Chapter 2: May I Present...the King
The blaring afternoon sun of Fanelia set high in the scarlet Gaean
sky, its heat scorching, intensifying the already heated atmosphere
of the annual hunting festival on the King's vast green plain.
Noblemen and their attendants were standing with their weapons ready,
sweat glistening on their bare chests. Their eyes glinted with
savaged gleams while all their weapons were trained on an azuna - an
enormous dark-furred beast of six feet, with curled, razor-sharp
horns, and two pairs of fangs poking out of its frothing mouth.
Twenty burly retainers - all trained soldiers of Fanelia - cautiously
created a tight circle, deliberately aiming at the beast with three
or four arrows simultaneously. The ground shook as war cries
thundered in the air and angry yells erupted when the beast refused
to yield, its hoof scraping the ground fervently, the grassy soil
flying.
A proud figure stood within the circle, his demeanour unruffled
despite the feverish cries surrounding him. Fearlessly and warily he
circled the beast, the royal sword clutched tightly within his hands,
ruby eyes ablaze with his life force. His full lips slowly twitched
in mockery as he gradually inched into the defence of the animal,
searching for enough of an opening to deliver a lethal onslaught that
would determine its fate. He ignored the trickling sweat dampening
his ebony hair, his mind too occupied with his scheming to defeat the
beast. One single mistake and he would have to say his farewell to
the world. Killed or be killed.
"Your Majesty, please stop this absurdity at once! You could be
killed!" the distant voice of his grand councillor entered his ears,
and he swore viciously as the unwanted counsel disrupted his
concentration.
"Van, ignore him. Words alone will not assist but, in fact, get you
killed." Behind him, among his alert retainers, Gaudi - his cousin
and one of his best generals - advised him sarcasm dripping from
every word. "Trust your instinct. The azuna is too good a catch to
pass." Van smirked inwardly. Gaudi, as always, spoke with a
confidence denoting the insinuation that slaying an azuna was an
effortless task. His cousin always expected the best from him, and
he never meant to disappoint the other.
The young king nodded ever so slightly to acknowledge Gaudi's
comment. The muscles that indicated his physical strength flexed as
he drew a second short sword, its smooth surface gleaming under the
sun. He ignored the wild cries of his spectators since his mind was
momentarily blocked by the clamouring of one metal weapon against
another metal weapon, performed with the purpose of distracting the
big azuna. His heart hammered against his ribcage, the beats
deafening his ears. The only thing he sensed was the swing of the
red stone pendant dangling on his neck, as he concentrated solely on
finding the right moment to attack. Shortly thereafter he was deep
in meditation, his mind calm and clear as he practised all his senses
to feel the movement of the air surrounding the beast, the pendant
acting as his pendulum.
Left or right?
Now...or later?
His eyes snapped open as the azuna neighed angrily, its hooves
thumping madly as it charged toward him, the horns ready to gut his
insides. Swiftly he dispatched towards his right while at the same
time plunging his shorter sword into the beast's thick skin, the warm
blood spurting on his face. He smirked in confidence as the beast's
howl penetrated his ears, then he boldly darted forward to deliver
another blow on the down side of the animal. The crowd cheered as he
yet again succeeded in wounding the azuna, with his cousin yelling
the loudest. Van whooped triumphantly as he landed on the hard soil
before the beast, crouching down into one of his defensive stances,
expecting the beast to retaliate.
However, he never expected the animal to turn around and make a mad
dash towards him, trying to bring him down together with all its
worth. He barely saved his immortal soul when one of the beast's
horns tore the skin of his chest, the bloody gash promising to be yet
another scar. His pulse quickened as he turned around only to see
the beast attempt yet again to strike him down. It was too near for
him to escape - their distance didn't make it probable for him to
avoid the assault unscathed. The horrified cries of his retainers
numbed his senses, his reaction dragging. His mind was empty - his
brain failed to coordinate his movements.
So be it. If he were going to die, then he would die in honour not
in cowardice. He wasn't going to run. He would strike. Once, and
if it didn't kill the animal, he would meet his fate bravely. But he
would also fight for his life, his precious life, which his mother
had borne him.
Afterwards all was a blur. One moment he felt the impact of the
animal's mass on his body, squeezing the air out from his chest. He
barely remembered swinging his short sword, stabbing its sharp blade
somewhere into the beast's head, the smell of its blood causing bile
to rise up from his throat. And then people, cheering - their voices
rising in the air, the force shaming even the most thunderous storm.
The azuna, he could see, was dying, its breath uneven as it lay on
its stomach. He leaned against the huge hairy mass, totally drained,
shocked and exhausted to his core. A grimace appeared on his face as
he finally took notice of the stinging sensation on his chest. His
fingers were awash with his own blood as he touched his wound
involuntarily. It had been how many years since he last suffered
from such injuries like the one the beast had inflicted upon him?
"Your Majesty. That wound should be taken care of immediately." A
heavy voice penetrated his ears as a pair of strong arms supported
his weight without any effort at all. Out of earshot, the man
whispered quite mockingly, although pride could also be noted in his
voice, "What a way to die in satisfaction, my dear cousin."
"Thanks for your apparently misleading suggestion, Gaudi." A smirk
plastered upon the king's young features. He refused the older man's
assistance to walk him to his horse despite his pain. Pressing the
white cloth that Gaudi offered upon the wound to stop its bleeding,
he continued absent-mindedly, "But I could only say I do enjoy the
sport every now and then. Gardia worried too much. A king who
couldn't defend his own life was no king, and this kind of sport
would help keep my shape as a warrior." He finally succeeded his
attempt in keeping his feet firm on the ground, his eyes narrowed as
he focused his sight on the beast.
"It's not dead yet," he commented lightly, ruby eyes searching on the
massive form,. "Let me look at it."
The retainers soon cleared the way as Van once again approached his
hunt, this time followed by Gaudi. He stopped abruptly once he came
face to face with the still breathing azuna, his face serious as he
scrutinized the hideous wound he inflicted upon its head, and gasped
when its eyes locked onto his own. There were tears. Tears that
were so sad and clear they glistened like crystals. It was as if the
azuna knew it would soon die.
Van's eyes widened slightly as he tried to absorb what was taking
place in the animal's head. His mind swam in pain as he pushed his
brain to think, to create some reasonable explanation to ease the
sudden tightness in his chest, and yet his guilt prevailed. Soon the
faces of the enemies he had killed in the last Great Gaean War
appeared in his head, their ghostly faces beckoning him to follow
them...to Hell. He shook his head slightly to clear his head,. His
pulse quickened. Was it thinking the same thing as what his enemies
had thought when they had spent their last moment? He could see the
life in the black beady eyes of the azuna. It was still strong, too
strong. The beast still wanted to live. Was it any different then
from human beings? Did the azuna not have the right to live only
because it was an animal?
A few heads, including that of Gaudi's snapped up in concern as Van
swore viciously, slamming his body against the animal and pounding
his fist on the poor mass again and again. Gaudi offered his hand in
an attempt to soothe Van, but the young king refused it as he
silently calmed his breath and straightened his back, hiding all his
pains from the world.
"Van, remember," Gaudi warned him as he walked back to the older
man's side. "You're in the public's presence. Sometimes the way you
express your emotions unnerves them."
"I'll try to remember that," Van mumbled as he glanced at his
surroundings, and smirked a little as he noticed his stunned
retainers. "What are you doing?" He settled into his mask of an
appropriately triumphant expression and barked his order, "Kill the
beast! It's dying. It shouldn't take you an hour to finish it." He
was about to walk back to his shelter when he remembered something -
his body stiffened at the memory of the beast's glassy eyes.
Inhaling deeply, he mumbled his next order almost inaudibly, "Do it
cleanly, and without pain. It must not suffer."
The young king arched an eyebrow in acknowledgment of his retainers'
responses before proceeding to walk back to where the other noblemen
rested from their own exhausting hunting expedition. Gaudi soon fell
in step behind him, his face beamed with raw pride. Never in one
moment had he regretted his decision to return to the capital to
serve his cousin. It all happened after the Great Gaean War. His
cousin had returned from his triumphant quest upon defeating the
raiding troops of Zaibach, and had been more than ready to take on
his responsibilities to restore Fanelia back to her former glory.
Van had been in sore need of competent officers and military generals
then, for a lot of them had been killed during the ambush of Fanelia.
Gaudi took no time in offering his service to Van's court.
Sensing Gaudi's eyes on him, Van smiled warmly and slapped the older
man's shoulder playfully. Carefully his eyes measured his cousin's
appearance. Gaudi could pass as him in any manner, except for a few
striking differences - those that couldn't be remedied. They both
possessed a fairly similar height and Gaudi's shoulder-length, golden
hair could always be cut short and dyed ebony, but there was the
patch on Gaudi's left eye, the one that was blinded from an
unforgettable incident years ago. Van's innards tightened again at
the memory, and he shook his head to clear it. He must not, on any
account, attach himself to the past, for he believed the future could
shape itself according to his deeds in the present, not in the past.
"Something on your mind, my lord?" Gaudi asked him in his
observation, his tone amused. "Perhaps I can help clear it?"
"Cease the formalities, my friend," Van quickly responded, easing his
aching body onto his seat under a shady tree gratefully. "And send
for medication. I will not die because of some untreated wounds. I
still have a long way to go, and Fanelia still needs me, no matter
how reluctant and awkward I am to act as her king."
"Not awkward, Van," Gaudi informed the young king mildly. "Just
more...radical. I have to say you're more a warrior than a king,
though. You blatantly refuse all the luxuries offered with your
position as a king."
"Let's just say that it's not...my style," Van retorted as he winced
slightly as one of the pages present in the hunt started to apply
some ointment to the wound, his tiny fingers tentatively touching the
wound, afraid of hurting his king. At this Van gave the boy an
encouraging look and told him gently, "It only feels like a sting.
And your service is greatly appreciated, Young..."
"Azellor, Your Majesty."
Van nodded in satisfaction upon hearing the more confident tone of
the boy and diverted his attention back to Gaudi. He hated it when
people feared him for his position.
Glancing at his surrounding, he contented himself as he watched the
other noblemen enjoy their prepared refreshment, resumed his
discussion with Gaudi. "So, where are we?"
Gaudi slid down beside him on the grass, chewing on a sweet tasting
leaf thoughtfully. "We were talking about your status."
"Ah yes, my status," he said, looking at his hands. "What about it?"
A hopeless sigh echoed beside him before the air settled into an
awkward silence. Neither one of them dared to speak anymore, both
afraid to touch the sensitive spot in the hidden corner of their
mind. Only after a few minutes did Gaudi force himself to eliminate
the uncomfortable silence. "Gardia rattled again as usual," he
informed Van casually as his cornflower eyes strayed onto the far-
away figure of the old grand councillor of Fanelia, Gardia de Meddez,
challenge radiating from them. The old man, aware of his king's wish
for some private moment, retaliated from the challenge despite seeing
it in Gaudi's eyes. He stayed still in the tent specially erected
for Fanelian royal advisors.
Van turned his face toward Gaudi, his gaze questioning.
"Queen."
At that answer, Van nodded understandingly. Queen. Who had not
thought of that lately? Everyone in his range seemed to anticipate
the moment he would assume the responsibility of gracing the Fanelian
court with the presence of a queen and producing a healthy heir for
the sake of the continuation of the line of Fanel. "Ah, Queen," he
echoed Gaudi's statement absent-mindedly, his look vacant.
"Yes. One that can share in your court responsibilities, giving you
the service of producing an heir..." Gaudi elaborated, swirling his
hand in the air for emphasis.
Van chuckled dryly at the picture. Him? A husband and a father?
Somehow the picture didn't match perfectly in his head. But he had
to admit the common sense of the situation. He hated the notion of
marrying a woman only as a tool to produce an heir, but it had to be
done for necessity. All the elders and royal advisers had been
restless about the matter since he entered his twenty-third springs,
and by his twenty-fourth birthday he had to grace the court with a
presence of a new queen.
But so far he could only find faults in the women he met. The court
women bored him to tears, for there seemed to be nothing on their
minds but the pathetic dresses they wore and the ideal way of how a
man should court a woman. The romanticised idea of courtship made
him dizzy with disgust. He was a man of action, not words. The way
they idealised how a man should act within a presence of a woman
disgusted him.
He had tried the Asturian court for awhile, but his efforts came to
nil. He barely befriended the Asturian ladies thrown at his disposal
except for Millerna, the Asturian Queen herself. Millerna had
suggested Lady Celena Schezar, the very sister of the great Allen
Schezar himself, but he could never imagine himself with the former
Dilandau Albatou of Zaibach as his queen. Despite the loss of all
Celena's memories of the previous years during the war, looking into
the icy blue eyes could prove to be very daunting even for him.
Van chuckled briefly at his memories during his stay in Asturia. He
realised it had been eight years after the last war. Everybody had
gone on their own path, creating their own destiny. Millerna had
eventually married the current King Dryden Fassa all over again five
years ago after their shocking separation at the end of the war. It
was their destiny to fall in love to each other and they could not
deny it no matter how hard they tried. The young king chuckled
slightly. Together they had created a beautiful heir, a sturdy five-
year-old, and another beautiful baby boy.
And what became of his Hitomi? Over the past four years he failed to
re-establish their spiritual link, as if she had deliberately cut all
ties with him. Closing his eyes, he clutched the pendant in his hand
and tried to imagine her face. Even after all the years he could
never forget those bluish green pools of her eyes, sparkling with
intelligence and curiosity. No woman had ever succeeded in capturing
his heart as whole as Hitomi Kanzaki. She was the every essence Van
valued in a woman.
He felt a nudge on his side and opened one eye only to see Gaudi's
grinning face.
"Someone's coming."
"Someone?" Van's eyebrows met in the middle of his forehead as he
turned around, but soon the grimness in his face cleared up the
moment he set his eyes upon the graceful figure of his long time
companion, Merle. The cat woman approached him with a wide grin
plastered on her face, her pace speeding up with each of her
confident stride. "Lord Van!" she cried out excitedly, her cerulean
eyes shining with anticipation. "Congratulation! You have once
again proven that you excel even the fiercest hunter in Fanelia."
Van merely dismissed the compliment with a light chuckle, "Everyone
can do it with a little more determination. My dear Merle," he
opened his arms as she closed their distance. "You look absolutely
wonderful today." He half-expected Merle to jump into his arms and
embrace him warmly like she used to do until a few years ago, but
instead the cat woman only settled into a formal bow on the ground.
Van sighed at the display of formality but he said nothing, lowering
his arms to his sides.
"Lord Van, Lord Gaudi," Merle acknowledged both her superiors before
raising her bronze face and settled on one of her knowing smiles.
She was well aware that Van longed for the old days when they were
the best of friends without the boundaries of their status, but those
days ceased to exist a long time ago. She was required to behave as
what her status dictated her to, and that included proper manners
before his majesty. To ease Van's disappointment, she let out a
teasing little smile and said, "Your Majesty, please understand. Old
Gardia would decide to tell my tutor to increase my lessons of
decorum if I did that. You know how I hate those lessons."
Gaudi barked genuine laughter at the little comment, and it was all
Van could do not to burst into laughter himself. He had firsthand
experiences on Gardia's diligence in his effort to drill perfect
decorum into the king and his cat-girl companion. Van could
understand the reason he had to learn about manners, but Merle?
Merle was only a cat girl. She didn't need to attend social or
political functions. But still Gardia insisted, and miraculously his
efforts seemed to show some results as Merle grew up into a beautiful
cat woman.
There were a few things, however, that Merle refused to accept. She
never submitted to Gardia's order to wear the proper court gown. She
always wore men's shirt and britches, complete with the knee-high
boots, even though she learnt nothing about the art of swordsmanship.
Her cerise coloured hair was clipped short below her ears, the curls
forming a nice frame around her heart-shaped face.
Her appearance didn't go hand in hand with her behaviour, though. It
was true that she was dressed in men's clothing, but her mannerism
was always that of a woman's. She was as feminine as any woman in
Van's court, even though she was generally stronger and more agile
than any of them. As she matured, her behaviour became contrast to
her mischievous self a few years ago. She became refined, her cat-
like grace contributing to her feminine charms. She only wore the
clothing simply because of its practicality.
Giving into a heavy sigh, Van finally told Merle, "You may rise."
Obediently Merle followed Van's order and went to stand beside Gaudi,
and she was soon immersed in deep conversation with the man. Van
only let out a helpless smile as he noticed the two chatting
animatedly. The two had become fast friends since Gaudi first helped
Merle in her much-hated decorum lessons. Since then, Merle had made
it a tradition to visit Gaudi's rural estate once a year. For a
brief moment, Van imagined that it was him and Hitomi chatting along,
not Gaudi and Merle.
Eventually Merle felt his stare and spoke to him with a smile, "What
is it, Lord Van?"
Shaking his head slowly, Van maintained his gaze at Merle and lied a
little bit. "No, it's nothing. You've become a beautiful woman,
Merle. I just think it's the right time for you to marry."
A deep frown distorted Merle's delicate features as she retorted
almost vehemently, trying to suppress her sudden flare of anger,
"Lord Van, I thought we were through this topic. I simply don't have
the desire to marry."
Van lifted his fine eyebrows, surprised by her sudden objection-
Merle seldom went against his words. "But you're of eligible age,
Merle."
"And so are you, Lord Van. Even more so than me," Merle told him,
sarcasm barely concealed behind her suddenly stiff demeanour. "And I
think I will oversee the storage of the azunas' meat, if you please
excuse me." With that she nodded curtly and ceremoniously, a gesture
she did whenever she was upset with Van's decision, then made her way
through the crowd around the royal shelter.
An uncomfortable silence lingered in the atmosphere after Merle took
her leave, her last words raising some of Van's annoyance. Van
expected his cousin to say something, but the other man only shook
his head in disbelief. Inhaling deeply, Van folded his arms in front
of his chest in a gesture of protest. "Was it wrong, what I said? I
didn't exactly tell her I wanted to marry her off somewhere."
Thinking deeply, Gaudi chose his words carefully, as he regarded his
cousin with intense blue eyes, "No, you knew well that you were only
teasing her, and she understands that above all things, but sometimes
you...you..." He flailed his hand in the air, searching for more words.
"I?"
Looking sharply into Van's eyes, Gaudi carefully asked him, his voice
low, "Would you mind some open criticism?"
Van chuckled softly as he proceeded to sit on the grass meadow and
gazed at the almost dark sky. "There is no need to request my
permission. Usually you seem content enough to voice your opinions
even when I don't really want them."
Gaudi approached Van and sat beside him, never removing his eyes from
the younger man's as he breathed the word one by one, "You're forcing
her to see a situation that she doesn't want to see."
Turning around to look at the setting sun, Van let logic rule his
mind, but he couldn't find any descent answers that could explain his
cousin's statement. "Why?" was the only word that came out of his
lips.
"Because you never realised what she actually dreams of."
"Oh, that's pretty...nonsensical." Looking away from the sunset view
to give Gaudi an exasperated look, Van tried to defend himself.
"We're merely friends. She was like a sister of mine."
"Worse still, you might have even realised her feelings and tried to
put a stop to it by deliberately suggesting such ..."
"Stop talking nonsense!!!" Van snapped his head up, his eyes
pleading. "She never thought that I actually...oh God." Van dug the
heels of his hands into his squeezed-shut eyes, trying to conceal the
feelings there. Gaudi was correct. Lying about something was bad
enough, but to know about something and pretending that he didn't
know about it was even worse. He had known Merle's feelings for a
long time, but he had avoided it by dismissing it into the deep void
of his mind. He had pretended all along that there was nothing
between them- that they were like any other best friends in the
world.
With a sigh, Gaudi placed a broad hand on Van's shoulder before he
finally took off to another direction, barking orders to his people
to store the piles of azuna's meat in some big ice cubicles, while at
the same time ordering the other retainers not to disturb his
majesty. A little smile played on his lips as he glanced briefly at
the young king, a flash of longing marring his fair features. Van
was fortunate to have Merle as his best friend.
"What?!" Van glowered, bestowing Gaudi a look of total defiance.
Sometimes the king could be very stubborn indeed. Van never took
criticism lightly, although in the end he was always willing to
improve on his weaknesses.
Grinning widely, Gaudi was about to give his cousin a smart reply
when a sudden commotion broke out some distance away from their
place, causing Van to spring to his feet almost immediately, his
countenance alert as he grabbed his sword. He quickly motioned a
manservant forward and questioned the other man sharply, "What's
happening?!"
The manservant fell on his knees as he quickly answered, "It is one
of the azunas that we have captured alive, Your Majesty. It became
mad all of a sudden and broke the makeshift fence, causing the other
azunas to follow suit."
"The current situation?" Gaudi joined Van as well, folding his arms
in front of his chest in concern.
"The others are able to restrain the rest of the azunas, but for the
first one..."
The manservant hadn't finished his recounting when all of sudden high
pitch cries could be heard from the ladies' tent, causing three heads
to whip up in alarm. All colour was drained from Van's face as he
saw the beast attack innocent people, the scene before him making him
sick with disgust.
"My horse!" he yelled his order, and soon he was handed a rein. He
glanced at his side and was relieved when he saw Gaudi beside him,
holding the rein of his own black stallion. Swiftly he leaped onto
his horse's back and pursued the azuna with Gaudi riding closely
behind him. His frown deepened as he saw the beast about to attack a
lady and her girl-servant, and immediately reached for the crossbow
hung on the saddle, aiming it at the beast. The azuna gave out a
painful neigh as the arrow stabbed him right between his eyes. Van's
lips twitched bitterly as he noticed another arrow poking out of the
beast's right eye and looked at Gaudi with a knowing look.
With a cry of pain the azuna jumped on his two back legs and changed
his course of direction, seeming to believe that escaping was the
only way to survive. Van winced every time his arrow wounded the
beast, but he also didn't want it to harm any more of his people. If
he allowed the azuna to wander into a nearby village freely, it would
surely cause some ruckus that would lead to some costly incidents and
more injuries. He had to kill it.
"To the King's Forest! It ran to the King's Forest!"
Van bared his fangs as he steered his stallion in pursuit of the
azuna, his heart slamming wildly against his ribcage. When was the
last time he had been this excited? He remembered. It was only when
he was aboard Escaflowne's dragon form, slicing the icy wind as he
flew high beyond the green of the forest, with Hitomi behind him,
circling her arms firmly around his waist.
And somehow the memory of Hitomi had erased all the dark thoughts in
his mind. Never mind the azuna. He was going to conquer the animal
and then everything would be fine. What was important was this
soaring feeling in his heart as the coolness of the misty air washed
over his body and as the late afternoon's sun warmed his skin.
"To the left, My Lord! I saw it trying to break through the thick
branches!"
Van allowed his mind to wander while at the same time focusing his
ruby eyes on the enormous form before him, a smile appearing ever so
slightly. This feeling he was having...why was he feeling like this?
The spreading warmth in his chest made him almost free himself in
laughter. Quietly he reached for his pendant, curling his fingers
around it, feeling the smooth texture of the red stone, and smirking
as he glanced briefly at the jewel, his face suddenly bearing a
knowing look.
Is something amiss? No, of course not. But it is so exhilarating,
this feeling...
Like the knowledge that something is going to happen...
Shaking his head slightly, he ducked a flying branch, ignoring the
rough lower branches scraping his bare upper body. And as he
ventured deeper and deeper inside the forest, it became darker, and
more daunting, its mysterious atmosphere inviting. Van shuddered
involuntarily as he sensed a chill down his spine, but he revelled on
the fear deep in the dark corner of his mind. He was used to the
fear, and he could do nothing to deny it but rather accept it,
because it was part of himself, something whose existence he had to
acknowledge. Without fear he wasn't a human being.
He finally reined in his stallion as his eyes adjusted in the dark,
concern clouding his look. It was so silent around him, too silent.
Where was everyone? He couldn't even see his hunt anymore. He knew
he had run ahead than everyone, believing that the beast was
somewhere within his shooting range, but apparently he had lost his
way. Chuckling softly to himself, he shook his head in amusement as
he ordered his stallion to move along, his destination unclear.
Perhaps it was a good thing to go astray once in awhile. It gave him
the time to think without interruption.
He smiled again when he noticed the red glow emanating from his
pendant, his thought leading him to the image of his beloved, the
woman who bestowed the pendant to him. For him, she was the most
beautiful creature in the world, even if the world itself might not
share his opinion. She was the anchor of his life, the sustenance
that kept him going, even after she had long gone back to her home,
the Phantom Moon.
Raising his face to the sky where the sun was now gone, his
expression softened as the view of two giant moons greeted his eyes,
the gentle ray casting a soft glow around his face. Slowly he closed
his eyes, wishing that time would stop, and that he was allowed to
freeze like that forever. He imagined himself almost being able to
see those bluish green orbs and those ripe cherry red lips, and again
being able to touch his beloved, revelling on her velvety creamy
skin.
Van opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow as his horse came to a halt
before a vast and sparkling lake. The twin moons' reflections were
glimmering on its surface. The breeze sent the sweet aroma of the
water to his yearning soul, easing the troubles in his mind a little
bit.
Something was calling him.
He never removed his eyes from the twin moons' reflection as he
dismounted his horse and took a hesitant step toward the lake.
Beneath his grasp, the red stone glowed warmly, the aura seeping into
his mind, encouraging him to explore further. He kneeled down on the
edge of the lake and scooped up some cold water, staring at the
surface with questions in his eyes.
The water? The lake? Was it the call of his destiny? It didn't
make any sense to him.
Van strengthened his resolution and descended into the water
carefully. Why he did that he never understood - it was an inner
calling, a sudden urge that told him he needed to swim to the middle
of the lake. He shuddered as the cold water touched his skin, but
his anticipation defeated all negative sentiments as he began to see
something, bright and white in the middle of the lake. The
brightness rose in the air and formed a column of light, its unseen
force causing hundreds of water droplets floating in the sky,
sparkling like jewels as the moonlight kissed them one by one.
"Beautiful..."
Van barely whispered as he lifted one hand to the light, noticing the
blue hue that the light cast on his skin and the sudden force that
sucked him into the circle of the light, its span getting wider and
wider. He surrendered himself to the force and let it lift his body
without any struggle, soon finding himself floating effortlessly in
the air, even without his snow-white wings.
Maybe this time the gods would grant him the chance to see his
beloved once again.
He closed his eyes once more as another surge of light poured over
him in a hot, blinding power, the brilliance burning his sensitive
eyes. The peaceful aura that he had sensed from the first column of
light was gone to be replaced by rage and power, as if it desired to
engulf the whole world with fire. But he ignored the stinging
sensation on his skin as the rays of light pierced it and opened his
eyes, braving himself to look at his surrounding.
Mild surprise was written all over his face as he noticed himself
high above the forest, for it was only seconds ago after he first
touched the column of light. Would the gods really send him to the
Phantom Moon? He raised his face, half expecting himself to be
whisked away from Gaea any moment when suddenly his eyes focused on
something, a female human form, floating just above his head.
His breath caught in his throat, Van shifted away a little bit so the
form could float down just on the same level as him, and caught her
body in his arms. She was warm and alive, although he could see a
wound on her left temple, with blood still fresh and wet. Van's
heart thundered as he examined the woman's face, looking as if she
was sleeping with her golden eyelashes almost touching her cheeks and
her exquisite shoulder-length sandy blonde hair surrounding her.
"Hitomi..." the king breathed the name gently as he smoothed the
strands out of her face, a smile slowly forming on his lips. It was
her. His beloved came back to his world, and he hoped it would be
forever this time. It was a little bit alarming to see the wound on
her temple, but it wasn't a critical injury as far as he was
concerned. His physician would be able to take care of it just fine.
And suddenly, just as quickly as it was formed, the column of light
vanished. Van's heart leaped out of his chest as the gravity pulled
him downward. He quickly tightened his grip firmly around Hitomi's
slender body, cradling her protectively against his own. For a
moment panic blinded his senses, for he could think of nothing to
halt their free fall.
And then remembrance flashed in his eyes as he arched his body
subtly, a faint glow softly emanating from his disfiguring back, eyes
closed tightly as a tingling sensation assaulting his mind. When his
eyes were finally snapped opened, two fluffs of snow-white wings
expanded above him, the force of the air maintaining his slow
descent. A smile of satisfaction slowly spread on his face as he
landed on the damp soil near the lake, holding his princess like a
prized possession.
"Hitomi," he shook her frame gently, coaxing her to open her eyes,.
"Wake up. Talk to me."
Van held his breath as those thick eyelashes fluttered and revealed
the brilliance of Hitomi's bluish green eyes, still dazed by the long
sleep she was having.
"Van?" she mumbled vaguely. "But you're different."
"So are you," Van murmured gently against the crown of Hitomi's head,
breathing in the sweet scent of her hair. Clutching the strands
tightly in his hand, he marvelled at the silkiness of her hair, on
how wonderful it shimmered under the moonlight. Hitomi had
transformed into a real angel as the time went by, and he was
grateful to have the chance to meet her once again. Her face was
still the same with her wide bluish green eyes, her straight little
nose and cherry red lips, but her body had matured, curves formed in
all the right places. The present Hitomi was a vision of loveliness,
an irresistible dream he couldn't bear to lose.
"Your voice...it's rich, rich with..." Hitomi inhaled deeply, searching
for words, "waves of laughter. You never laughed before."
"You're here, that's why," Van quickly replied, touching her nose
with his own affectionately. "You're coming home, Hitomi, perhaps
forever."
"But...but this must be a dream. I had a car accident..." Hitomi's eyes
were drooping, tears trickling down one of the corners of her eyes.
"You're not real... just my fantasy." She reached out, caressing Van's
midnight black hair gently. "Yes, a fantasy. But this scent, this
solid form..."
Van watched Hitomi in confusion as she drawled sleepily, sometimes
saying unfathomable things. But joy bloomed in his heart as he
watched her fall asleep, her face content and peaceful as she held
onto his arms, as if she was afraid to lose him once more.
He was still holding Hitomi in the same position when Gaudi's party
finally found the pair. The general approached the king silently
from behind, concern radiating from his countenance. Hesitantly he
extended his hand to tap Van's shoulder, but he stopped in mid-
gesture when he finally noticed the young woman in Van's arms.
Lowering his hands on his sides instead, he informed the king
quietly, "Sir, we have successfully recaptured the creature, Sir!"
"Good," came Van's absent-minded reply, and as Gaudi peered down to
inspect his cousin's face, the general was taken aback to find a
gentle smile on his cousin's usually hardened face. "We have to
return to the castle immediately. This lady...Lady Hitomi Kanzaki, she
was wounded."
"I will see to it that the royal physician examine her thoroughly
once we reached the palace, Your Majesty." If Gaudi was surprised by
Van's sudden revelation about the woman's identity, it didn't show on
his face. His cousin sometimes mentioned the lady's name in their
numerous conversations, thus he expected Van would want the very best
for the unconscious lady.
"Good," Van again said, ignoring the baffled looks his retainers gave
him, caressing the woman's face ever so gently. He almost never wept
in his life, but perhaps tonight was the right moment to let go.
A single tear trickled down his cheek, the droplet shining under the
moonlight night. It was a tear of joy.
-----
A stream of sunlight blinded her as Hitomi attempted to open her
eyes, and as soon as she snapped them open, she winced them close.
She sighed and stretched languidly, her mind still gauzy from the
dream she had seen the night before. The throbs on her left temple
was the only thing that was real, for she remembered clearly the
accident that had befallen upon her. The smell of medication
penetrated her senses, assuring her immediately that her vision of
her nightly angel was merely a dream, a fantasy she experienced when
she was still in delirium from the hospital drug. She was in a
hospital, and surely a nurse would wake her soon, forcing some
painkillers down her throat.
Popping one eye open, Hitomi was again trying to adjust her sight in
the bright morning light when she finally took notice of some
oddities in her surrounding. She wasn't lying on a regular hospital
bed, but a spacious four posters bed in a room that she could only
describe as too elegant to be a hospital room. Sturdy furnishings
filled the room, with silk draperies hanging from every window, its
material's colour rich crimson, velvety.
Gasping in surprise, she sprang into a sitting position, only
succeeding in worsening the throbbing on her temple. Delicately she
held the carefully bandaged wound, her eyes darting around in search
of some familiar figures. Should she dare to hope? Should she let
her expectations rule her head once again?
"Van?"
Hitomi sighed in disappointment when she realised that only the faint
breeze greeted her call. An ironic smile destroyed the renewed hope
in her face, her anticipation again withdrawing beneath her façade of
calmness. A breeze was again blowing gently, lifting up the gauzy
white curtain of one of the windows, and for a moment Hitomi thought
someone was standing there, at the secluded corner of the room.
"Van!"
Hitomi called again, but still no one answered her calling.
Clutching the blanket in her fists, she lowered her eyes on her lap,
her tears brimming. The dream, it had always ended like this. It
had always ended with her in a room with no one to answer her cries
and her loneliness.
"Oh God, Van..." she covered her face with fists in despair, her cries
caught in the back of her throat. Violent sobs soon rocked her frail
figure, her anger intensified as she failed to restrain herself. She
would not succumb to her old wounds. She would not let anything rip
off whatever composure was left in her persona. "You're an old ghost
of my past. Why do you haunt me all the time?"
She ceased her weeping and leaned over, however, when she heard the
door across her bed give out a hesitant creak before it was slowly
opened. The figure before her bore the striking resemblance to the
youth she used to know during her brief first stay in Gaea eight
years ago, but a quick look at his golden wheat mane convinced her
that the man was not her Van. Cerulean blue met ocean blue when
their eyes clashed, creating a spastic tension in the air. Whoever
this man was, who didn't even bother knocking before entering, came
to the room not for idle chitchat but to assess her. What he was
looking for in her, she had no idea. She was devoid of her mind-
reading ability the moment she gave up her pendant to Van.
Hitomi could feel her back going rigid as the man strode confidently
across the room, the sword jingling against his steel armour. But
slowly her fear subsided, replaced by her genuine curiosity. The man
was so much like Van, and yet he wasn't her angel. There was
something grim and savage from the way he looked at her, and the
patch on his left eye told her the man had suffered a lot in his
past.
She almost jumped when he suddenly cleared his throat, but she
maintained her calm demeanour when the man unexpectedly bowed
courteously before her. With his deep rich voice he began his
introduction, "Gaudi Jenaro de Fanel, cousin and companion to His
Majesty King of Fanelia, Van Slanzar de Fanel." Flashing one of his
dashing smiles to Hitomi, he took one of her hands and brushed his
lips on its back courteously. He continued holding Hitomi's hand
while looking at her expectantly, as if waiting for some reactions.
"This is...really Fanelia?"
A nod dismissed her entire doubts. She could almost hear herself
breathing in relief. She returned Gaudi's nod with a smile of
gratitude, an indescribable feeling soaring in her chest. She
thought the man was going to say something else when he suddenly
disengaged Hitomi's hand quickly, blue eyes focusing on where the
sound of feet tapping impatiently on the floor came behind them.
"Enough of that flashy introduction, Gaudi," Van mocked, a faint look
of annoyance floating on his handsome features briefly. "Now, leave
her alone so she can have proper rest."
"Lord Van is correct, Your Grace. She does need rest." Hitomi heard
a voice of a woman among them, so familiar, and yet so different. It
reminded her of a childlike voice from a long time ago, when she had
first reached the chaotic country of Fanelia...
Bolting upright, Hitomi ignored her throbbing temple and reached out
for the source of the voice and cried out happily, recognition
flashing in her eyes, "Merle!"
"Hitomi!" the cat woman hugged Hitomi back, her eyes watery. There
was so much they had suffered together, and the other's return
brought her only pure delight. Despite the old grudges they often
harboured towards each other, Merle and Hitomi had grown attached to
one another during their previous engagement years ago. "Welcome
back! We've missed you very much."
Laughing gaily, Hitomi hardly felt her pain as she circled her arms
around Merle's neck, her eyes suddenly blurring with tears. She
blinked them twice to prevent the tears from trickling. "I'm glad we
could see each other again," softly she told her friend. "You have
transformed into a very beautiful cat woman. I'm really, really
glad. And..."
She halted in mid sentence as the sound of a male throat clearing
caught her attention, her body suddenly rigid with tension. Slowly
she loosened her grips on Merle's shoulders, her hands flying to her
mouth as tears threatened to overflow once again. Van positioned
himself at the foot of the bed, his stance both proud and gentle as
he smiled tenderly at her. He was still the same person she knew
from her past in Gaea, but he was not entirely the same young man.
He had changed. His ebony hair was swept back smoothly, and he
looked more mature than when she saw him the last time, taller and
better built.
With a playful grin, Gaudi stepped to Van's side;, his exaggerated
introduction causing Merle to giggle. "May I present...His Majesty,
the King and High General of Fanelia, Van Slanzar de Fanel."
"Van..."
"Hello, Hitomi," Van greeted her softly, his ruby eyes holding those
of Hitomi's green orbs. "Welcome back to Fanelia."
Email me?
The blaring afternoon sun of Fanelia set high in the scarlet Gaean
sky, its heat scorching, intensifying the already heated atmosphere
of the annual hunting festival on the King's vast green plain.
Noblemen and their attendants were standing with their weapons ready,
sweat glistening on their bare chests. Their eyes glinted with
savaged gleams while all their weapons were trained on an azuna - an
enormous dark-furred beast of six feet, with curled, razor-sharp
horns, and two pairs of fangs poking out of its frothing mouth.
Twenty burly retainers - all trained soldiers of Fanelia - cautiously
created a tight circle, deliberately aiming at the beast with three
or four arrows simultaneously. The ground shook as war cries
thundered in the air and angry yells erupted when the beast refused
to yield, its hoof scraping the ground fervently, the grassy soil
flying.
A proud figure stood within the circle, his demeanour unruffled
despite the feverish cries surrounding him. Fearlessly and warily he
circled the beast, the royal sword clutched tightly within his hands,
ruby eyes ablaze with his life force. His full lips slowly twitched
in mockery as he gradually inched into the defence of the animal,
searching for enough of an opening to deliver a lethal onslaught that
would determine its fate. He ignored the trickling sweat dampening
his ebony hair, his mind too occupied with his scheming to defeat the
beast. One single mistake and he would have to say his farewell to
the world. Killed or be killed.
"Your Majesty, please stop this absurdity at once! You could be
killed!" the distant voice of his grand councillor entered his ears,
and he swore viciously as the unwanted counsel disrupted his
concentration.
"Van, ignore him. Words alone will not assist but, in fact, get you
killed." Behind him, among his alert retainers, Gaudi - his cousin
and one of his best generals - advised him sarcasm dripping from
every word. "Trust your instinct. The azuna is too good a catch to
pass." Van smirked inwardly. Gaudi, as always, spoke with a
confidence denoting the insinuation that slaying an azuna was an
effortless task. His cousin always expected the best from him, and
he never meant to disappoint the other.
The young king nodded ever so slightly to acknowledge Gaudi's
comment. The muscles that indicated his physical strength flexed as
he drew a second short sword, its smooth surface gleaming under the
sun. He ignored the wild cries of his spectators since his mind was
momentarily blocked by the clamouring of one metal weapon against
another metal weapon, performed with the purpose of distracting the
big azuna. His heart hammered against his ribcage, the beats
deafening his ears. The only thing he sensed was the swing of the
red stone pendant dangling on his neck, as he concentrated solely on
finding the right moment to attack. Shortly thereafter he was deep
in meditation, his mind calm and clear as he practised all his senses
to feel the movement of the air surrounding the beast, the pendant
acting as his pendulum.
Left or right?
Now...or later?
His eyes snapped open as the azuna neighed angrily, its hooves
thumping madly as it charged toward him, the horns ready to gut his
insides. Swiftly he dispatched towards his right while at the same
time plunging his shorter sword into the beast's thick skin, the warm
blood spurting on his face. He smirked in confidence as the beast's
howl penetrated his ears, then he boldly darted forward to deliver
another blow on the down side of the animal. The crowd cheered as he
yet again succeeded in wounding the azuna, with his cousin yelling
the loudest. Van whooped triumphantly as he landed on the hard soil
before the beast, crouching down into one of his defensive stances,
expecting the beast to retaliate.
However, he never expected the animal to turn around and make a mad
dash towards him, trying to bring him down together with all its
worth. He barely saved his immortal soul when one of the beast's
horns tore the skin of his chest, the bloody gash promising to be yet
another scar. His pulse quickened as he turned around only to see
the beast attempt yet again to strike him down. It was too near for
him to escape - their distance didn't make it probable for him to
avoid the assault unscathed. The horrified cries of his retainers
numbed his senses, his reaction dragging. His mind was empty - his
brain failed to coordinate his movements.
So be it. If he were going to die, then he would die in honour not
in cowardice. He wasn't going to run. He would strike. Once, and
if it didn't kill the animal, he would meet his fate bravely. But he
would also fight for his life, his precious life, which his mother
had borne him.
Afterwards all was a blur. One moment he felt the impact of the
animal's mass on his body, squeezing the air out from his chest. He
barely remembered swinging his short sword, stabbing its sharp blade
somewhere into the beast's head, the smell of its blood causing bile
to rise up from his throat. And then people, cheering - their voices
rising in the air, the force shaming even the most thunderous storm.
The azuna, he could see, was dying, its breath uneven as it lay on
its stomach. He leaned against the huge hairy mass, totally drained,
shocked and exhausted to his core. A grimace appeared on his face as
he finally took notice of the stinging sensation on his chest. His
fingers were awash with his own blood as he touched his wound
involuntarily. It had been how many years since he last suffered
from such injuries like the one the beast had inflicted upon him?
"Your Majesty. That wound should be taken care of immediately." A
heavy voice penetrated his ears as a pair of strong arms supported
his weight without any effort at all. Out of earshot, the man
whispered quite mockingly, although pride could also be noted in his
voice, "What a way to die in satisfaction, my dear cousin."
"Thanks for your apparently misleading suggestion, Gaudi." A smirk
plastered upon the king's young features. He refused the older man's
assistance to walk him to his horse despite his pain. Pressing the
white cloth that Gaudi offered upon the wound to stop its bleeding,
he continued absent-mindedly, "But I could only say I do enjoy the
sport every now and then. Gardia worried too much. A king who
couldn't defend his own life was no king, and this kind of sport
would help keep my shape as a warrior." He finally succeeded his
attempt in keeping his feet firm on the ground, his eyes narrowed as
he focused his sight on the beast.
"It's not dead yet," he commented lightly, ruby eyes searching on the
massive form,. "Let me look at it."
The retainers soon cleared the way as Van once again approached his
hunt, this time followed by Gaudi. He stopped abruptly once he came
face to face with the still breathing azuna, his face serious as he
scrutinized the hideous wound he inflicted upon its head, and gasped
when its eyes locked onto his own. There were tears. Tears that
were so sad and clear they glistened like crystals. It was as if the
azuna knew it would soon die.
Van's eyes widened slightly as he tried to absorb what was taking
place in the animal's head. His mind swam in pain as he pushed his
brain to think, to create some reasonable explanation to ease the
sudden tightness in his chest, and yet his guilt prevailed. Soon the
faces of the enemies he had killed in the last Great Gaean War
appeared in his head, their ghostly faces beckoning him to follow
them...to Hell. He shook his head slightly to clear his head,. His
pulse quickened. Was it thinking the same thing as what his enemies
had thought when they had spent their last moment? He could see the
life in the black beady eyes of the azuna. It was still strong, too
strong. The beast still wanted to live. Was it any different then
from human beings? Did the azuna not have the right to live only
because it was an animal?
A few heads, including that of Gaudi's snapped up in concern as Van
swore viciously, slamming his body against the animal and pounding
his fist on the poor mass again and again. Gaudi offered his hand in
an attempt to soothe Van, but the young king refused it as he
silently calmed his breath and straightened his back, hiding all his
pains from the world.
"Van, remember," Gaudi warned him as he walked back to the older
man's side. "You're in the public's presence. Sometimes the way you
express your emotions unnerves them."
"I'll try to remember that," Van mumbled as he glanced at his
surroundings, and smirked a little as he noticed his stunned
retainers. "What are you doing?" He settled into his mask of an
appropriately triumphant expression and barked his order, "Kill the
beast! It's dying. It shouldn't take you an hour to finish it." He
was about to walk back to his shelter when he remembered something -
his body stiffened at the memory of the beast's glassy eyes.
Inhaling deeply, he mumbled his next order almost inaudibly, "Do it
cleanly, and without pain. It must not suffer."
The young king arched an eyebrow in acknowledgment of his retainers'
responses before proceeding to walk back to where the other noblemen
rested from their own exhausting hunting expedition. Gaudi soon fell
in step behind him, his face beamed with raw pride. Never in one
moment had he regretted his decision to return to the capital to
serve his cousin. It all happened after the Great Gaean War. His
cousin had returned from his triumphant quest upon defeating the
raiding troops of Zaibach, and had been more than ready to take on
his responsibilities to restore Fanelia back to her former glory.
Van had been in sore need of competent officers and military generals
then, for a lot of them had been killed during the ambush of Fanelia.
Gaudi took no time in offering his service to Van's court.
Sensing Gaudi's eyes on him, Van smiled warmly and slapped the older
man's shoulder playfully. Carefully his eyes measured his cousin's
appearance. Gaudi could pass as him in any manner, except for a few
striking differences - those that couldn't be remedied. They both
possessed a fairly similar height and Gaudi's shoulder-length, golden
hair could always be cut short and dyed ebony, but there was the
patch on Gaudi's left eye, the one that was blinded from an
unforgettable incident years ago. Van's innards tightened again at
the memory, and he shook his head to clear it. He must not, on any
account, attach himself to the past, for he believed the future could
shape itself according to his deeds in the present, not in the past.
"Something on your mind, my lord?" Gaudi asked him in his
observation, his tone amused. "Perhaps I can help clear it?"
"Cease the formalities, my friend," Van quickly responded, easing his
aching body onto his seat under a shady tree gratefully. "And send
for medication. I will not die because of some untreated wounds. I
still have a long way to go, and Fanelia still needs me, no matter
how reluctant and awkward I am to act as her king."
"Not awkward, Van," Gaudi informed the young king mildly. "Just
more...radical. I have to say you're more a warrior than a king,
though. You blatantly refuse all the luxuries offered with your
position as a king."
"Let's just say that it's not...my style," Van retorted as he winced
slightly as one of the pages present in the hunt started to apply
some ointment to the wound, his tiny fingers tentatively touching the
wound, afraid of hurting his king. At this Van gave the boy an
encouraging look and told him gently, "It only feels like a sting.
And your service is greatly appreciated, Young..."
"Azellor, Your Majesty."
Van nodded in satisfaction upon hearing the more confident tone of
the boy and diverted his attention back to Gaudi. He hated it when
people feared him for his position.
Glancing at his surrounding, he contented himself as he watched the
other noblemen enjoy their prepared refreshment, resumed his
discussion with Gaudi. "So, where are we?"
Gaudi slid down beside him on the grass, chewing on a sweet tasting
leaf thoughtfully. "We were talking about your status."
"Ah yes, my status," he said, looking at his hands. "What about it?"
A hopeless sigh echoed beside him before the air settled into an
awkward silence. Neither one of them dared to speak anymore, both
afraid to touch the sensitive spot in the hidden corner of their
mind. Only after a few minutes did Gaudi force himself to eliminate
the uncomfortable silence. "Gardia rattled again as usual," he
informed Van casually as his cornflower eyes strayed onto the far-
away figure of the old grand councillor of Fanelia, Gardia de Meddez,
challenge radiating from them. The old man, aware of his king's wish
for some private moment, retaliated from the challenge despite seeing
it in Gaudi's eyes. He stayed still in the tent specially erected
for Fanelian royal advisors.
Van turned his face toward Gaudi, his gaze questioning.
"Queen."
At that answer, Van nodded understandingly. Queen. Who had not
thought of that lately? Everyone in his range seemed to anticipate
the moment he would assume the responsibility of gracing the Fanelian
court with the presence of a queen and producing a healthy heir for
the sake of the continuation of the line of Fanel. "Ah, Queen," he
echoed Gaudi's statement absent-mindedly, his look vacant.
"Yes. One that can share in your court responsibilities, giving you
the service of producing an heir..." Gaudi elaborated, swirling his
hand in the air for emphasis.
Van chuckled dryly at the picture. Him? A husband and a father?
Somehow the picture didn't match perfectly in his head. But he had
to admit the common sense of the situation. He hated the notion of
marrying a woman only as a tool to produce an heir, but it had to be
done for necessity. All the elders and royal advisers had been
restless about the matter since he entered his twenty-third springs,
and by his twenty-fourth birthday he had to grace the court with a
presence of a new queen.
But so far he could only find faults in the women he met. The court
women bored him to tears, for there seemed to be nothing on their
minds but the pathetic dresses they wore and the ideal way of how a
man should court a woman. The romanticised idea of courtship made
him dizzy with disgust. He was a man of action, not words. The way
they idealised how a man should act within a presence of a woman
disgusted him.
He had tried the Asturian court for awhile, but his efforts came to
nil. He barely befriended the Asturian ladies thrown at his disposal
except for Millerna, the Asturian Queen herself. Millerna had
suggested Lady Celena Schezar, the very sister of the great Allen
Schezar himself, but he could never imagine himself with the former
Dilandau Albatou of Zaibach as his queen. Despite the loss of all
Celena's memories of the previous years during the war, looking into
the icy blue eyes could prove to be very daunting even for him.
Van chuckled briefly at his memories during his stay in Asturia. He
realised it had been eight years after the last war. Everybody had
gone on their own path, creating their own destiny. Millerna had
eventually married the current King Dryden Fassa all over again five
years ago after their shocking separation at the end of the war. It
was their destiny to fall in love to each other and they could not
deny it no matter how hard they tried. The young king chuckled
slightly. Together they had created a beautiful heir, a sturdy five-
year-old, and another beautiful baby boy.
And what became of his Hitomi? Over the past four years he failed to
re-establish their spiritual link, as if she had deliberately cut all
ties with him. Closing his eyes, he clutched the pendant in his hand
and tried to imagine her face. Even after all the years he could
never forget those bluish green pools of her eyes, sparkling with
intelligence and curiosity. No woman had ever succeeded in capturing
his heart as whole as Hitomi Kanzaki. She was the every essence Van
valued in a woman.
He felt a nudge on his side and opened one eye only to see Gaudi's
grinning face.
"Someone's coming."
"Someone?" Van's eyebrows met in the middle of his forehead as he
turned around, but soon the grimness in his face cleared up the
moment he set his eyes upon the graceful figure of his long time
companion, Merle. The cat woman approached him with a wide grin
plastered on her face, her pace speeding up with each of her
confident stride. "Lord Van!" she cried out excitedly, her cerulean
eyes shining with anticipation. "Congratulation! You have once
again proven that you excel even the fiercest hunter in Fanelia."
Van merely dismissed the compliment with a light chuckle, "Everyone
can do it with a little more determination. My dear Merle," he
opened his arms as she closed their distance. "You look absolutely
wonderful today." He half-expected Merle to jump into his arms and
embrace him warmly like she used to do until a few years ago, but
instead the cat woman only settled into a formal bow on the ground.
Van sighed at the display of formality but he said nothing, lowering
his arms to his sides.
"Lord Van, Lord Gaudi," Merle acknowledged both her superiors before
raising her bronze face and settled on one of her knowing smiles.
She was well aware that Van longed for the old days when they were
the best of friends without the boundaries of their status, but those
days ceased to exist a long time ago. She was required to behave as
what her status dictated her to, and that included proper manners
before his majesty. To ease Van's disappointment, she let out a
teasing little smile and said, "Your Majesty, please understand. Old
Gardia would decide to tell my tutor to increase my lessons of
decorum if I did that. You know how I hate those lessons."
Gaudi barked genuine laughter at the little comment, and it was all
Van could do not to burst into laughter himself. He had firsthand
experiences on Gardia's diligence in his effort to drill perfect
decorum into the king and his cat-girl companion. Van could
understand the reason he had to learn about manners, but Merle?
Merle was only a cat girl. She didn't need to attend social or
political functions. But still Gardia insisted, and miraculously his
efforts seemed to show some results as Merle grew up into a beautiful
cat woman.
There were a few things, however, that Merle refused to accept. She
never submitted to Gardia's order to wear the proper court gown. She
always wore men's shirt and britches, complete with the knee-high
boots, even though she learnt nothing about the art of swordsmanship.
Her cerise coloured hair was clipped short below her ears, the curls
forming a nice frame around her heart-shaped face.
Her appearance didn't go hand in hand with her behaviour, though. It
was true that she was dressed in men's clothing, but her mannerism
was always that of a woman's. She was as feminine as any woman in
Van's court, even though she was generally stronger and more agile
than any of them. As she matured, her behaviour became contrast to
her mischievous self a few years ago. She became refined, her cat-
like grace contributing to her feminine charms. She only wore the
clothing simply because of its practicality.
Giving into a heavy sigh, Van finally told Merle, "You may rise."
Obediently Merle followed Van's order and went to stand beside Gaudi,
and she was soon immersed in deep conversation with the man. Van
only let out a helpless smile as he noticed the two chatting
animatedly. The two had become fast friends since Gaudi first helped
Merle in her much-hated decorum lessons. Since then, Merle had made
it a tradition to visit Gaudi's rural estate once a year. For a
brief moment, Van imagined that it was him and Hitomi chatting along,
not Gaudi and Merle.
Eventually Merle felt his stare and spoke to him with a smile, "What
is it, Lord Van?"
Shaking his head slowly, Van maintained his gaze at Merle and lied a
little bit. "No, it's nothing. You've become a beautiful woman,
Merle. I just think it's the right time for you to marry."
A deep frown distorted Merle's delicate features as she retorted
almost vehemently, trying to suppress her sudden flare of anger,
"Lord Van, I thought we were through this topic. I simply don't have
the desire to marry."
Van lifted his fine eyebrows, surprised by her sudden objection-
Merle seldom went against his words. "But you're of eligible age,
Merle."
"And so are you, Lord Van. Even more so than me," Merle told him,
sarcasm barely concealed behind her suddenly stiff demeanour. "And I
think I will oversee the storage of the azunas' meat, if you please
excuse me." With that she nodded curtly and ceremoniously, a gesture
she did whenever she was upset with Van's decision, then made her way
through the crowd around the royal shelter.
An uncomfortable silence lingered in the atmosphere after Merle took
her leave, her last words raising some of Van's annoyance. Van
expected his cousin to say something, but the other man only shook
his head in disbelief. Inhaling deeply, Van folded his arms in front
of his chest in a gesture of protest. "Was it wrong, what I said? I
didn't exactly tell her I wanted to marry her off somewhere."
Thinking deeply, Gaudi chose his words carefully, as he regarded his
cousin with intense blue eyes, "No, you knew well that you were only
teasing her, and she understands that above all things, but sometimes
you...you..." He flailed his hand in the air, searching for more words.
"I?"
Looking sharply into Van's eyes, Gaudi carefully asked him, his voice
low, "Would you mind some open criticism?"
Van chuckled softly as he proceeded to sit on the grass meadow and
gazed at the almost dark sky. "There is no need to request my
permission. Usually you seem content enough to voice your opinions
even when I don't really want them."
Gaudi approached Van and sat beside him, never removing his eyes from
the younger man's as he breathed the word one by one, "You're forcing
her to see a situation that she doesn't want to see."
Turning around to look at the setting sun, Van let logic rule his
mind, but he couldn't find any descent answers that could explain his
cousin's statement. "Why?" was the only word that came out of his
lips.
"Because you never realised what she actually dreams of."
"Oh, that's pretty...nonsensical." Looking away from the sunset view
to give Gaudi an exasperated look, Van tried to defend himself.
"We're merely friends. She was like a sister of mine."
"Worse still, you might have even realised her feelings and tried to
put a stop to it by deliberately suggesting such ..."
"Stop talking nonsense!!!" Van snapped his head up, his eyes
pleading. "She never thought that I actually...oh God." Van dug the
heels of his hands into his squeezed-shut eyes, trying to conceal the
feelings there. Gaudi was correct. Lying about something was bad
enough, but to know about something and pretending that he didn't
know about it was even worse. He had known Merle's feelings for a
long time, but he had avoided it by dismissing it into the deep void
of his mind. He had pretended all along that there was nothing
between them- that they were like any other best friends in the
world.
With a sigh, Gaudi placed a broad hand on Van's shoulder before he
finally took off to another direction, barking orders to his people
to store the piles of azuna's meat in some big ice cubicles, while at
the same time ordering the other retainers not to disturb his
majesty. A little smile played on his lips as he glanced briefly at
the young king, a flash of longing marring his fair features. Van
was fortunate to have Merle as his best friend.
"What?!" Van glowered, bestowing Gaudi a look of total defiance.
Sometimes the king could be very stubborn indeed. Van never took
criticism lightly, although in the end he was always willing to
improve on his weaknesses.
Grinning widely, Gaudi was about to give his cousin a smart reply
when a sudden commotion broke out some distance away from their
place, causing Van to spring to his feet almost immediately, his
countenance alert as he grabbed his sword. He quickly motioned a
manservant forward and questioned the other man sharply, "What's
happening?!"
The manservant fell on his knees as he quickly answered, "It is one
of the azunas that we have captured alive, Your Majesty. It became
mad all of a sudden and broke the makeshift fence, causing the other
azunas to follow suit."
"The current situation?" Gaudi joined Van as well, folding his arms
in front of his chest in concern.
"The others are able to restrain the rest of the azunas, but for the
first one..."
The manservant hadn't finished his recounting when all of sudden high
pitch cries could be heard from the ladies' tent, causing three heads
to whip up in alarm. All colour was drained from Van's face as he
saw the beast attack innocent people, the scene before him making him
sick with disgust.
"My horse!" he yelled his order, and soon he was handed a rein. He
glanced at his side and was relieved when he saw Gaudi beside him,
holding the rein of his own black stallion. Swiftly he leaped onto
his horse's back and pursued the azuna with Gaudi riding closely
behind him. His frown deepened as he saw the beast about to attack a
lady and her girl-servant, and immediately reached for the crossbow
hung on the saddle, aiming it at the beast. The azuna gave out a
painful neigh as the arrow stabbed him right between his eyes. Van's
lips twitched bitterly as he noticed another arrow poking out of the
beast's right eye and looked at Gaudi with a knowing look.
With a cry of pain the azuna jumped on his two back legs and changed
his course of direction, seeming to believe that escaping was the
only way to survive. Van winced every time his arrow wounded the
beast, but he also didn't want it to harm any more of his people. If
he allowed the azuna to wander into a nearby village freely, it would
surely cause some ruckus that would lead to some costly incidents and
more injuries. He had to kill it.
"To the King's Forest! It ran to the King's Forest!"
Van bared his fangs as he steered his stallion in pursuit of the
azuna, his heart slamming wildly against his ribcage. When was the
last time he had been this excited? He remembered. It was only when
he was aboard Escaflowne's dragon form, slicing the icy wind as he
flew high beyond the green of the forest, with Hitomi behind him,
circling her arms firmly around his waist.
And somehow the memory of Hitomi had erased all the dark thoughts in
his mind. Never mind the azuna. He was going to conquer the animal
and then everything would be fine. What was important was this
soaring feeling in his heart as the coolness of the misty air washed
over his body and as the late afternoon's sun warmed his skin.
"To the left, My Lord! I saw it trying to break through the thick
branches!"
Van allowed his mind to wander while at the same time focusing his
ruby eyes on the enormous form before him, a smile appearing ever so
slightly. This feeling he was having...why was he feeling like this?
The spreading warmth in his chest made him almost free himself in
laughter. Quietly he reached for his pendant, curling his fingers
around it, feeling the smooth texture of the red stone, and smirking
as he glanced briefly at the jewel, his face suddenly bearing a
knowing look.
Is something amiss? No, of course not. But it is so exhilarating,
this feeling...
Like the knowledge that something is going to happen...
Shaking his head slightly, he ducked a flying branch, ignoring the
rough lower branches scraping his bare upper body. And as he
ventured deeper and deeper inside the forest, it became darker, and
more daunting, its mysterious atmosphere inviting. Van shuddered
involuntarily as he sensed a chill down his spine, but he revelled on
the fear deep in the dark corner of his mind. He was used to the
fear, and he could do nothing to deny it but rather accept it,
because it was part of himself, something whose existence he had to
acknowledge. Without fear he wasn't a human being.
He finally reined in his stallion as his eyes adjusted in the dark,
concern clouding his look. It was so silent around him, too silent.
Where was everyone? He couldn't even see his hunt anymore. He knew
he had run ahead than everyone, believing that the beast was
somewhere within his shooting range, but apparently he had lost his
way. Chuckling softly to himself, he shook his head in amusement as
he ordered his stallion to move along, his destination unclear.
Perhaps it was a good thing to go astray once in awhile. It gave him
the time to think without interruption.
He smiled again when he noticed the red glow emanating from his
pendant, his thought leading him to the image of his beloved, the
woman who bestowed the pendant to him. For him, she was the most
beautiful creature in the world, even if the world itself might not
share his opinion. She was the anchor of his life, the sustenance
that kept him going, even after she had long gone back to her home,
the Phantom Moon.
Raising his face to the sky where the sun was now gone, his
expression softened as the view of two giant moons greeted his eyes,
the gentle ray casting a soft glow around his face. Slowly he closed
his eyes, wishing that time would stop, and that he was allowed to
freeze like that forever. He imagined himself almost being able to
see those bluish green orbs and those ripe cherry red lips, and again
being able to touch his beloved, revelling on her velvety creamy
skin.
Van opened his eyes and raised an eyebrow as his horse came to a halt
before a vast and sparkling lake. The twin moons' reflections were
glimmering on its surface. The breeze sent the sweet aroma of the
water to his yearning soul, easing the troubles in his mind a little
bit.
Something was calling him.
He never removed his eyes from the twin moons' reflection as he
dismounted his horse and took a hesitant step toward the lake.
Beneath his grasp, the red stone glowed warmly, the aura seeping into
his mind, encouraging him to explore further. He kneeled down on the
edge of the lake and scooped up some cold water, staring at the
surface with questions in his eyes.
The water? The lake? Was it the call of his destiny? It didn't
make any sense to him.
Van strengthened his resolution and descended into the water
carefully. Why he did that he never understood - it was an inner
calling, a sudden urge that told him he needed to swim to the middle
of the lake. He shuddered as the cold water touched his skin, but
his anticipation defeated all negative sentiments as he began to see
something, bright and white in the middle of the lake. The
brightness rose in the air and formed a column of light, its unseen
force causing hundreds of water droplets floating in the sky,
sparkling like jewels as the moonlight kissed them one by one.
"Beautiful..."
Van barely whispered as he lifted one hand to the light, noticing the
blue hue that the light cast on his skin and the sudden force that
sucked him into the circle of the light, its span getting wider and
wider. He surrendered himself to the force and let it lift his body
without any struggle, soon finding himself floating effortlessly in
the air, even without his snow-white wings.
Maybe this time the gods would grant him the chance to see his
beloved once again.
He closed his eyes once more as another surge of light poured over
him in a hot, blinding power, the brilliance burning his sensitive
eyes. The peaceful aura that he had sensed from the first column of
light was gone to be replaced by rage and power, as if it desired to
engulf the whole world with fire. But he ignored the stinging
sensation on his skin as the rays of light pierced it and opened his
eyes, braving himself to look at his surrounding.
Mild surprise was written all over his face as he noticed himself
high above the forest, for it was only seconds ago after he first
touched the column of light. Would the gods really send him to the
Phantom Moon? He raised his face, half expecting himself to be
whisked away from Gaea any moment when suddenly his eyes focused on
something, a female human form, floating just above his head.
His breath caught in his throat, Van shifted away a little bit so the
form could float down just on the same level as him, and caught her
body in his arms. She was warm and alive, although he could see a
wound on her left temple, with blood still fresh and wet. Van's
heart thundered as he examined the woman's face, looking as if she
was sleeping with her golden eyelashes almost touching her cheeks and
her exquisite shoulder-length sandy blonde hair surrounding her.
"Hitomi..." the king breathed the name gently as he smoothed the
strands out of her face, a smile slowly forming on his lips. It was
her. His beloved came back to his world, and he hoped it would be
forever this time. It was a little bit alarming to see the wound on
her temple, but it wasn't a critical injury as far as he was
concerned. His physician would be able to take care of it just fine.
And suddenly, just as quickly as it was formed, the column of light
vanished. Van's heart leaped out of his chest as the gravity pulled
him downward. He quickly tightened his grip firmly around Hitomi's
slender body, cradling her protectively against his own. For a
moment panic blinded his senses, for he could think of nothing to
halt their free fall.
And then remembrance flashed in his eyes as he arched his body
subtly, a faint glow softly emanating from his disfiguring back, eyes
closed tightly as a tingling sensation assaulting his mind. When his
eyes were finally snapped opened, two fluffs of snow-white wings
expanded above him, the force of the air maintaining his slow
descent. A smile of satisfaction slowly spread on his face as he
landed on the damp soil near the lake, holding his princess like a
prized possession.
"Hitomi," he shook her frame gently, coaxing her to open her eyes,.
"Wake up. Talk to me."
Van held his breath as those thick eyelashes fluttered and revealed
the brilliance of Hitomi's bluish green eyes, still dazed by the long
sleep she was having.
"Van?" she mumbled vaguely. "But you're different."
"So are you," Van murmured gently against the crown of Hitomi's head,
breathing in the sweet scent of her hair. Clutching the strands
tightly in his hand, he marvelled at the silkiness of her hair, on
how wonderful it shimmered under the moonlight. Hitomi had
transformed into a real angel as the time went by, and he was
grateful to have the chance to meet her once again. Her face was
still the same with her wide bluish green eyes, her straight little
nose and cherry red lips, but her body had matured, curves formed in
all the right places. The present Hitomi was a vision of loveliness,
an irresistible dream he couldn't bear to lose.
"Your voice...it's rich, rich with..." Hitomi inhaled deeply, searching
for words, "waves of laughter. You never laughed before."
"You're here, that's why," Van quickly replied, touching her nose
with his own affectionately. "You're coming home, Hitomi, perhaps
forever."
"But...but this must be a dream. I had a car accident..." Hitomi's eyes
were drooping, tears trickling down one of the corners of her eyes.
"You're not real... just my fantasy." She reached out, caressing Van's
midnight black hair gently. "Yes, a fantasy. But this scent, this
solid form..."
Van watched Hitomi in confusion as she drawled sleepily, sometimes
saying unfathomable things. But joy bloomed in his heart as he
watched her fall asleep, her face content and peaceful as she held
onto his arms, as if she was afraid to lose him once more.
He was still holding Hitomi in the same position when Gaudi's party
finally found the pair. The general approached the king silently
from behind, concern radiating from his countenance. Hesitantly he
extended his hand to tap Van's shoulder, but he stopped in mid-
gesture when he finally noticed the young woman in Van's arms.
Lowering his hands on his sides instead, he informed the king
quietly, "Sir, we have successfully recaptured the creature, Sir!"
"Good," came Van's absent-minded reply, and as Gaudi peered down to
inspect his cousin's face, the general was taken aback to find a
gentle smile on his cousin's usually hardened face. "We have to
return to the castle immediately. This lady...Lady Hitomi Kanzaki, she
was wounded."
"I will see to it that the royal physician examine her thoroughly
once we reached the palace, Your Majesty." If Gaudi was surprised by
Van's sudden revelation about the woman's identity, it didn't show on
his face. His cousin sometimes mentioned the lady's name in their
numerous conversations, thus he expected Van would want the very best
for the unconscious lady.
"Good," Van again said, ignoring the baffled looks his retainers gave
him, caressing the woman's face ever so gently. He almost never wept
in his life, but perhaps tonight was the right moment to let go.
A single tear trickled down his cheek, the droplet shining under the
moonlight night. It was a tear of joy.
-----
A stream of sunlight blinded her as Hitomi attempted to open her
eyes, and as soon as she snapped them open, she winced them close.
She sighed and stretched languidly, her mind still gauzy from the
dream she had seen the night before. The throbs on her left temple
was the only thing that was real, for she remembered clearly the
accident that had befallen upon her. The smell of medication
penetrated her senses, assuring her immediately that her vision of
her nightly angel was merely a dream, a fantasy she experienced when
she was still in delirium from the hospital drug. She was in a
hospital, and surely a nurse would wake her soon, forcing some
painkillers down her throat.
Popping one eye open, Hitomi was again trying to adjust her sight in
the bright morning light when she finally took notice of some
oddities in her surrounding. She wasn't lying on a regular hospital
bed, but a spacious four posters bed in a room that she could only
describe as too elegant to be a hospital room. Sturdy furnishings
filled the room, with silk draperies hanging from every window, its
material's colour rich crimson, velvety.
Gasping in surprise, she sprang into a sitting position, only
succeeding in worsening the throbbing on her temple. Delicately she
held the carefully bandaged wound, her eyes darting around in search
of some familiar figures. Should she dare to hope? Should she let
her expectations rule her head once again?
"Van?"
Hitomi sighed in disappointment when she realised that only the faint
breeze greeted her call. An ironic smile destroyed the renewed hope
in her face, her anticipation again withdrawing beneath her façade of
calmness. A breeze was again blowing gently, lifting up the gauzy
white curtain of one of the windows, and for a moment Hitomi thought
someone was standing there, at the secluded corner of the room.
"Van!"
Hitomi called again, but still no one answered her calling.
Clutching the blanket in her fists, she lowered her eyes on her lap,
her tears brimming. The dream, it had always ended like this. It
had always ended with her in a room with no one to answer her cries
and her loneliness.
"Oh God, Van..." she covered her face with fists in despair, her cries
caught in the back of her throat. Violent sobs soon rocked her frail
figure, her anger intensified as she failed to restrain herself. She
would not succumb to her old wounds. She would not let anything rip
off whatever composure was left in her persona. "You're an old ghost
of my past. Why do you haunt me all the time?"
She ceased her weeping and leaned over, however, when she heard the
door across her bed give out a hesitant creak before it was slowly
opened. The figure before her bore the striking resemblance to the
youth she used to know during her brief first stay in Gaea eight
years ago, but a quick look at his golden wheat mane convinced her
that the man was not her Van. Cerulean blue met ocean blue when
their eyes clashed, creating a spastic tension in the air. Whoever
this man was, who didn't even bother knocking before entering, came
to the room not for idle chitchat but to assess her. What he was
looking for in her, she had no idea. She was devoid of her mind-
reading ability the moment she gave up her pendant to Van.
Hitomi could feel her back going rigid as the man strode confidently
across the room, the sword jingling against his steel armour. But
slowly her fear subsided, replaced by her genuine curiosity. The man
was so much like Van, and yet he wasn't her angel. There was
something grim and savage from the way he looked at her, and the
patch on his left eye told her the man had suffered a lot in his
past.
She almost jumped when he suddenly cleared his throat, but she
maintained her calm demeanour when the man unexpectedly bowed
courteously before her. With his deep rich voice he began his
introduction, "Gaudi Jenaro de Fanel, cousin and companion to His
Majesty King of Fanelia, Van Slanzar de Fanel." Flashing one of his
dashing smiles to Hitomi, he took one of her hands and brushed his
lips on its back courteously. He continued holding Hitomi's hand
while looking at her expectantly, as if waiting for some reactions.
"This is...really Fanelia?"
A nod dismissed her entire doubts. She could almost hear herself
breathing in relief. She returned Gaudi's nod with a smile of
gratitude, an indescribable feeling soaring in her chest. She
thought the man was going to say something else when he suddenly
disengaged Hitomi's hand quickly, blue eyes focusing on where the
sound of feet tapping impatiently on the floor came behind them.
"Enough of that flashy introduction, Gaudi," Van mocked, a faint look
of annoyance floating on his handsome features briefly. "Now, leave
her alone so she can have proper rest."
"Lord Van is correct, Your Grace. She does need rest." Hitomi heard
a voice of a woman among them, so familiar, and yet so different. It
reminded her of a childlike voice from a long time ago, when she had
first reached the chaotic country of Fanelia...
Bolting upright, Hitomi ignored her throbbing temple and reached out
for the source of the voice and cried out happily, recognition
flashing in her eyes, "Merle!"
"Hitomi!" the cat woman hugged Hitomi back, her eyes watery. There
was so much they had suffered together, and the other's return
brought her only pure delight. Despite the old grudges they often
harboured towards each other, Merle and Hitomi had grown attached to
one another during their previous engagement years ago. "Welcome
back! We've missed you very much."
Laughing gaily, Hitomi hardly felt her pain as she circled her arms
around Merle's neck, her eyes suddenly blurring with tears. She
blinked them twice to prevent the tears from trickling. "I'm glad we
could see each other again," softly she told her friend. "You have
transformed into a very beautiful cat woman. I'm really, really
glad. And..."
She halted in mid sentence as the sound of a male throat clearing
caught her attention, her body suddenly rigid with tension. Slowly
she loosened her grips on Merle's shoulders, her hands flying to her
mouth as tears threatened to overflow once again. Van positioned
himself at the foot of the bed, his stance both proud and gentle as
he smiled tenderly at her. He was still the same person she knew
from her past in Gaea, but he was not entirely the same young man.
He had changed. His ebony hair was swept back smoothly, and he
looked more mature than when she saw him the last time, taller and
better built.
With a playful grin, Gaudi stepped to Van's side;, his exaggerated
introduction causing Merle to giggle. "May I present...His Majesty,
the King and High General of Fanelia, Van Slanzar de Fanel."
"Van..."
"Hello, Hitomi," Van greeted her softly, his ruby eyes holding those
of Hitomi's green orbs. "Welcome back to Fanelia."
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