Took ya long enough to update, took ya long enough to update . . . yeah, I know . . . I've been busy with other stuff, k regrem? How about this . . . if you're bored, then you can read some of my other fics, and maybe even review them. How about that? *no reply* okie then, suit yourself. I'm very proud of my latest FF8 fic, actually. 'Not Just a Heart' if you're interested. Probably not, but oh well . . .
And I'm really glad you like the fic Striker. I was kinda worried there for a minute . . . ^_^
And aer, no, you can't gut me with the Shurikama, cuz it's mine, and I can do what I want with it! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
Rigana: Dear Soa! The author's going crazy again!
Sonari: I hate it when she does that. That means that we have no idea what she's going to do to us in this chapter . . .
DAY: You never know what I'm going to do anyway :P
Newayz, before I lose the small amount of sanity I have left, here's chapter 10!
The Forbidden Art and a Shocking RevelationIn the dark of night, Sil-alia was sitting on the roof outside her window with her knees pulled up to her chin. She was contemplating over the encounters she had had with Sonari.
What is with that guy? she thought as she wrapped her arms around her legs, unbothered by the chill that was quickly descending upon the town. Why was he able to block my magical attacks? Grandpa said that the only way to block a magical attack is with a magical defense. But that doesn't explain why he was able to do it. I mean, he's a Human, right? He said he knew exactly who his parents were, both Human. So he can't have inherited innate magic from a Wingly parent. But he must have more than just magic . . . When he used just the power of his mind to knock me backwards . . . That must have been the Forbidden Art! But I thought Winglies were the only ones that could harness their mind sufficiently enough to use it.
Magic is the use of your mind to control energies around you in a raw form. But the Forbidden Art, that is something entirely different. The Forbidden Art is the ability to use your mind to change the energy around you to a form where you can manipulate it. You could do just about anything with the Forbidden Art. Which I guess was why it was forbidden.
Grandpa told me once about the story of how the Art had become forbidden, and why the Tahoan were the only ones who could use it. It was something like this . . . Long, long ago, even before the first Dragon Campaign, when the Winglies still had a council instead of being dictated by Melbu Frahma, all Winglies could use the Art. Most used it responsibly, but there were the few, like there always are, who couldn't help but exploit their powers in the worst way possible. When these few banded together to rebel against the government, they were able to achieve a lot more than anyone would have ever thought they could. That was because they had mastered their Art. When the rebels were finally taken care of, the Council decided that it was in the best interest of all the Winglies if the Art was banned. So it became the Forbidden Art.
But the first Guardian of the Shrine of the Archangel pointed out to the Council that such a power had its advantages when used properly in combat, and should not be forgotten. So the Council, after much deliberation, gave the first Guardian the right to use the Forbidden Art, but only in defense of the Shrine, the Archangel, or the race of Winglies. And he taught the Guardians after him. And so the Tahoan, were the only ones permitted to use the Forbidden Art. Guardians of the Temples, Masters of the Forbidden Art, and Holy Warriors of the Archangel, that is what the Tahoan are. And that's what Grandpa's been training me to become practically my whole life. One of the Tahoan. To follow in his footsteps, as well as my mother and father's. Once I complete my training, I'll be the only one left . . .
Her thoughts then wandered off from the subject of the Forbidden Art. I wish Dakar was here. It's so lonely now he's gone. He knew what it was like. Both his parents were Tahoan, and they died in the Final Battle of the Age of Turmoil, just like mine. He knew what it felt like to be put through all this rigorous training. He knew . . .
Sil-alia couldn't stop the tears that had gathered in her eyes from spilling out. But once she started crying, she couldn't stop. She cried for the parents she never knew. She cried for all the suffering and loneliness that had inflicted upon her life. She cried for the happiness that she had once known with another Wingly training to be one of the Tahoan, but had lost when he disappeared after the Shrine was attacked about a year ago. She cried for all this and more, and couldn't stop even if she had wanted to.
She hadn't noticed her Grandpa had come out until he put his hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong, honey?" he asked as he sat down next to her.
She straightened and wiped her tears away. "Nothing. I was just thinking."
"What were you thinking about? You don't often cry about nothing, you know."
Sil-alia looked away and didn't answer.
"Okay, if you want to be like that, I'll ask you about what I came up here to ask you about. I was wondering about your performance tonight. I know most of the time, you dance with your heart and soul, but you looked like a zombie up there tonight. Does it have to do with why you're crying?" Sil-alia shook her head. "Then will you tell me why?" Again, she shook her head. "I really wish you'd tell me, hon. You can't leave it all bottled up inside, you. If you do, then one day it'll all come out through your magic, and that could be disastrous." Sil-alia just buried her head deeper into her knees. "Fine. But there's one thing that I want to talk to you about that I won't leave without answers for. I heard that you were fighting today. On a festival day! You should know better. Just, please, tell me why."
"I didn't start it."
"I didn't say you did. Will you tell me why?"
"There were these Humans in town today. Did you see them?"
"Get to the point," Grandpa said softly but firmly.
"Well, they were arguing down in the square about something stupid, like honor, and Winglies, and just stupid stuff like that. Well, this one guy, Sonari, his name was, he didn't seem to be too thrilled to be here. So I told him if he didn't want to be here, then he could leave. He didn't want to and all he seemed to want was to fight with me. I tried everything I could think up to get the situation to end without a fight, but it didn't work. So I was fighting on a festival day. But the worst part was, he beat me! I mean, he totally kick my butt! And this is the part you'll really love, he didn't do it honestly. He used the Forbidden Art. And he's a Human! I don't know what's going on, and I'm all confused. Do you have any idea about what's going on?"
Grandpa lay down on the roof as he thought for a few seconds. "There is written in Shrine a prophecy. It goes like this:
"When the Spirits of the Dragons return again,
The Demons have been unleashed.
The heroes who must save Endiness
Will come together at the Wingly's sacred place.
A God and a Seer will show the path
That these saviors must follow.
A Human with control of the elements
Must sever a bond.
A Man with unnatural strength,
He will learn control.
A Wingly woman,
She will learn to trust herself.
The lost lover
Will regain his memory.
And a Protector
Must face her past.
Only then will Endiness
Be saved again."
Sil-alia sat in silence for a few seconds while she let the prophecy sink in. " 'A Human with control of the elements' That must be Sonari! There's no other Human that I've ever heard of with magical powers."
"Possibly. But don't think too much on it. If Sonari is the Human in the Prophecy, then he will run his course. Either way, I want to meet him." Grandpa's tone had gotten lighter, and the normal undertone of laughter that ran all the way through him was apparent once again. "Why don't you invite him over for dinner or something? Besides, I want to see the way you two get along when you're not fighting."
Sil-alia's jaw dropped when she realized what Grandpa was hinting at. "By Soa! You're not serious! Me and that . . . that . . ." She seemed to be at a loss for words. "Besides, inter-species relationships, you hear about them, but they're just not right! Humans are meant to be with Humans, and Winglies are meant to be with Winglies! How can you even suggest such a thing!"
Grandpa got up and walked towards Sil-alia's window, the only way into the house from the roof. "Easily. Your father was a Human after all." He walked into the house while Sil-alia sat there, stunned by the news she had just heard.
"Wha . . . What?!"
Author's Note: Yeah, that was basically just a filler chapter, but still . . . the fact that Sil-alia's father is Human is important. Poor girlie, she didn't know. Newayz, happy Easter! Yes, I can finally have my sugary-caffeiney goodness again. Well, sayonara and arigato for reviewing!