| ---~~~ C R Y O F O M E N S ~~~---
- Chapter Five : Unveiling the Calamity -
Factoids:
-- Words between ~ signify mindspeech.
-- Words in italics signify your typical 'flashback' scenario or thoughts by the indicated character. Sometimes it's used for Emphasis too. ^_^
-- Words between * are being emphasized.
Notes:
-- Sorry I couldn't update on New Years, all! Ehehe? *ducks pots and pans* - But I hope everyone had a great holiday season and is vera' vera' happy. ^_^ Because happiness is good. Yep! *giggles* - Anyways, please enjoy the story! And remember to give criticism. If it's constructive I will love you. ^_^ If its a flame I will laugh at you and send smurfs to boil your eyes in a very small pot. K'dokie? Weee!! ^_^
--------------------
--------------------
Albert gently cradled the cup before him in hands that were steady- although for the life of him, he knew they should tremble. The porcelain was lifted to his lips by a mindless action; his thoughts giving rise to movement when he felt he could barely move all the same. Warm tea spilled down his throat a few moments later, and haunted, hurting eyes rose to take in the presence before him. A sigh passed by his mouth. The cup lowered.
"... Haschel is truly gone."
Dart nodded carefully, watchful gaze studying every feature of his king. Stress. A facade of control under which emotions clashed and screamed. Albert was all to skilled at presenting any sort of front he wished when the circumstances warranted such behavior, but here the wall wanted to crack. Here the strength he wanted to portray was not so able.
"Yes, my friend." And Dart felt the familiar ache of loss seize him the same way he knew it was grasping Albert so firmly. The two sat alone in Indel's massive study, with light from the high, near archaic windows streaming along dull red, tan and white hues. It touched the carpet and caressed the bookshelves, etching over candle posts and crawling up the lacquered sides of their woven chairs. Between them stood a table, dark in wood that reflected the tones of blackening sunset. There was silence, pain, and finally speech once again.
"Eight months, I've been useless." Albert began carefully, his hand reaching for the cup he'd set aside- although tapered fingers did not move entirely to grasp it. "Emily told me all about my collapse. The dizzy spells that later lead to the inevitable, so it seemed. One morning I simply fell in the hall, only to wake so long after and find a friend is dead, my 'illness' as mysterious as it is cured, and confusion as rampant as my desire to understand with trouble brewing on a not-so-distant horizon."
Hazel eyes closed.
"How could this have happened?"
His hand moved from the cup- to the ancient book in front of them. Two fingers pointed upon the image of a man once named Marius Ahnaran; features painted absently into the eternal stillness of this single text- the only they could find from an era so long past.
"How is this possible?"
Dart shook his head, letting a tense neck relax as it fell into his hands; eyes scanning the floor. "Nevermind the Dragoon Spirits. Nevermind your sudden cure. Albert, you know I hold no truth- and I know it helps to ask, even so." He looked up carefully. "... I can only hope our visitor has more answers than we do questions."
Albert nodded his agreement with the slow, overwhelmed motion of one who was very, very tired.
"Of what I do know, I've already told you." Dart continued quietly, shifting further back into the warmth of his seat. "After you slipped into a coma, political debate came to a head. Zoir was fighting with Emily constantly about the throne. He near treated you as if already dead." A sigh. "A few weeks in, Shana and I were married. We wanted to postpone until sure you would recover, but my standing under the scrutiny of the Tiberoan government needed to be more compounded to establish my authority. With the threat of benign takeover, the sooner married the better."
"It was political, then."
"No..." Dart knit his jaw, remembering. "We were happy, but pressured- yes."
Albert carefully learned forwards. He was still weak, and standing was a task often undertaken only at the arm of one of his friends. The concoctions Marius had given him to drink were the only supplements that seemed to aide him, and luckily he was regaining strength at a rate most doctor's would consider impossible. Regardless, His weakness was not entirely due to inactivity. The sheer weight of revelation and anxiety that bore down upon them all was taking it's toll; and the young king was Eternally thankful that Dart had pulled him away from the others to talk in private. Being 'brought up to speed' was a task most easily dealt by one voice, just now... but the things he had learned? Gods, the things he had learned...
"... Dart." A slender hand grasped his own. "... I am so sorry I left you to face this alone. That you've been thrust into the power-wrought politics of kingdoms. Should I have known, I would never have appointed you as Commander of the Seventh Knighthood- nevermind the role of guardsman. This should not have been your burden."
Dart smiled gently. "Serdio is my home. It's not a burden to protect her, or my friends. I don't know what Zoir is up to- or why he's been pulling such arrogant stunts. I DO know that I and Shana are happily married. I DO know we have a child on the way. I DO know that Emily will make a fine Dragoon, and I DO know that Haschel, wherever he may be, is going to maim us if we keep moping around."
His hand tightened around Albert's own.
"For what we don't know, this man will have to provide us." And his free palm indicated the picture within the book nearby. "Be this truth or enchantment, we aren't dragoons because we undermine the threats presented to us. Answers will come."
Albert closed his eyes, accepting Dart words for all they could hold in fact, and upon opening them- he grinned ever helplessly.
"-Then let us return to the others, and try to understand."
--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--
Miranda was irritated, wary, and grateful all at once.
She paced up and down the length of Indel's 'meeting' room of sorts. It was just a quiet little chamber much like a study, with comfortable chairs and embroidered couches that, in most cases, might comfort her whirling thoughts. At the moment, nothing short of being knocked unconscious could calm her nerves, and she really didn't give a damn if the others noticed this or not. So the pattern continued up and down the circular room, her blue eyes flashing suspiciously towards the figure that sat well away from her, speaking to Shana and Meru. Naturally, her gaze moved next to the table before them.
Some tea. Some napkins. Two dragoon spirits.
Rose and Zeig entered her thoughts again, where shock had been placated by a bout' of 'manual override' on her part. How, Why and Where didn't matter right now. Keeping herself steady did. Dart and Albert would be returning shortly, and Emily too would arrive back here from a brief conference with her guardsmen in no time at all. THEN, her questions would find placement. THEN- she'd get some god DAMNED answers.
A sigh.
The dark dragoon spirit flickered lightly in the dull twilight from outside.
In a sudden detour, Miranda moved over to the large, arching single window and peered outside over the streets of Bale. Below, lamplights flickered in preparation for the coming night... but dear goddess, that sky. It was angry, black, and fierce. Only at the distant horizon did light peer through; like a child peeking over the edge of a pillow in fear the monsters had come.
She shuddered lightly as a roll of thunder swallowed the horizon, and closed the single open pane of glass as heavy droplets began to fall from the sky. Miranda had never been one to believe in bad omens, but surely, if she had, this one would be most fitting.
Marius gently turned his gaze upwards as the rumble died away. The sound had hushed both he, Shana and Meru all at once.
"... I hate impromptu foreshadowing." Meru piped with a nervous grin. She sat back in her seat; a small thing that stood opposite of where Shana lay on the couch. Marius was kneeling on the floor beside Dart's wife, and had been discussing her child until that growl from the sky had interrupted them. At Meru's words, he only turned and smiled.
"It's alright to feel apprehensive."
Miranda outright snorted. Apprehensive? Try 'stomach-in-knots-oh-FUCK-I-need-a-drink.'
Marius had an interesting way of seeming to know exactly where your thoughts were headed, for he chuckled in a mild show of good humor and then turned his attentions back to Shana. She'd cast her gaze against the sky, bright hazel eyes a stark constant to the darkness that reigned above... and with a sigh, her gaze fell back to his own.
"It's a boy...?"
"Yes. And a very healthy one, at that."
"How could you know?" And Shana peered at her just-exposed tummy, where the cloth of her shirt had been drawn back and held below the rise of her chest. "I'm only just beginning to show..."
Meru swung her legs back and forth, watching Miranda scowl darkly at their 'guest' when he simply closed his eyes and lifted a hand to shush her. Of all the dragoons, she was having the most difficulty adjusting to his presence. It's not that she didn't have a right to be cautious... but... Meru liked him. He'd been very nice to their group thus far, had healed up one of her best friends, and was keeping Shana's mind off more troubling situations. Meru briefly waved a hand in her direction. Miranda looked up- and Meru panned said limb down in a silent gesture to 'settle'.
The Sacred Sister growled, sat down, fidgeted, got back up, and began pacing again.
Oiy.
Shana watched curiously as Marius pressed a hand over her abdomen. He was fatherly in manner, with a touch that was undoubtedly one of care and healing. Honestly, she'd asked him to. He was a doctor of some sort, and as events in Rouge hadn't allowed her to visit a medical tender... this seemed opportune, at the moment. Miranda had been more than vocal in her protest of the action, but with coaxing she'd finally agreed.
Shana knew this 'Marius' would not hurt her. She just... did.
"You'll be a good mother." The elder said in his hushed way, slipping her shirt back into place. Shana beamed, and just then- Dart, Albert and Emily strode into the room. Miranda looked relieved, nodding to Dart as their leader entered. Albert was alright- supported only partially by Emily's tender grip. With all arrived, there was a rather expectant pause. Dart looked to Marius.
"You said you would explain?"
And Marius, in turn, gestured into the room.
"Then please- take a seat."
--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--~~--
"It... didn't take to long..." Emily was saying as she and Albert walked into the lounge of sorts. When Albert gave her a harried, if not worried look, she gently took his elbow and shook her head. "The councilmen are just glad to know you're back, and the knighthoods are being informed shortly. I even had a messenger sent to Tiberoa to relay the good news, so please don't worry..."
He responded by straightening up and kissing her forehead. "However would I go on without you? As soon as I can, I'll take over affairs of the state once more. Today, even. I'll be fine once I get a good feel on the current political standing in Serdio. After that, I-"
"You'll hike your royal ass back into your room and SLEEP once Marius is through." Dart smirked at him. Albert shook a fist in his direction, and for a split second? Everything was suddenly back to normal. That wonderful feeling was stripped away when the three entered the lounge fully, but its presence had warmed both men. Their friendship was, and always would be strong. Unspoken bonds like that kept them going through the roughest of times, and as Dart bowed his head gently in greeting to both friends and their strange newcomer, the sense only made him thankful.
It would all be alright as long as they stuck together. Haschel always used to say that.
"You said you would explain?" Dart asked into the cool air of the room, a flash filling it with surreal blue and white light. Not seconds later a crackle of lightning sped away. Marius regarded the windows a moment, hearing the roar of rain pour downwards outside, and gestured for the group to get comfortable.
"Then please, take a seat."
And In the span of mere moment's, seats were taken.
Marius rather watched this group a silent few breaths, noting as Dart moved to Shana. As Shana wrapped her arms around him. He saw when Albert cast deft eyes over his friends, and those hazel depths instantly began looking for hurt or pain as a father might. Miranda was like a guardian- positioning herself near him to jump and fight at a moment's whim... and Meru- she smiled at him. Like a child expecting the worst but ready to face it all the same.
He knew why he was here. He did not know if these young, determined men and woman would understand- or believe in the words that were soon to be spoken. He hoped he could speak clearly- could speak truthfully, and not stray them from the task at hand. How must this seem to them? Goddess, how he worried. Kind eyes strayed to Emily as the lithe queen of Serdio placed a hand on his shoulder. The action was unexpected, but in its undertaking he was grateful.
"... Regardless of who you are or are not, my husband may very well owe you his life." She shook her head gently. "... This is all happening faster than I think any of us entirely realize and understand. We don't know what's going on, but we do know we are dragoons."
Meru leaned forwards in her seat. "Damn friggin' right!"
Marius nodded. Smiled. Observed the strength they held in one another, and realized that Atredius had been right.
"Albert..." And he gestured carefully to the young king, who nodded in return. "- Has shown you all the book from which he remembered my name. I am this 'Marius' - the first blood of Serdio. A once-king, although now time should have rightfully worn my bones to dust." The elder paused only to turn away and study the world outside, flickering eyes alight with memories and thoughts. His waterfall of bronzed, golden-ash hair swept behind him with a near ethereal quality, and thin lips parted once again.
"I do not know why I am here, outside the fact that I have been deemed your guide in the coming months ahead. Six months ago, I awoke in a field far west to the grand prairie of Serdio's flatlands, with a memory and a message." He turned gently. "This was just around the time that Albert, my young decedent, had fallen into the depths of a mysterious coma. Albert, in the months of your relative 'death' - your energy had been harnessed by a force greater than I or any other to bring me back into life."
And when Miranda narrowed her eyes, figure tensing, he locked his gaze with her own.
"Yes. Inadvertently, I am the one who caused his lengthy slumber. To whatever powers used him to rebirth me- when my strength had returned I made haste to Indels, and earlier awoke your king. It was an unfortunate return of favors, but Eternity is weak, and it was her only recourse."
Albert alone knew that Marius' pause came to allow them time to digest that information, and calculate the reactions of his audience. Upon Miranda the notion was simple. She was furious. Meru was the one that bid her calm, grasping the Sacred Sister's slender hand and pinning ruby eyes against a turbulent ocean blue. As he felt Emily's hand tighten upon his own, the king's gaze studied her features. Uncertainty. Pure and crisp as fallen snow. Her glance did not go unnoticed as Dart nodded slowly- and Shana simply echoed his movement.
Marius, for the most part, relaxed only slightly. His regal posture had never fled- but he knew he was an intruder here, and an intruder was not one who could bargain understanding with ease.
"... You speak of 'Eternity'..." Albert began after a hushed few moments. "Is this a person, or a deity?"
The elder closed his eyes gently and shook his head. "That is a question Atredius must answer. He is a man you will meet in time, but first, there is more I need to explain." And yet another pause, the intense rainfall beating down with the benign strength of once-drums. It was an eerie background to the voice of their guest as he continued ever carefully.
"- I spoke of a memory and a message. The memory was of my death, and the message, that I should find the Dragoon Warriors and bring them deep into Nissel. As far fetched, and as unworthy an idea as this may sound... my dreams have been haunted by a man I now call friend. Atredius, yes, who has helped me grow stronger over the months and locate the lost dragoon spirits of your two friends. These stones..." His gaze fell upon them. Black and Red. "-Are as imperative as your own in a great task which looms ahead." And here he stopped to chuckle sadly, angular features awash in a moment of grief.
... Once, long ago, he'd spoken these words to the dragoons of old.
The redeye dragoon spirit gave a gentle pulse as Dart's gaze fell upon it, shimmering quietly in a not-quite dormant flutter of it's ancient powers. His eyes roamed over the room before returning to Marius once again. "This is a new threat, then?"
"This is the evolution of reality." The ancient king whispered gently. "By defeating Melbu Frahma those endless three years ago, you rewrote the predestined history that Soa had intended for us all. This- was to allow the god of destruction its reign, and thus begin the world anew. Foiled once by the Winglys in her plight, then again by your own hands, she has roused the hand of fate to rewrite our paths, and find another way to bring forth our end."
... And my, wasn't that a slap in the face.
Meru's thoughts SHOULD have portrayed the shock she knew everyone else was feeling. Three years ago, before the moon crisis, they might have laughed off such revelation if they didn't now know that truth was often stranger than fiction. She might even have rose to give her friends a few words of comfort. A SOMETHING to hold onto for a moment's worth of security. That is- If she hadn't happened to glance outside, anyway.
Staring back at her were the glowing, malicious eyes of a thing seemingly made of rain. A beast of water, latched upon the old stonework of Indel's great heights, with a maw that dragons would envy and a build that mirrored a wolf or hoofed Runner. Mind left to catch up with her sight, the Wingly blinked.
And the thing was gone.
... Had she just seen that? Apparently no one else had. Perhaps it was a slip of wind and rain. Perhaps- it was her thoughts playing deft tricks with a frightened mind. Her friends, although unaware of her hushed uncertainty, did note Meru's reaction. She was now watched by her comrades intently, feeling Miranda's arm drop upon a trembling shoulder.
"Meru...? Gal' - your pale as a sheet..."
Marius followed her struck gaze to the window with cautious eyes as Albert stood, moving to the Wingly's side in concern. "Meru!?" He echoed tenderly, but she didn't seem to respond at first, overcome with a rise of fear. It was Dart and the elder that began towards the window itself, shoving open a tinted pane. Wind gusted throughout the room as rain thundered outside, and a few moments later the glass was pulled shut yet again. Dart, a hand hovering over the hilt of his sword, turned to regard Shana's apprehensive gaze.
"... It... was nothing." Meru breathed in gently.
"Nothing, in this age, can be a very deceiving something." Marius echoed a few moment's afterwards. A sternness had grown in his voice, slender brows narrowed with a very sudden, and very fierce resolve. "Dart. Get your wife out of this room. To another- and promptly."
The milling game of questions and answers would have to wait. Be it that they did not entirely trust Marius or not, a distinct edge of unease had settled over the room, and it was not bound to be ignored. Meru shook herself alert as Emily unsheathed her daggers with cold, killing grace. Miranda hovered beside their Wingly companion, her manner protective. Albert already knew that in a confrontation he wouldn't be of much help. The young king didn't seem to care, however, for he took up a position beside Marius and Emily with obvious intent.
A hush settled over the gathering.
"Is everything alright?" Shana echoed, her voice strained with worry as Dart moved to the door. Her hand was fit snugly into his palm, and the former dragoon seemed reluctant to leave. Her boots clattered roughly against the floor as Dart told her to hush, and a moment later he pulled the entrance open. Shana was always his first concern- and he needed to get her safe.
As soon as the door swung open, however, Shana's voice gathered not to speak in protest- but scream in horror.
The hall outside was covered in splashes of red. No corner had been spared the paint of blood; rich crimson hue's that reflected the light of thunder outside as Dart stumbled away from the door and pulled Shana with him. Emily let out a hoarse choke- skittering forwards to observe the unholy mess with a gasp so helpless it was painful to hear. The walls dripped. The cool air was scented of death.
All that anyone could do was to stare in a stunned, thick silence. Sobs cut the air thereafter. They from Shana- as the corpses that littered the walkway finally came into focus.
"... Oh... goddess."
The castle was silent as a tomb.
Albert, in the quiet that reigned afterwards, was the first to be heard in any effect. He stepped forwards once. Twice. His features were slender yet tense; frozen a moment in the shock of disbelief. Despairing eyes found the hall, found the blood, found the bodies.. and for a moment- all he could think? Was a quavering; "How?"
How couldn't they have heard a struggle? HOW could this have been done so suddenly? WHAT would have slain so many!?
Which of course led one thought process to another, and suddenly a weight unlike any other was sent falling into the pit of his stomach. All the tenants. All the courtmen. All these people. All his FRIENDS.
All dead?
NO.
From wherever the strength came to move, the goddess would only know. Albert jolted to a stumble that became a walk, and then leapt into an outright sprint. The voices of Dart and Emily were drowned behind him. They were safe- his people were not. Something had done this. Something had HARMED them..! Upstairs, the Jade Dragoon spirit screamed in resonation with the upsurge of emotion in it's mortal partner. Albert navigated the way without a moment of thought, every new room a blur of the same. The world was black and red.
Dart was on his heels.
"Albert-!!!"
And his voice echoed in the abandoned halls. Back with the group they'd left behind, Miranda, Emily, Meru and Shana stood in silence. A clambering of motion began only as Miranda raised her bow, an arrow strung taunt. Her features fumbled with the control of rage, shock and fear. In the end- her anger won out. Blonde hair was flipped backwards with a lash of her head.
"... That's it." She stated with determined arrogance. "That's goddamned it."
Marius held a trembling Shana as the young girl wept. Meru and Emily turned to regard him as the Sacred Sister spit a curse, preparing for battle of whatever the sort.
"... Marius." Came Emily's quiet voice. "If you know what is happening- Please, great gods... Tell us."
The tall man now scooped Shana up into his arms. Her heart was beating frantically, scared and overwhelmed. This could be harmful to her child- and they all knew it. At Emily's question he could only shake his head, breathing out a quiet; "We must go to Nissel immediately."
Miranda hissed at him. "I swear to GOD, if this is your doing-!!"
"It's not." Meru whispered gently. "Don't, Miranda. Let's just get out of here." The Wingly turned frightened eyes on her friend. "Please-!!!"
Despite the fact that Miranda had moved immediately to argue the alternative, there was not a single second left for debate. The grand window behind them suddenly shattered inwards, and Meru whirled with a shocked gasp of horror. She knew. Her element cried out; her dragoon spirit stammering it's shock beneath her breast. Emily fell back with a shout of surprise. Miranda let an arrow fly- although what was there to purchase? It was the same beast Meru had seen before. A demon- an entity of pure water! The eyes slanted, white and dead against the inset of flowing, rain-made brows. Those jaws opened. The thousands of teeth reached. On all fours- it galloped to ensnare it's prey with watery claws akin to liquid steel.
"Gehsteva mi' dorah cysha!"
A noiseless impact rocked the room. The chant- the spell- had come from Marius. Stunned if only a moment, their foe collapsed on its muscular haunches and thrashed with a howl no sin could match. No time to ask how or why- only time left for a single action.
Marius thrust his hand towards the door.
"RUN -!!!"
~ end chapter five ~ |
