'Damn it!' Sasarai thought as he walked along
the hallways of Budehuc Castle. Last night had been terrible. For
some reason, he was lured to drink. He didn't even know he was
capable of doing it. He had only planned to drink a little bit of the
wine. But for some particular reason, he managed to drink a bottle
and a half.
'I shouldn't have listened to that man—Joker,
was it? Damn! And to think I'll be having guests today, important
ones too! And I still have to talk with Thoma---' Sasarai's chain
of thoughts was broken when he bumped straight into someone
accidentally.
"Oof!" the small figure of the person
dropped to the floor.
"Uhm...Cecile? I'm so sorry? Is that
you?" Sasarai held out his hand to the person while trying to focus
his eyes.
"Uh...pardon my say, but Lord Sasarai, are you
drunk? You breath smells of wine...And this is Louis, not Cecile.
(A/N: I always thought Cecile and Louis were twins. lol)" Louis
stood up and put his hands on his face.
"Eh, sorry Louis,
I'm just not myself today. Excuse me...Louis? What's wrong? Is
there something on your face?---I mean..."
Louis just stood
standing there and mumbled something.
"What is it? Is
something wrong?" Sasarai kneeled and held Louis' shoulders;
noticing his neck was red.
"It's...Lord Percival---He,
He...In his room, I saw him! He...Mmm....Er....I'm sorry Lord
Sasarai. It's just that, Er...Nothing...! I'll just--see you
around!" After speaking in rambles words Louis disappeared up the
stairs.
Sasarai blinked.
'What's wrong with that
kid? Should I check up Sir Percival?' Sasarai stood up and went up
the stairs.
'I guess there's still time...Thomas' room
is on the way anyway.' He thought as she glanced at the large
pendulum clock on the wall.
"What
the--?!!!??!!!!! Agh----!" The Harmonian High Priest exclaimed
loudly and shut the door immediately after realizing shout must have
woken up neighbors, and worse, the knight himself. He immediately ran
away from Percival's room and went in his own room, which was only
nearby, thinking at the last minute to save the knight some face, and
definitely talk to him later.
Some people instantly went
knocking on his door. The combined voices of Thomas, Lilly, Hugo and
Sgt. Joe were instantly heard. They were knocking so loudly that the
high priest started to the door immediately to stop the ruckus.
He
took a deep breath before opening the door and said calmly:
"I'm
so sorry, I was having a terrible nightmare a very terrible
nightmare nearby indeed! . And I wasn't really aware of the
fuss I brought to my neighbors. I apologize dearly."
"Oh...It's
no problem Lord Sasarai. We were just worried." Thomas said
worriedly "wouldn't want problems to arise during the big
preparation soon."
"Hmph! I thought there was another
monster. I could've showed you my new talent!" Lilly
scoffed.
Sgt. Joe looked skeptical and mumbled. "You thing a
high priest would actually need your help?"
"What's that
you said???" Lilly barked at Sgt. Joe.
"Nothing, Nothing."
The duck said sarcastically and went away.
"HEY! What do you
mean by what you said?!" Lilly ran and chased him, and Thomas
followed suit after nodding to Hugo and Sasarai. Leaving Hugo with
the High Priest.
Hugo then turned his attention to the priest
and spoke.
"You know about it, don't you?"
"Huh?"
Sasarai looked questioning. "What are you talking about?"
"About
Sarah and Luc being here..."
"Luc's
with me..."
Hugo led the
High priest out of his room and across the hallway to his own. After
entering, Hugo closed the door gently and led the high priest to the
bed.
"It's my......brother..." Sasarai looked towards
Hugo. "What happened? How did they end up here?"
"We
don't know exactly...Percival found Sarah and Luc in his room. He
was clueless, so I doubt he knows anything. We'll just have to wait
for them to wake up. Until then, I'll have to tell the others of
their arrival I guess. Uhm...Would you mind staying here for a while?
To look for the bishop for now, just in case he wakes up."
"Of
course, I'll just stay here."
"I'm so
nervous..........Okay...I'll do it." Hugo then went out and
closed the door gently.
Percival took the time to think if he should wake her or not. But after feeling her move and mumble, he decided that he needn't wake her at all, she was already waking up.
Sarah yawned and stretched on her bed.
'Aaah...that was a nice sleep...' Sarah thought as she snuggled deeper on the bed. 'The bed's starting to get warm......wait a minute!...The bed moved!'
Sarah was wide-awake by then, she immediately sat up and looked back. She was apparently shocked at discovering her bed was actually a person. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to remember what happened. She was sure they died that day. She and Luc, yet they were sent back here again...why? What happened? What...?
"Are you ok, Miss Sarah?"
The sudden voice startled her. She simply stared at the man and tried to remember who he was. 'Ah! He's that knight Perival...' Sarah nodded and finally spoke up. "Where's Luc?"
"Oh, the bishop's at the opposite room, do you wish to go there, my lady?"
"Yes, please." Sarah replied meekly.
Percival went out of bed and then held his hand out for Sarah. Sarah put her hand on his and tried standing, she was having a hard time though, after getting out of bed, her feet were still weak, and she couldn't stand still. She fully collapsed on Percival then.
"Would you like me to just carry you, my lady? It would be no bother." Percival said.
"No...it's...it's ok, I can still walk...I just...need assistance."
"I'll just guide you then, just hold on to me."
Percival held her elbow with his right hand and put his left arm around her shoulders to prevent her from falling. After a few more tries, they finally made it to stand; yet walking would obviously still be a problem.Hugo's room before Sasarai's and Hugo's arrival.Luc woke up at the loud sound coming from outside the door.
...That voice...it's---my brother's...
When he heard the door open and close, he immediately pretended to sleep. He heard Hugo and Sasarai's voices, yet he stayed silent. But after he heard Hugo leave, he started to pretend to wake up.
"Luc?! Are you awake?" Sasarai panicked.
"I was awake even before you entered that door, you're voice was so loud." Luc replied.
Sasarai was silent.
"Where am I? How did I get here? And where's Sarah...? I thought she was with me...the last time I---" Luc was cut short.
"You're in Budehuc castle, I know you probably know where this is. Sir Percival found you and Sarah a few moments ago in his room. And Sarah's sleeping next door, she's in safe hands."
"...Why...?" Luc mumbled, his eyebrows furrowed, frowning as if in deep thought.
They
kept silent for a few moments.
"What happened? And...What
happened to my True Earth Rune?..." Sasarai asked.
"...I...don't
know the true reason why we are here again.... After Sarah and
I..died. We felt ourselves leave this land...this place. Yet when we
neared The Place. We felt ourselves being pulled back...We felt other
spirits come back with us too. I don't know what happened exactly,
but I guess I'll just find out soon enough. As for your True
Rune..." Luc closed his eyes. "It's still with me, as is my
True Wind Rune...But how did you know the True Earth rune was not
restored to you completely?"
"The truth is...I didn't feel it at first...I felt it a few days after, when I started to feel something lacking in me..." The High Priest replied.
"......."
"Maybe...maybe Hikusaak still needed you here...."Sasarai
continued."...I've been thinking for a long time......I haven't
actually met him yet...Hikusaak. I just hear him all of a sudden...
as if he's just right nearby." Sasarai looked away. "I know
you'll probably be apologizing to us all now. I forgive you
though... But to tell you frankly, I need my rune back."
".......you
can get it back..." Luc said silently. "But I do not yet have the
strength to do so. But I promise I'll give it back."
Sasarai
looked out the window and at Luc again.
"I understand why
you did it, and honestly, I can't really blame you... It's just
that the truth..." Sasarai stopped then stood up. "Well, since
you're awake now anyway, I'll be leaving to give you more
thinking time." Sasarai headed towards the door but stopped when
Luc spoke up just as he opened the door.
"I'm
sorry......brother. I truly am. I'm sorry for hiding it from you
for too long...the truth." Luc said, looking out the window.
"I
know..." Sasarai replied before leaving. 'But you're not the
only one with secrets...'
----------------
Luc sighed.'This is going to be pretty hard.' He thought. He already regretted all he did in the past. And he's certainly going to apologize. But...he was not fully regretful of what he did. Although he was pretty aware of all the lives he perished. He knew all the same if he didn't do what he did, things wouldn't have been more peaceful.The sound of the door opening broke his thoughts.
The door opened to reveal Sarah holding tight onto a man, trying her best to walk and even stand up. When they neared Luc, he sat up straight and opened his arms, his eyes with emotion. The man then let go of Sarah tenderly, letting her fall fully onto the bed in the arms of Luc, hugging him close.
"Er...I'll be leaving then." Percival said blushing slightly.
"Thank you." Luc spoke up.
"No problem" Percival said just as he left the room.
Sarah started crying then. She hugged him tight and cried hard. The feeling of hot tears falling down her cheeks was last felt ten years ago, and she was savoring the feeling of being comforted in peace. Luc just closed his eyes and caressed her head softly. No words were exchanged between the two, yet they understood each other and responded in silence. After a few more moments, Sarah started dozing off. When Luc realized Sarah was already sleeping, he started to sleep too.
At the meeting hall
"Er...Well...you see, something happened last night and..." Hugo took a deep breath. "Sir Percival found Sarah and Luc in his room tattered and torn. I am sure they mean no harm, for we have already settled differences with them in the past. Yet, I am not sure the others would understand. SO I hope you might help me explain to them. I am not yet aware of the reason they are here, for they are still not fit to be questioned. But I shall ask him immediately if he is already fit to it. But for now, let's give them peace. We wouldn't want another war insidethe castle now would we?" Hugo took another deep breath after blurting that out.
Thomas was the first to speak up.
"I think it's good that they're here, they won't really have a hard time getting comfortable, and my people would love more company anyway. For them, the war is over."
"The knights would understand." Salome responded.
All of the others agreed to help Hugo. So the elders dismissed early. When Hugo was on his way to the elevator, he met Chris, who had a frown on her face.
"Lady Chris, why were you not present at the meeting today?" Hugo greeted her.
"Huh? Oh sorry Hugo, you mean the meeting's over?" Chris' frown deepened.
"Er...what's wrong Lady Chris? You look upset."
Chris just took a deer breath and mumbled a quick "It's nothing" before rushing away again.
'Okaaaay...what's wrong with her?' Hugo thought as he waited the elevator to arrive.
Just as the elevator door opened, a running Louis came crashing onto him.
"Oh! Sorry Sir Hugo, By any chance, has Lady Chris passed by?"
"Uh...but she ran away again...what's wrong anyway? She looked upset."
"Oh...THAT...well, I told him what I saw this morning." Louis blushed, blushing. "You see, I saw Sir Percival sleeping with a girl this morning----but I didn't mean it! It was an accident; I was supposed to ask him something! And I saw this pretty blonde girl sleeping on his shoulder. I—Well, so then I told Lady Chris, and she's REALLY upset that one of her noble knights would do it, something like that..."
Hugo laughed inside. 'That knight.....'
"I see. Well then, Lady Chris went that way. Good luck." Hugo said before heading to the elevator.On the entrance of Budehuc Castle"Well, you see, we don't let strangers enter just like that, Nash. And you know that." Cecile said to the Harmonian Spy.
"Really Cecile, you should really let US enter. We don't mean any harm anyway."
"I didn't say you'd bring harm...It's just that..." Cecile glanced at the silver-haired pale woman from inside the gate once more.
Nash sighed.
"Do we look like some people who are not fit to enter this wonderful castle?"
Cecile then studied the people once more.
Behind Nash were four women and a man talking, and behind them were 5 to 7 soldiers. The taller girl of the four had porcelain skin and long straight shiny blonde hair that was tied with a white ribbon on her back. Her emerald green eyes were shining softly and her Harmonian robes were not to be ignored of the unique design and perfect shading, she was obviously the reserved, poised and elegant type of woman. The slightly shorter girl also had shiny blonde hair yet had twirls at the bottom and was pulled back by 2 bright green ribbons, she had the same shining emerald green eyes as the other girl, so Cecile assumed she was probably her younger sister. The shorter girl's robes were of same value as the taller ones, yet she was moving more actively so Cecile assumed she was the more active type.
The two other girls were obviously the 2 richer women's friends. One was a redhead with curly hair and light orange eyes and an ebony-haired woman with cobalt blue eyes. Both had the same expensive robes too. The sole man behind was probably another friend. His smile was charming and his midnight black hair was soft. His cobalt blue eyes were shining under the sun as he talked to the 4 women. His robes were also of expensive value.
Yet the pale woman beside Nash was different. She was so pale and her long silver hair was making her paler. Yet she looked stunningly beautiful altogether in her expensive blue robes. She's probably a vampire. Cecile shuddered. Nash changed his clothes too; he was dressed more elegantly.
Cecile sighed. 'If I didn't know any better, I'd think Nash was a prince with his royal relatives.'
"I guess I'll ask permission from Thomas first, but I don't think the soldiers can come in."
"No need for that Cecile." Sasarai suddenly emerged from the castle. "I have already taken care of permission from Thomas. And these are guests."
"I told you." Nash said before he and the pale woman entered.
Sasarai went straight directly to the tall blonde elegant woman behind. He kissed the back of her palm and smiled sweetly at her. The lady laughed softly.
"You never change, Lord Sasarai." She said.
"Nor do you, my lady. Your beauty still cannot be compared. I welcome you at our wonderful castle, Budehuc. Let me lead my lady to her room. And...I'm afraid the soldiers really aren't allowed to enter." The high priest said as he glanced behind them.
"I'll take care of that!" the shorter lady said. She then amazingly summoned her staff and with one wave, the soldiers disappeared.
"I see you've been practicing, Lady Faye. You transported them back, I assume?" Sasarai said.
"Yup! And of course I practice! What do you expect? Just because you're the High Priest doesn't mean you're stronger! FYI, half of them was illusions." Faye scoffed.
Sasarai just laughed and guided the taller woman.
"Hey! Don't ignore me!! Farrah! Wait!!!" the young girl then chased both, leaving the 2 other girls and the boy behind.
The ebony-haired woman approached Cecile.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience; Lady Faye is just like that. I'm Luna by the way, Faye's and Farrah's cousin. And this Scarlette, which is another cousin." Luna said, pointing to the redhead. "And that man is my big brother, his name is Stefan. We're here to assist our two cousins, they're parents are away you see. And if ever there's a problem concerning them, just come to us, ok?"
Cecile smiled and nodded. "It was nice meeting you."Meanwhile...outside great hollow....Jimba opened his eyes. His vision was blurry so he rubbed them and sat up, after glancing around he realized he was outside the unusually unguarded entrance of great hollow. After standing up, he noticed a small figure lying on the ground nearby. Upon instinct, He kneeled beside the small girl and shook her.
"Little Girl...Little Girl..." The small girl opened her eyes and sat up. "Huh...?" she said.
"Oh!! Hello! I'm Yuna. You are Jimba right?" the little girl said cheerily after seeing him.
Jimba was shocked.
"How do you know my name, little girl?"
"I know because it's my duty to know. Come on! Let's go to Budehuc Castle!" Yuna jumped up and pulled him.
"Wait! What happened?? Aren't I supposed to be..."
"Dead?" Yuna said. "Nope, you're pretty much alive. Just come with me and you'll know!"
Jimba had no choice but to follow.
Inside
Budehuc
"You should be thankful, this was built especially for you and your sister." Sasarai said.
"Why
do our rooms have to be separated anyway? We never keep secrets from
each other." Faye mumbled.
He was standing in the doorway
with his hand and legs crossed.
"Oh, you shouldn't have
bothered. Lord Sasarai." Farrah said.
"No, it's no
problem, Lady Farrah. Twaikin enjoys digging as much as Faye enjoys
to use magic."
Farrah tilted her head to the side a bit in
question. "What do you mean?"
"Yeah! Are you insulting
me?!?!" Faye hopped in front the Priest, her curls bouncing, and
looked up at him, her eyes blazing. The Milian sisters had the most
wonderful eyes with those long thick lashes, especially when angry.
He just loved to see that.
Sasarai laughed.
"No, I
wouldn't do that now would I? Or the royal Harmonian army would
kick me out just because I TEASED one of the Royal heirs of the
throne to Harmonia."
He laughed again.
"HEY!!!
You--!" Faye summoned her staff and started to cast a
spell.
"Faye, stop that!" Farrah exclaimed. "This isn't
our home."
"But---!" Faye started to contradict.
"And
you too Lord Sasarai. No teasing of Faye this time."
Sasarai
stopped laughing. "Of course, my lady, I was merely checking if
your younger sister would tell me that I'll be arrested because of
teasing, just like before! What a child!"
"Child??! I am
ONLY a year younger than my sister if you don't know!" Faye
barked at him.
"Ok, if you say so...I'll be back Lady
Farrah, Lady Faye." Sasarai said before nodding to the two and
leaving the room.