"Lost her, have you?" A young man dressed in red taunted with a smirk. "Old Melbu should've kept a leash on her."
A blonde fourteen-year-old girl peered out of a window of a nearby cottage.
"I can't believe he's doing that," she said, speaking to the dark-haired young woman who was braiding her hair. "Rose, he's going to get himself killed."
Rose ran her fingers through the blonde's knee-length hair, separating it into three sections. "Zieg has always been a very courageous man, Erisi. He'll take care of himself."
Erisi turned her head to gaze upon a dark-haired young man who was only a year older than her. "Matthias, go keep an eye out for him."
Matthias said nothing; he just slid out of the cottage.
"You will pay for your insolence, Human!" The Wingly raised his hand and slapped Zieg across the face. The young blonde didn't flinch.
Zieg's once humorous expression changed to angry one. He glared at his assailant.
The Wingly soldier shifted uncomfortably under Zieg's glare. "Uh, well, it seems that she isn't here. Let's go."
The soldiers took flight in unison and left.
"Zieg, you could've gotten killed!" Erisi reprimanded Zieg as she met him at the door.
Zieg nodded once at Rose as he entered. She bit her lip.
He turned to Erisi. "The Winglies...they're after you, Erisi."
"The young blonde brushed her bangs out of her face. "I figured that."
Zieg placed his hands on Erisi's shoulders and looked down at her seriously. "I don't want you wandering out alone, okay? Always stay with Matthias, Rose, or myself. You can depend on us."
Erisi nodded and gave Zieg a hug. She now had so many friends...so many people willing to protect her. Melbu Frahma only wanted her for her immense power, not for her as a person. That was just as well, because she hated Melbu Frahma.
Erisi affectionately wrapped her arms around Zieg's arm. I have a band feeling about this. Of course, that's natural during war, but I have a feeling that this war will take a turn for the worst...
Erisi awoke with a start. It was pitch black all around her.
So, that's what they call a flashback... She thought. That dream felt so real...
Erisi got up, and stumbled through the dark, and found the door.
Out on the deck, Erisi heard many voice from the far end of the ship. Ignoring them, she went in the opposite direction and found herself at the front of the ship.
The area was dark and deserted. The stars and the bright red full moon were the only source of light.
Erisi leaned against the railing with her arms crossed at her chest.
"That dream..." Erisi said to herself as she stared down at the dark waters. "It...feels like yesterday..."
A song suddenly ran through her head.
Erisi smiled. "That song...Rose taught it to me. She learned it from her mother." The wind played around a bit with her hair. "Rose never really like to sing, even though she could sing really well. Zieg had me sing it to him...he loved that song. I don't know if it was the melody, or the lyrics." A cool breeze blew by again and the song popped unbidden back into her mind again. Almost without thinking, Erisi opened her mouth and sang to the stars.
Wishing on a dream that seems far off
Hoping it will come today
Into the starlight night
Foolish dreamers turn their gaze
Waiting on a shooting star
But, what if that star is not to come?
Will their dreams fade to nothing?
When the horizon darkens most
We all need to believe there is hope
Is an angel watching closely over me?
Can there be a guiding light I've yet to see?
I know my heart should guide me, but
There's a hold within my soul
What will fill this emptiness inside of me?
Am I to be satisfied without knowing?
I wish, then, for a chance to see
Now all I need
Is my star to come?
Erisi was startled back into reality by the sound of clapping. She whirled around...it was Matthias.
"Nice song," he said. "It's been a while since I last heard it. You were thinkin' about Zieg, weren't ya?"
"Yes," Erisi said. "I had a dream. I miss him and Rose."
"Yeah, I kinda figured that. You would only sing that song for him," Matthias said with a grin. "You never took requests."
"Sorry..." Erisi said, turning back around.
"Hey, it's all right," Matthias siad, turning her around to face him. "People change over time. I used to be quiet. You remember, don't you? And I used to be very cocky. I never failed at stealing something I targeted. You cured me of my silence and of my cockiness. You showed me that you don't win every time. Erisi, I love you not for what you are, but for who you are. It's not a bad thing to remember your late friends that passed on, but don't dwell on them. Be content with who you have now, and live in the present, not the past."
"Otohime-sama!"
"Sun Raye..." Erisi said. "She must've found my cabin empty."
The Manoo flew up and landed on Erisi's shoulder. "Otohime-sama, you should be resting."
"Okay," Erisi said. "Goodnight Matthias."
The black-haired Wingly watched Erisi walked away. Why msut she be like that?
The morning on the Queen Fury was brisk and chilly. Erisi yawned as she stepped out of her cabin into the bright sun.
"Good morning, Erisi!"
Erisi turned to acknowledge the voice as she pulled on a white knitted sweater. "Good morning, Kayla."
The two exchanged a few words.
"I must go," Kayla said after a few minutes. "Got lots of work to do."
"Okay," Erisi said as she turned towards the railing. Land ho! The port of Furni was approaching.
Heavy footsteps thundered their way towards her.
Erisi smiled; she recognized footsteps like that. "Hello, Kongol."
The heavy footsteps stopped. "How did you know it was Kongol?"
"Well, for one thing," Erisi turned around. "There's no way a Human or Wingly could make footsteps sound like that."
A rare small grin spread across Kongol's features. "Erisi has a point." He stared intently at her for a moment. "Kongol has a question."
"Yes?" She asked.
"How did Erisi know where Kongol's old home was?" Kongol asked.
"I've been there before...once upon a time," Erisi said. "But...that is a story best told another time."
"Kongol undertands," the Giganto said.
"Kongol, let me ask you something now," Erisi said.
"Yes?"
"Do you remember your family?"
"Kongol remembers big brother," Kongol answered. "Does Erisi remember her family?"
"Oh yes, vividly unfortunately. My father and I never really got along well when I became a teenager," she thought for a moment. "But still, not getting along with your father is much better than having your whole race slaughtered to near extinction by a band of thieves."
Kongol's face contracted. "Kongol didn't trust Humans much after that. Emperor Doel told Kongol that he wanted to make perfect world where all species get along. Kongol only trusted Doel. Then Dart spared Kongol's life after his defeat. Dart had much better outlook on value of life, he made a much better leader than Doel."
"That's true. He shows a lot of his father," Erisi said. "Zieg could practically band people together with a word."
The ship bumbed slightly into the dock of Furni.
"Welcome to Mille Seseau," Erisi remarked.
As the small band of Dragoons exited the ship, Erisi had swapped her knitted sweater for a navy blue cloak that fastened at the throat and had a hood.
Kayla sported the sweater that Erisi had given her as she waved goodbye to them.
"Really Erisi, is that cloak necessary?" Matthias asked.
"It can get cold in Mille Seseau," Erisi said. "Just wait and see."
As she said that, a sudden cold burst of wind blasted the small group.
Matthias cursed. "You weren't lyin' Erisi!"
The temperature rose slightly as they entered the Evergreen Forest.
"This is better," Matthias commented. "With the trees blocking the wind..."
"Matthias..." Erisi said. "Knock it off."
Dart took a few steps forward, glancing around.
"Do you remember the way to Deningrad?" Albert asked.
Dart scratched the back of his head. "Yeah."
"Where are we?" Claira's voice echoed around the ruins.
Deirdre shivered. "I don't know. We're somewhere between the Death City Mayfil and Mille Seseau."
Meru looked around. "We're in between Mille Seseau and the Death Frontier."
Claira turned to her friend. "Meru, do you know where we are?"
Meru nodded. "We stopped by here on our way to Ulara, a Wingly village near here. Rose told us about it." She motioned out with her hand. "These are the ruins of the ancient St. Imperial Gloriano."
"Oh," Deirdre said. "I've only seen pictures of what it's supposed to look like."
"What's the St. Imperial Gloriano?" Claira asked.
"It was the Human Empire led by Emperor Diaz." Claira gave a blank look to Deirdre's sparse explanation. "Emperor Diaz ruled the Dragon Knights, or the Dragoons during the Dragon Campaign."
Claira nodded. "Like Meru."
"Yes, the Blue Sea Dragoon did exist during that time," Meru said.
Claira shivered suddenly. "It's so cold and eerie here."
"We can't stay here long," Meru said. "With a climate like this, there's nothing here to really sustain life."
Deirdre crossed her arms. "Well, if we can rest here just for tonight, we can cross over the border to Mille Seseau. We're not too far from Snowdrift Abbey."
"Is that the Abbey you talk about?" Meru asked.
Deirdre nodded. "If we can make it there... It's winter in Endiness. Mille Seseau's weather is going to be horrible."
Claira huddled next to Deirdre for warmth as Meru flew off, searching for anything that would burn.
"What's that?" Deirdre asked.
"What, this?" Claira asked, holding up an object she had been inspecting.
"Yes."
"I really don't know. Momma gave it to me for good luck when I was little. She said that her dad gave it to her when she was little."
"Oh. It kinda looks like these things Meru's friend Rose gave me."
"Yeah, but this one doesn't glow or anything. It's just a dull glass marble."
Meru returned shortly and they soon had a blazing fire, compliments of Deirdre.
That night, the trio huddled around the fire as they slept.