Ch. 7-War is coming
"Huh? What am I doing in the bed?" I said, startled.
"You fidget a lot in your sleep-you also screamed. So I decided to let you sleep in the bed. Don't worry-I didn't do anything but yell at you for fidgeting too much, but you didn't wake up so I just went back to sleep." Folken said as he was looking through the closet.
"I-screamed? Man, it must've been bad, but at least I didn't wake up." I said as I got out of the bed.
"What, you don't remember what you dreamt?" Folken asked as he started to undress.
'Whoa, what are you doing!" I asked, freaked.
"I'm getting dressed. Oh-I'll change in the bathroom." He said, slightly embarrassed.
"You are so weird-Didja know that?!" I shouted to him as he closed the bathroom door. I thought as I rummaged through my bag for something to wear. I I thought when I began changing into the clothes that I picked out.
As I was about to put on my top I heard a sound coming from behind me that made me jump. Forgetting that I was only in my bra and shorts, I turned to see what made the noise and there stood Folken in the doorway of the bathroom with a huge grin on his face. That's when I remembered my shirt and slugged him.
"How long were you there!" I asked him while violently struggling to put my top on.
"Long enough. Here, let me help you." He said while coming closer to me, I immediately punched him, but I missed his stomach and got his mechanical arm instead.
"Ow! That hurts! Stupid mechanical arm, I'll get you for that!" I mumbled unknowing of Folken's arms around me that finally pulled the shirt down in place. When I finally did notice I was in his arms being soothed as the pain started to fade from my hand.
"How did you do that?" I asked him in a child-like manner.
"It doesn't matter, lets go get some breakfast and start your first day of magic training." He said as he was leading me out of the room.
"I guess I am a bit hungry, but I'm gonna find out how you did that and more importantly how long you were watching me!" I said mostly to myself then to him.
Then he bent down and whispered in my ear before we went out the door. "I was watching you long enough to see how beautiful you truly are." And with that he kissed my ear and leaded me to the mess hall. I was stunned for the second time in my life.
I I thought as I saw the Dragon Slayers gorging on the breakfast gruel that was being served and smelling the stench it carried-I suddenly had a loss of appetite.
"Um, suddenly I'm not so hungry anymore-I think I'll just wait outside till you finish eating. Okay?" I said nervously while sneaking out the door.
"You need to eat. So come on!" Folken said urgently as he put a death grip on my arm. "I know the stench is bad, but you still need to eat."
"I don't usually eat in the mornings anyway. I'll deal without food just for a bit longer! I'll be fine! Don't worry about lil' ol' me! No one does anyway." I said sadly, as I began to feel the pain throbbing through my arm. Trying to hide the pain on my face I turned my head away from his view, but he already saw it.
"I-I'm sorry, I get a little carried away I guess." He said sadly, and then he noticed the audience that we've acquired. "Back to what you were doing! We don't need a gawk fest!" I used this opportunity to run out of the room, as I was running down the hall I heard Folken crying out my name.
"NAMIA! GET THE HELL BACK HERE!" he boomed at me, I continued running. Then, his voice began to get softer and cracked with sobs. "Namia, come back to me! I didn't mean to hurt you or make you feel uncomfortable! Your too precious to me to lose like this! Namia-" Then his voice broke off into a sobbing fit. I turned to decide if I should turn back and go to him or to just keep on running, but then I saw that fate had other plans-the man from my nightmares was hovering over him. I began to run like hell towards him and Folken, praying that I wouldn't be too late.
***
After scaring away the mad man for the SECOND time, I sat beside Folken to see if he was okay. As I was examining him for wounds I noticed a small scroll that was clasped tightly in his hand. Making sure that he was officially unconscious, I took it from his hand and tried to read it. It was in a different language that I have never seen before, but it was kinda like a mixture of Arcanian and Japanese. Saving it for another time to try to translate, I rolled the scroll up and put in my pocket as I tried to lift Folken up to carry him into our room.
"Jesus, he's heavy." I said as I was trying to lift him without calling any attention. I looked around the hall; there was no one around. "Good, no one needs to think I conked him out." I started to drag him down the hall towards the stairs.
***
After what seemed like decades I finally got him in the bed and comfortable, then suddenly a rapid knocking sound came from the door.
"Namia! It's time for you to train now!" Dilandou's voice boomed through the door.
"Just a second!" I yelled back as I hurriedly grabbed my sword and armor and telling Soiki to stay by Folken's side.
When I got out of the room and closed the door gently I saw Dilandou and Dornkirk waiting patiently. As I fully examined the situation I noticed that Dornkirk had a very old book in his hand. I thought as I gazed at it curiously. Sensing that I was looking at his book, Dornkirk handed it to me and gestured that I should toss the armor and sword back in the room. Doing this I noticed that Soiki wasn't a dragon, but instead she was a small human-like child. Trying not to alert them of anything that was in the room I masked my face and gently took the book from Dornkirk's hands. As I began to try to read it, I recognized the language-it was the same language that was on the scroll that Folken had! Now I found a new reason for translating it-to see what kind of spell was in the scroll.
"I know you can't read this, but I thought you might as well see what is to be expected of you in this magic class. By the end of the day I expect you to be able to at least read one of the spells. Now, come with me and I'll show you the Sorcerer's Laboratory." He said as he motioned me to follow him as Dilandou scoured off to find his Dragon Slayers.
As I was following him I began to notice that, unlike the other rooms, this was cold, very cold. It was as if the atmosphere itself was trying to warn me away, or warn us away from this dreary place. And of course I couldn't listen to my gut instinct because then Dornkirk would wonder about me, and that wouldn't be the best of situations. So I continued walking endlessly behind him until he stopped so suddenly I was about to run into him.
With some strange mystical energy coming from him, he began to raise his arms and chant something in a language that, even though I didn't know what it was, it seemed somehow familiar. As if in an answer to his strange words a door appeared right in front of us. Gesturing me to follow with out turning around, he began to walk straight through the door without opening; I started to hesitate until I heard his voice through the door.
"Come on dear child! We haven't got all day! Now just come through the door and see what your future has in store for you." His voice echoed down the dark and gloomy hall. Drowning out all the warnings and all of my fears I stepped through the door to find a brightly colored silver room with shelves upon shelves filled with books and ingredients. And in the middle of all the grand shelving I found Dornkirk looking at me as if he was an old storyteller getting ready to tell his next grand adventure.
"Well, come one then. Don't be shy there's nothing in here that will hurt you-yet." He snickered as he saw he moving as carefully and quietly as a mouse that doesn't want the neighborly cat to come and eat it.
When I finally got over to where he was standing I noticed that behind him stood a giant crystal ball that was on a stand that looked like the feet of a dragon. In fact, I think it really was the feet of a dragon since it smelled of death. The smell that stills lays fresh in my mind. Noticing my sudden interests of the crystal ball he took back the spell book from my arms and began to chant a spell from it. Then I saw a young brown haired girl with an equally young dark haired guy plotting something with a group of strange looking people. The girl was reading tarot cards as the others were engrossed in her 'mysterious' ways. Having experience of tarot cards myself I noticed that the outcome of the reading meant that war was on the way and the group of people were not too happy about it either.
"Who are those people?" I asked as I continued watching them get ready for battle.
"Those are our enemies, no need to know their names dear child. All you need to know is that these are the enemy and we must fight against them." He said as he made the images disappear.
"But why must we fight? Why can't we just live on in peace?" I asked as a child would to everything and anything that they didn't understand.
"Because of you and the fate of Gaea all rest in war. And war is the only way to find out how powerful you and Gaea combined can truly be. Now, come here, you need to learn how to work the magic that lays within you." He said as he tried to lead me towards the massive shelves. I didn't budge. "Why are you not moving!" he said, angered by my stubbornness.
"Because, my mother used me as a toy to 'better' her reputation and I'm not about to let you do the same. I don't care if you say that I'll never be able to do this or that without your help. I can find out on my own!" swiftly I moved out of his grasp and somehow ended up in the forest outside the castle. Not knowing that I had caught Dilandou and his Slayers' attention, I continued running like my entire life depended on it. Finally I stopped and hid inside a cave that was by a stream. I couldn't hear anything that would warn me of any danger before I blacked out.
"Huh? What am I doing in the bed?" I said, startled.
"You fidget a lot in your sleep-you also screamed. So I decided to let you sleep in the bed. Don't worry-I didn't do anything but yell at you for fidgeting too much, but you didn't wake up so I just went back to sleep." Folken said as he was looking through the closet.
"I-screamed? Man, it must've been bad, but at least I didn't wake up." I said as I got out of the bed.
"What, you don't remember what you dreamt?" Folken asked as he started to undress.
'Whoa, what are you doing!" I asked, freaked.
"I'm getting dressed. Oh-I'll change in the bathroom." He said, slightly embarrassed.
"You are so weird-Didja know that?!" I shouted to him as he closed the bathroom door. I thought as I rummaged through my bag for something to wear. I I thought when I began changing into the clothes that I picked out.
As I was about to put on my top I heard a sound coming from behind me that made me jump. Forgetting that I was only in my bra and shorts, I turned to see what made the noise and there stood Folken in the doorway of the bathroom with a huge grin on his face. That's when I remembered my shirt and slugged him.
"How long were you there!" I asked him while violently struggling to put my top on.
"Long enough. Here, let me help you." He said while coming closer to me, I immediately punched him, but I missed his stomach and got his mechanical arm instead.
"Ow! That hurts! Stupid mechanical arm, I'll get you for that!" I mumbled unknowing of Folken's arms around me that finally pulled the shirt down in place. When I finally did notice I was in his arms being soothed as the pain started to fade from my hand.
"How did you do that?" I asked him in a child-like manner.
"It doesn't matter, lets go get some breakfast and start your first day of magic training." He said as he was leading me out of the room.
"I guess I am a bit hungry, but I'm gonna find out how you did that and more importantly how long you were watching me!" I said mostly to myself then to him.
Then he bent down and whispered in my ear before we went out the door. "I was watching you long enough to see how beautiful you truly are." And with that he kissed my ear and leaded me to the mess hall. I was stunned for the second time in my life.
I I thought as I saw the Dragon Slayers gorging on the breakfast gruel that was being served and smelling the stench it carried-I suddenly had a loss of appetite.
"Um, suddenly I'm not so hungry anymore-I think I'll just wait outside till you finish eating. Okay?" I said nervously while sneaking out the door.
"You need to eat. So come on!" Folken said urgently as he put a death grip on my arm. "I know the stench is bad, but you still need to eat."
"I don't usually eat in the mornings anyway. I'll deal without food just for a bit longer! I'll be fine! Don't worry about lil' ol' me! No one does anyway." I said sadly, as I began to feel the pain throbbing through my arm. Trying to hide the pain on my face I turned my head away from his view, but he already saw it.
"I-I'm sorry, I get a little carried away I guess." He said sadly, and then he noticed the audience that we've acquired. "Back to what you were doing! We don't need a gawk fest!" I used this opportunity to run out of the room, as I was running down the hall I heard Folken crying out my name.
"NAMIA! GET THE HELL BACK HERE!" he boomed at me, I continued running. Then, his voice began to get softer and cracked with sobs. "Namia, come back to me! I didn't mean to hurt you or make you feel uncomfortable! Your too precious to me to lose like this! Namia-" Then his voice broke off into a sobbing fit. I turned to decide if I should turn back and go to him or to just keep on running, but then I saw that fate had other plans-the man from my nightmares was hovering over him. I began to run like hell towards him and Folken, praying that I wouldn't be too late.
***
After scaring away the mad man for the SECOND time, I sat beside Folken to see if he was okay. As I was examining him for wounds I noticed a small scroll that was clasped tightly in his hand. Making sure that he was officially unconscious, I took it from his hand and tried to read it. It was in a different language that I have never seen before, but it was kinda like a mixture of Arcanian and Japanese. Saving it for another time to try to translate, I rolled the scroll up and put in my pocket as I tried to lift Folken up to carry him into our room.
"Jesus, he's heavy." I said as I was trying to lift him without calling any attention. I looked around the hall; there was no one around. "Good, no one needs to think I conked him out." I started to drag him down the hall towards the stairs.
***
After what seemed like decades I finally got him in the bed and comfortable, then suddenly a rapid knocking sound came from the door.
"Namia! It's time for you to train now!" Dilandou's voice boomed through the door.
"Just a second!" I yelled back as I hurriedly grabbed my sword and armor and telling Soiki to stay by Folken's side.
When I got out of the room and closed the door gently I saw Dilandou and Dornkirk waiting patiently. As I fully examined the situation I noticed that Dornkirk had a very old book in his hand. I thought as I gazed at it curiously. Sensing that I was looking at his book, Dornkirk handed it to me and gestured that I should toss the armor and sword back in the room. Doing this I noticed that Soiki wasn't a dragon, but instead she was a small human-like child. Trying not to alert them of anything that was in the room I masked my face and gently took the book from Dornkirk's hands. As I began to try to read it, I recognized the language-it was the same language that was on the scroll that Folken had! Now I found a new reason for translating it-to see what kind of spell was in the scroll.
"I know you can't read this, but I thought you might as well see what is to be expected of you in this magic class. By the end of the day I expect you to be able to at least read one of the spells. Now, come with me and I'll show you the Sorcerer's Laboratory." He said as he motioned me to follow him as Dilandou scoured off to find his Dragon Slayers.
As I was following him I began to notice that, unlike the other rooms, this was cold, very cold. It was as if the atmosphere itself was trying to warn me away, or warn us away from this dreary place. And of course I couldn't listen to my gut instinct because then Dornkirk would wonder about me, and that wouldn't be the best of situations. So I continued walking endlessly behind him until he stopped so suddenly I was about to run into him.
With some strange mystical energy coming from him, he began to raise his arms and chant something in a language that, even though I didn't know what it was, it seemed somehow familiar. As if in an answer to his strange words a door appeared right in front of us. Gesturing me to follow with out turning around, he began to walk straight through the door without opening; I started to hesitate until I heard his voice through the door.
"Come on dear child! We haven't got all day! Now just come through the door and see what your future has in store for you." His voice echoed down the dark and gloomy hall. Drowning out all the warnings and all of my fears I stepped through the door to find a brightly colored silver room with shelves upon shelves filled with books and ingredients. And in the middle of all the grand shelving I found Dornkirk looking at me as if he was an old storyteller getting ready to tell his next grand adventure.
"Well, come one then. Don't be shy there's nothing in here that will hurt you-yet." He snickered as he saw he moving as carefully and quietly as a mouse that doesn't want the neighborly cat to come and eat it.
When I finally got over to where he was standing I noticed that behind him stood a giant crystal ball that was on a stand that looked like the feet of a dragon. In fact, I think it really was the feet of a dragon since it smelled of death. The smell that stills lays fresh in my mind. Noticing my sudden interests of the crystal ball he took back the spell book from my arms and began to chant a spell from it. Then I saw a young brown haired girl with an equally young dark haired guy plotting something with a group of strange looking people. The girl was reading tarot cards as the others were engrossed in her 'mysterious' ways. Having experience of tarot cards myself I noticed that the outcome of the reading meant that war was on the way and the group of people were not too happy about it either.
"Who are those people?" I asked as I continued watching them get ready for battle.
"Those are our enemies, no need to know their names dear child. All you need to know is that these are the enemy and we must fight against them." He said as he made the images disappear.
"But why must we fight? Why can't we just live on in peace?" I asked as a child would to everything and anything that they didn't understand.
"Because of you and the fate of Gaea all rest in war. And war is the only way to find out how powerful you and Gaea combined can truly be. Now, come here, you need to learn how to work the magic that lays within you." He said as he tried to lead me towards the massive shelves. I didn't budge. "Why are you not moving!" he said, angered by my stubbornness.
"Because, my mother used me as a toy to 'better' her reputation and I'm not about to let you do the same. I don't care if you say that I'll never be able to do this or that without your help. I can find out on my own!" swiftly I moved out of his grasp and somehow ended up in the forest outside the castle. Not knowing that I had caught Dilandou and his Slayers' attention, I continued running like my entire life depended on it. Finally I stopped and hid inside a cave that was by a stream. I couldn't hear anything that would warn me of any danger before I blacked out.