to cast Egress, I wasn't sure if everyone had made it out safely."

Nova smiled. "Everyone made it safely, and has returned to their respective hometowns. I believe a few of the Shining Force are here, in order to participate in the festivities. Earnest, for example, is here for the tournament."

Max smirked. "I didn't think he was here for the candy. Finally..." Max hesitated. "How is Anri doing?"

Nova shook his head. "Anri was quite overcome by your death, Max. However, she has recovered, and is now Queen of Guardiana. I feel she is handling the pressures of running a kingdom perfectly. Her father couldn't have done better himself.

"That's all I guess. Thank you, Nova." Max said gratefully. He stood.

Nova rose up as well. "It's good to see you again, Max." He shook hands with Max, and when Max went to the door, about to leave, he spoke up again."

"One more thing," Nova said.

Max turned. "Yes?"

"Good luck in the tournament."

And now, a word from the perpetually lazy author:

Another chapter comes to a close. You know, I was going through Moogie's awesome Shining Force series, when I came to a certain site about a certain Genesis game called Shining Force: Final Conflict, and I've realized that I've just about ignored the Shining Force timeline completely. So uh, this fic is REALLY AU now. I wanna play that game, it has Max and Oddler in it, that should be neat.

Again, apologies for cranking out this chapter so late. Summer school is boring, time-consuming, and a strain. Man, I hate it, and the strain my schedule puts on me. A new chapter every month is not what I had in mind when I first started this fic.

BTW, been playing through Shining Force II. I like the idea of promoting characters using items, and the Oddler thing is neat as well. I just don't think the storyline has as much depth to it as Shining Force I though. Plus all the towns look the same to me, unlike SFI. Oh, and Max could kick Bowie's ass anyday, so there!

Cheers!