Polished
By: Zell's Lollipop Ninja
Rating- PG (may change)
-----------------------------
I have eternity to lament my deeds.
Your words echo in my mind
"Why won't you just let go."
-----------------------------
Prologue: When One Door Closes
"So, what is left for me here, then?"
The short phrase was lost amongst the commotion in the streets.
Chris stared up vacantly at the sky for several moments, the sun warming her face. The town rejoiced at the sight of her riding back home amongst the hundreds of other soldiers. One hero left. One hope left to cling to. That, to her dismay, was Lady Chris.
Vinay Del Zexay was an empty, soulless city since the start of the war. Though it had been six years, the people still did not seem as jubilant as they had been oh so many years ago, before the Champion's War, back when life was simple.
A war torn nation, shells of human beings, and a lost hero. How the mighty had fallen.
One by one, all the things the Silver Maiden loved were torn away from her. Her men, her faith, and her reason. What was left, after all? Vinay Del Zexay was just a town of ghosts in her mind, and the poltergeists of those who had fallen would forever be within the town's gates.
She would not have it. She could not.
She wrote a letter to a close friend by the sea. She could not stand it anymore. She could not take seeing all that she had loved corrupted and mutated.
I am coming. Expect my arrival soon.
Chris
Yes, she had somewhere to go. She would leave. Chris thought that if she left her nation she would not have to feel all the pain. No more seeing shadows of days past, no more hurting!
Everyone knew the war was nearly over. Casualties outweighed survivors on both sides. Peace talks were being considered. It would all be over soon.
How dramatic and fitting it was for the country, Chris mused, that all seven of the greatest knights perished together in the same war?
-----------------------------
"So, you are leaving then?"
"Yes, most definitely. I can't stay in Harmonian service anymore." Geddoe nodded, shifting slightly in the ebony chair. His one eye surveyed the beautifully furnished room, but the air of Bishop Sasarai.
"So, where do you plan to go?" Sasarai looked about the room. Where was she? Upon the arrival of any guest, she was trained to bring tea. But, still, Katherine hadn't come.
"I'm heading to the base of the Maximillian Knights on request of Master Fred. Then, I don't know… somewhere."
"I'm sorry Bishop Sasarai!" Katherine huffed, running into the room with the tray of china cups. The priest's eyes bulged as the expensive tea set clattered about the platter. One of the intricately designed glasses toppled to the ground. Sasarai bit his tongue.
SMASH!
The mug shattered into dozens of pieces.
"Yeep!" the girls skidded over to the table and slid the tray onto it.
From the momentum the sliding tray, teapot toppled over and emptied onto the all of Sasarai's mail, most of which was unread. Sasarai growled and jumped back from the hot liquid. Geddoe calmly stood and took a step back.
"Oops!" the servant squealed, looking up from the broken china she was collecting to the soaked mess on the table. Her eyes timidly wandered to Sasarai's face, which was filled with burning rage.
Geddoe smirked at the young (well, in relation to himself) bishop. What an interesting last day in Holy Harmonia…
-----------------------------
"Well, that was a very unfulfilling way to spend my evening."
Dios sighed, dropping the stack of documents onto his desk. Paperwork was one of the most loathed assignments he had. Working for Sasarai, though, had never been all smiles and roses.
With a day of work under his belt, the blonde Harmonian slid back into his chair. He grinned merrily at the picture of his wife and son that was contained by a redwood frame painted a shade of viridian. "I bet I missed dinner…"
The soldier's stomached roared in dismay. He was so hungry! He had forgotten to get lunch in the mess hall that afternoon, so now he was left to let his stomach moan until he returned to his home. Sad, really.
"See you later, Cecilia, Georgio." Dios pushed himself out of his chairs, grabbed the papers, and made his exit of the Soldier's Office. He had to deliver all the documents to Bishop Sasarai before he could return to his household.
The walk to his friend's house was never long. The clergy lived on the grounds of the temple, in huge mansions which housed several men. Sasarai, being in such a high station, shared his home with no one other then the few servants he had.
The grass was green and the winds were pleasant. Harmonia was the most beautiful area in the world during the summer. The breeze brushed softly against Dios sideburns with each step. I should take Georgio kite flying sometime…he pondered, recollecting all the times he had done so on this very field as child.
Dios straightened out his beret and uniform as he stood outside the heavy oaken doors of the Bishop's residence. Just as he reached out to knock, the door was flung wide open before him. Bags in hand, Sasarai's maid Katherine stormed out of the household, mumbling angrily to herself. She cast a glare at Dios but said nothing.
The soldier marched silently through the hall, towards the study of his commanding officer. The office was empty. Turning back down the hall, Dios inspected the sitting room. This room was also vacant. Perplexed, the Harmonian Chief of Staff shuffled out towards the exit.
"Dios!"
At the sound of his name, the Harmonian man turned to see his master in the open dining room, sipping coffee and staring at some damaged letters. The blonde man swept into a deep bow before approaching the bishop.
"Ah, good evening, sir. I have the records you asked for." Dios placed the papers beside Sasarai's mail, staring at the stained envelopes.
The bishop sighed and muttered, "Look at this letter from Lady Chris. It's damaged beyond legibility."
"Ah, the monthly correspondence. That's a disappointment. I hear the war in Zexen is wrapping up; maybe it had some important information."
"Well, it doesn't look like much ink was on the page from the smears. I wonder what she said…"
Dios shook his head and exited the manor. Sasarai sat silently at the table, glaring down at the useless letter. With a sigh, the bishop wandered up to his study.
-----------------------------
Hello all! It's a new epic, a new beginning, a new story all from yours truly! It may be rather dark, it may be rather light-hearted, my directions are split at the moment. I was originally leaning in the angst direction, you know, since this fic is centric of Sasarai and Chris and they aren't the most slap happy people.
Also, Dios will be playing a quite major role in this story, at least for the first half dozen chapters. I like him a lot, and I just thought planning him in this story would be nice. Sideplots are always fun.
Well, anyway, that's it for the prologue. It's kinda short, but I thought it was fitting. Setting the stage… all that fun stuff. Yeah. Check back later, please, if you're interested.
Lastly, I want to suggest to all of you to join a really fun Suikoden webblog. It's a real blast, and the people there all seem pretty cool. Not to mention, I should really be recruiting people...
Check it out at:
Suikoden.pitas.com
Well, that's it for me. See you all later!
--Kate
