Disclaimer: I do not own anything I could be sued for
Nagiciam finally made his way to the courtyard where flowers of all sorts of colors bloomed. It was good weather and the night sky was clear and the stars were shining. And there, on the balcony, was Leyline, her back to him and looking out across the land.
Not sure of what to say or do, Nagiciam just stared for a minute shuffling his feet. Finally, as the tension mounted, he walked up to her and stood besides her. "It's a nice night…isn't it?" he finally managed to say.
Leyline only stared straight ahead. "Yeah…it's a nice night." She said gently. "The stars are unusually bright tonight."
Nagiciam nodded. "That means that something good is happening." He said quickly. "My master and I often study stars at night and we always have to calculate this and that. It's boring…" Realizing he was babbling, Nagiciam let out a weak laugh. "I'm sorry! I talk too much…" he gasped. "I didn't mean to."
Leyline smiled as she looked at Nagiciam. "It's ok. I didn't mind." She said. "It's good to see an old friend again."
Nagiciam smiled back as he faced her. "Yeah. I'm glad you remember me. I was getting worried I'd never see you again." He laughed. "I'm…just an apprentice to Master Sohac now…"
Grinning Ley faced Nagiciam. "Are you training to become a high Spellcaster?" she asked. "Or is there another reason? We have to catch up. It's been a long while."
Nagiciam shook his head. "No…when my parents died in the war, they wanted me to learn magic. So here I am. It's hard work, and Master Sohac doesn't take failure easily, but I've made my way up."
Ley stared sadly at him. "I understand. My mother went to the war too. My father is still alive though."
"Your father?" Nagiciam asked. "What's he like? Is he back home?"
Ley laughed weakly as she stared ahead. "My father's never been much of a father." She said sadly.
"Oh."
Turning to the inside to the castle, Nagiciam leaned up against the rail. "So how long are you going to be here?" he asked casually. "I mean…what are you going to do here? I thought the kings were going to do politics."
Leaning also, Ley sighed. "I really don't know for both questions." She said. "The king never was good with giving details. But I know it'll be more than a week. Why?" Grinning at Nagiciam, Ley said teasingly, "Do you want me to leave?"
Shocked at his mistake, Nagiciam quickly tried to cover up. "No! No that's not what I meant! I just asked to know that's all!" Giving a small laugh, Nagiciam harshly cursed himself in his head.
Ley just smiled as she looked at him. "Don't worry Nagiciam." She said. "I knew you were joking. It's nice too see you alive."
"You too."
***
Walking out of the courtroom and down the halls, White went up to the second floor where a guest chamber was. "So…the stage is set." He whispered. "The queen is here, the king of Spellcaster's is old and feeble. He won't be so tough. Even though a few have a few flunkies, it won't matter. We still have an Ace up our sleeve." Looking around the room he sighed again. "But that one Spellcaster, Sohac. He'll cause trouble if he lives as well. And that half-blood." Laughing to himself, White grinned maniacally. "Oh what the hell." He said. "Everyone should die and make way for the plans for the rise of the Dragons!"
"Talking to yourself again White?"
White spun around to see King Otes staring back at him with his cold eyes and grim expression. "You know that the plans are never to be revealed to Leyline. Nor anyone else between you and I. This is too important to be screwed up."
White nodded. "But what I don't understand King," he sneered. "Is why we are waiting forever to go ahead with our plans. Why not take the first key and focus on finding the paradise later? If we find that, then we don't have to take the steps in-between the first and last!"
King Otes glared. "Shut up you stupid boy!" he snarled. "You know nothing! The Queen, and the King, with their combined powers can stop us before we get to the paradise! To get our ideal, we have to get rid of them both…permanently."
White nodded as he looked down in shame. "So…when do we begin?"
Grinning, Otes turned away and closed his eyes. "The first key to the paradise we have already obtained. And in doing so, we have gained the entrance to the paradise. However, the second key we still need."
White blinked in confusion.
Not turning around, Otes paused. "One is a door. One is a key. Two make the entrance to the paradise. That is what we need. The pawns are still suspicious of another. We'll have to stay for a while until every one is trusting. Then we can move in. Be ruthless. Break relationships that once were. Chaos. Then we shall be rewarded for all our hard work."
***
The next day at the training grounds, Nagiciam slowly made his way out of the castle to them as Ley practiced with a borrowed sword. With White as her sparring partner, they were on the castle grounds and it was a nice clear day. Under their feet, the dust rose and danced as they exchanged blows to each other and broke away.
"Pretty good Ley!" White complimented as he slashed upwards. "Try this!"
Ley quickly blocked down and struck back, knocking the sword out of White's hands. "Not yet…" she said panting a bit. "But good try."
"Alright Ley!" Nagiciam yelled.
As Ley jumped down, Nagiciam came to congratulate her. "Wow, Ley that was a great fight!" Nagiciam complimented. "Beautiful moves!"
Ley stared. "Nagiciam!" she yelped. "You were watching?"
Nagiciam laughed weakly and raised a hand. "N-no! I just came by just now." He explained. "I wasn't eavesdropping or anything."
Ley breathed a sigh of relief as she put away the sword. "Thank the gods…" she said. Then changing the subject quickly, she said, "But White almost got me there didn't you?" she asked as she looked at him as he pouted, his sword put away. "It was really close."
Scoffing, White nodded. "Well I only took it easy on you this time because I didn't want to embarrass you in front of your friends." He teased. "Next time I won't hold back."
Ley smiled as White walked away to the entrance of the castle. "Neither will I." She called after him. "Be ready!"
Nagiciam watched as White went into the castle and then turned to Ley. "Ley…why didn't you want me to watch?" he asked. "It's just that…well I…"
Sadly, Ley looked down and away as she paused to think for a minute. "I am truly sorry Nagiciam." she said sadly. "But when I fight, then the next thing I know, there's another someone inside me who takes over me. And she's violent too. She's the one who fights when we're in battle and she's merciless. She lives for blood and war and she'll kill whoever's in her way. She stops at nothing."
Nagiciam stared shocked. "Huh?" he asked. "Are you alright?"
But Ley shook her head sadly. "I'm serious. I don't know why, but as far back as I can remember, I've always had another presence living inside me. Like an ancient spirit. I guess you could say I'm cursed. But I'm also blessed. We have to have each other," She said. "Because in order for me to live, I need her. In order for her to live, she needs me. It's all a cycle."
Nagiciam gasped. "Is she the one?" Nagiciam thought quickly as he stared. "Is she the one who is in the prophecy?" Thinking quickly what to say, Nagiciam said, "I…I'm sorry…I believe you." he stammered. "I wish I could help."
"No…" Ley said as she shook her head. "I don't mind her. And she doesn't mind me. It's like we've made a special promise to each other. She'll only come out if I let her and I will let her fight all the battles I'm in. Or the one's she deems worthy. However sometimes she goes back on that and just appears. But it's usually for good reason, so it's alright sometimes."
Nagiciam only stared at Ley. "Ley…" he said sadly. "If it means that you're alright with this then I'll let it be."
"It's ok…" Ley said. "I just hope to the gods you never have to watch the destruction."
***
"Nagiciam! Pay attention!" Sohac ordered as he watched Nagiciam pour two magic liquids together.
"Hey look at that…" he responded lamely. "*Sigh* Ley…"
Not paying attention, Nagiciam only stared straight ahead as he rested his head on his hand supported by his elbow while he grabbed a random bottle and slowly poured the liquid into the cauldron.
"You idiot!" Sohac yelled as he put up a magic barrier.
BOOM
Nagiciam stared straight ahead, but now covered in black smoke and grime. "Hey look at that…" he said half-heartedly.
Sohac glared daggers as he brought down his barrier. "You…fool!" he yelled at Nagiciam. "Do you see what you have done to my quarters?"
Nagiciam only bored, looked around.
Everything was nicely covered in a thick green slime.
"Hey look at that…" he said again just as bored as before.
Sohac was ready to spit.
"YOU IMBICILE! LOOK AT THIS! YOU KNOW A SIMPLE POTION LIKE THAT! HOW COULD YOU SCREW THIS UP? ARE YOU DEAF? ARE YOU BLIND…?"
***
And so the screaming continued and Nagiciam found himself a moment later with a bucket and mop cleaning up all the slime that had been thrown all over the room.
" *Sigh* Ley…"
***
Citlec sighed and stared around the hall. No one was there but him anyway, and everyone else was out doing something. Even when you were an unwelcome guest, you were still a guest and at least should be preoccupied with doing something. Even cleaning a stable sounded nice about now. Oh well.
Making his way down the hall to see if he could get a horse to ride or something, Citlec suddenly met up with Ley on the way down the stairs.
"Excuse me…"
"Sorry…"
As the two past each other, Ley turned to look back for a second. At the same time however, so did Citlec. Looking at the other, the other realized that they were being stared at and then turned.
"Excuse me…"
"Sorry…"
Trying to make it up the stairs a third time, Citlec hesitated before looking back yet again and again, met up with the same pair of silver eyes.
"It was Citlec right? Ley finally asked seeing how as they weren't going to get anywhere. "From the banquet?"
Citlec nodded, a bit stiff. "She's still a dragon…" he said to himself as he stared Ley down. "Remember what your father said: You can't turn your back on them."
However, nodding he said, "And you're Ley the Blue Eye. Yes I remember you."
Ley grinned as she nodded as well. "Well it was good to meet you again Citlec." She said happily. "And I hope we meet again."
"See you…"
"Bye…"
***
"Stupid boy…" Sohac muttered to himself as he stormed down to the Great Hall. "Stupid, foolish boy. How could he miss that potion? It was one of the first things he ever learned! Moron!" Angrily, he glared at the wall before him.
"What could have gone wrong? He was always such a diligent worker before…"
Suddenly, a sneering voice behind him said, "Is something the matter Sohac?"
Sohac turned to see White standing in the doorway, smirking at him, his arms crossed.
"What do you want-…can I do for you?" Sohac said stopping himself. "I am busy at the moment."
White's smirk only got bigger as he said, "It seemed you were having a small problem with your apprentice Nagiciam. I just was checking up on you that's all."
Nagiciam narrowed his eyes at White. "Only high Spellcasters and Royalty may enter in this room. I must ask you to leave." He said with a hint of warning in his voice.
White put on a shocked face. "What?" he said. "Is that a threat? Don't violate my right to feel safe in an ally territory Master Sohac. It just may start another war…"
Sohac said nothing as he glared.
"Well whatever." White said as he began to walk away. "You won't matter to anyone soon. And you won't be able to do anything about anything soon enough either."
Then laughing, White left Sohac with worried thoughts as he walked away.
***
"Your majesty!" Sohac cried bursting into the conference room where the Queen, Citlec, Neeces, Sage, and Otes were having a conference. "I'm sorry, but I need to talk!"
"Sohac!" Sage cried as he stood. "What is the meaning of this? We have important things to discuss here!"
Sohac nodded briskly as he bowed and whispered to the king. "Forgive me your highness, but I think some foul play is about."
Sage sighed heavily as he looked back at the council who waited on him.
"King Sage!" Otes protested. "If I don't mind saying so, we still have many things to do tonight! This interruption is unforgivable!"
King Sage nodded to Otes who slowly sat down. "Alright…Sohac, come back later and we'll talk. But for now, I have to finish this."
Sohac could only nod and back out of the room.
Sage turned to the others once Sohac was out. "I apologize council members. Something must have really been important."
As the council resumed, Otes could only think of one thing:
"I hope White hasn't talked about anything with his big mouth…or else all for my plans of regaining power and taking over all the clans will be ruined!"
***
"He said that?" Sage asked Sohac as they stood together in the Great Hall.
Sohac nodded. "Your majesty, will all due respect I suggest we investigate this matter. It could lead to something important."
Sage sighed as he stroked his beard. "Sohac, you are my one trusted advisor. But I cannot break the relationship between Dragons and Spellcasters. Enough blood has been spilled. We'll have to wait it out for now."
"But…" Cutting himself off, Sohac sighed. "Yes your majesty."
***
"Really? White said that?" Nagiciam laughed as he and Ley walked together across the field of grass that was outside the castle bounds. "I can't believe it! I never would have thought he'd do such a thing!"
Ley laughed as she looked up to the sky. "Well, I had no idea he'd eat a whole banquet by himself either, but he did! It was hilarious!"
Laughing, the two sat down on a hill for a short break.
"So Ley…" Nagiciam said nervously. "Do…do you have someone who's waiting for you…back home?" Catching his breath, Nagiciam waited impatiently for an answer.
"No…why?" Ley asked. Then grinning, she leaned into Nagiciam, making him blush. "Do you have a crush on me?" she asked smiling.
"No! I mean, I do! Not! Uhm…uhm…I…I-I-I don't!"
"Really?" Ley asked as she opened her eyes and stared straight into Nagiciam's.
"That is…" Nagiciam said blushing. As his thoughts raced, one thought came over all; "She had brown and blue specks in those silver eyes…"
"That is?"
"Unless…" Gathering his courage, Nagiciam took in a deep breath and let it out slowly as, "Unless…you let me!"
Ley smiled as she drew back from Nagiciam. "So what does this mean?" she asked. "Does this mean…"
"You!" a voice came behind them.
Nagiciam and Ley both looked up and turned to see Neeces standing behind them glaring. "What are you two doing?" she demanded. "A Spellcaster and a Dragon. What a interesting mix!"
As soon as the words were out of Neeces's mouth, a strange look came over Ley. "So…" she said as she stared at Neeces, who suddenly began to back down a bit. "You think we're strange huh? Well, for a hybrid with the likes of you, I'd be so ashamed. Not even of pure blood are you?" Laughing evilly, Ley twisted her head to Neeces, looking at her through one eye. "Go on little girl. The castle is in the other direction."
Neeces glared at Ley as she bit her lip a bit. "You Dragon's may think you're everything…but you're nothing but-…"
"Ah, ah, aah…" Ley scolded as she waved a finger at her. "You shouldn't insult the ally you know. It might start another war. I suggest you leave. Before you'll regret sticking around."
Not wanting to cause uproar, Neeces only glared and began to walk away.
"Whoa…" Nagiciam thought as he watched Neeces go. "What was that?" Turning to Ley, he gasped. A sudden flick of gold in her eyes had just disappeared and returned to it's normal silver. "What was that?" he asked himself as he stared wide-eyed.
Gathering his courage, Nagiciam blinked at Ley. "Er…Ley?" he asked. "Was that who I think it was?"
Sighing, Ley nodded. "It was her…" she said sadly. "It was Yami…"
***
Citlec sighed as he walked down the halls of the palace.
"CITLEC!" a voice screamed behind him.
Turning, Citlec was suddenly slammed into by a crying Neeces who had tightly grabbed him around the waist and was crying loudly.
"Neeces!" Citlec asked astonished. "What's wrong with you?"
"C-Citlec!" she sobbed. "That B-Blue Eye rank! L-Ley, s-she…!"
***
The next day, Ley and Nagiciam were outside, just out of the castle. "So I poured in the Rootwater with the Harpie feather potion and it just exploded and sent green goo all over the place! I never knew Master could yell that loudly before."
Ley laughed in response. "So what were you thinking when you accidentally mixed these potions together anyway?" she asked. "What could possibly be that important?"
"You."
Ley stopped laughing abruptly as she stared at Nagiciam. "Me? Why me?" she asked blankly.
Nagiciam could feel heat rising to his face. "Well…because…" he said slowly. "You…you're important…to think about."
Ley smiled gently as she closed her eyes. "Nagiciam, I-…" she started.
"LEYLINE!"
Turning at the sudden voice who interrupted them, Nagiciam and Ley turned to face a glowering Citlec and Neeces standing behind him.
"What do you want?" Ley asked turning and putting her hands on her hips.
Nagiciam took a quick glance at Ley. "It's happened again!" he thought in his head a she stared at her eyes. "They're gold again! Does this mean…?"
"I'm just here to challenge you to a friendly match." Citlec responded coolly. "I have no intention of fighting a duel with you."
Ley just raised and eyebrow. "You? Fight me?" she asked lamely. "It's your funeral."
***
The stage was set with Citlec on one end with a wooden sword and Neeces behind the ropes behind him. Nagiciam was behind Ley who was in the opposite corner. And Ley had…
"No weapon?" Citlec asked. "What do you mean? What do you think you're trying to pull?"
Ley only grinned maniacally as she faced Citlec with her arms crossed. "Draw a steel sword." She said. "That puny thing won't last three minutes against my weapon. And I DO have a weapon. But you just can't see it."
Citlec sheathed the wood sword as he drew his real sword from his side. "Can't see it? What kind of weapon is that?" he asked angrily. "You insulted Neeces and I'll fight for my friends!"
"Oh whatever." Ley said as she held up five fingers, all covered with her brown gloves she was wearing. "Let's get this over with."
"Fine!" Citlec yelled as he charged. "You wanted a real fight well here it comes!"
Nagiciam stared at Ley who hadn't moved and didn't look like she'd be moving soon. "Ley move!" he yelled. "Don't just stand there!" As he turned and watched Citlec dash to her, Nagiciam gritted his teeth.
"What does she think she's doing!" he raced in his mind. "If she doesn't move or block, she's going to be sliced in two! But what does she have to block with?"
Slashing downwards, Citlec's sword suddenly came to a halt as he tried to push down. "What!" he yelled. "What is this!"
Ley grinned as she looked up at Citlec. "Oh poor you." She said dripping with sarcasm. "Did you just lose your touch? Or have you begun to realize that I have a stronger weapon which is able to cover the entire arena blocking and attacking whenever I please!"
Then with a fluid movement, Ley whipped her fingers forward and a flash of blue appeared.
Almost immediately, Citlec felt his sword being pulled from him. "What the hell!" he gasped as he pulled back. "What's going on?"
Ley just grinned, her gold eyes gleaming. "Don't you know yet?" she asked. "It's a my weapon. And it's unbreakable."
"Unbreakable?" Nagiciam asked as he stared at Ley's fingers and Citlec's sword. "What does she mean? All I see are thin slashes of blue in the sky. Unless…!" Nagiciam gasped as he realized what Ley was holding. "A wire!" he thought as his eyes widened. "She's fighting with an unbreakable wire! But how? How did she learn to master it at such a young age? The wire is one of the most advanced techniques I've ever seen and she's mastered it!"
Citlec pulled, but the wire was unbreakable and with one good tug, he felt the sword come out of his hands. "No!" he cried as he watched his sword fly away from him.
Catching his sword, Ley's grin just got bigger. "You lose." She said pointing Citlec's sword at his throat. "I didn't get to be a Blue Eye for nothing."
***
Nagiciam was silent as he stared at his food that night for dinner. "A Blue Eye…" he thought sadly. "And Yami? Who the heck is she? Why is she in Ley's body? What's going to happen now?"
SMACK!
"Ow!" Nagiciam yelped as he picked himself face up from his food. "What the heck was that for?"
Sohac glared and Nagiciam shut his mouth. "Sorry master." He said silently.
After dinner, Nagiciam sighed to himself as he climbed a long flight of stairs up to his room. "I…I need to talk to Yami." He concluded. "I have to."
***
"White! White get in here now!"
Quickly, White dashed into the room and shut the door behind him. "Yes sir?" he asked. "What can I do for you?"
King Otes just groaned and rubbed his head. "Get me my medicine. And make is quick. I'm not in a good mood today…"
Quickly, White dashed over to the king's drawers and opened up the top one. There, a small bottle of black pills were stored. Taking one out and pouring a glass of water, White quickly handed both to Otes who took both and drained them. "Having another headache again sir?" he asked. "You know, it's probably not a good sign especially because it's been getting more and more intense."
Otes shook his head and glared. "Don't question me." he warned. "I am in no mood to be lectured in any way or form. My plan is set. Now all we have to do is take out a few people to get to the Queen. The half-blooded freak will go first. The bodyguard will follow and then the Queen herself. Then we can focus on the Spellcasters."
"And what order will they go in?" White asked eagerly.
Otes grinned as he stared ahead. "The brats, then the master will follow. Finally the king. And then it will all be mine."
"What will be yours father?" a voice said behind them.
Otes and White turned to see Ley standing in the shadows of the doorway.
