-Rants & Raves-
Some reviews are questioning the basis behind chapter 2. At the end of the Chapter one I mentioned Imperial slipped into unconsciousness and began to dream. If this is what is confusing you, I apologize for my sloppy handling of words. If its not, please tell me what I have to do to get it "oh so right".
There! I admitted it. I make mistakes!
Why do you question my greatness?
(Mumble mumble mumble...darn... my poor little ego)
Just kidding $(^_^)$ Thanks guys for all your help and responses!
Sincerely, Symphony A.
-End Rants & Raves-
(I wish but) I don't own Capcom, Breath of Fire or its characters. But the characters, and world in this story for the most part are my own creation
Chapter 4: Illusion in the Wind
In a mud brick hut dimly illuminated by candles, a worn man sits legs crossed in forced meditation. Feeling a presence enter the chamber, he makes no move at acknowledgment.
"Evenson, I bring news from your father, Commander Kenneth. Since you failed to follow his orders to come and see him at the town of Glaive, he has reinstated a warrant for your immediate arrest. He has placed you as a dangerous fugitive to the Alliance. All soldiers are to bring you into custody if found." A soldier explained breathlessly.
Wiping off the dust from his clothes, Evenson stood up and stepped towards the candles. "Your father decided that it would be best that you honorably turn yourself in." The soldier continued.
Thinking to himself Evenson turned to the fighter. "My father, and I use the term loosely, has no idea what the word 'honor' means." The young man replied angrily.
"As your best friend, I'm offering advice to help you, Evenson." The soldier spoke. "Turn yourself in before something worse happens to you." Evenson somberly nodded at his words as he turned back to the candles blowing them out one by one.
"But as a solider, it is my duty that I place you under arrest. I am honor bound by duty to take you back to him..." With blinding speed Evenson cut his conversation short by unsheathing his well-hidden Katana. Grabbing the dark haired man by his shirt he placed the cold metal against his neck pressing him into the cold, unforgiving wall. Applying pressure, Evenson drew a small trail of blood from his victim.
"Evenson, it's your father's command! I'm only following orders." The soldier whispered hoarsely.
"I will never serve the Alliance again! NEVER!" He snarled through clenched teeth. A thought flashed through his mind as Evenson glared at the solider suspiciously.
"He knows I'm here in Nanai, doesn't he?"
The soldier wincing from the cutting pain of the sharp steel mouthed a silent yes. Evenson let him go and sighed deeply as the poor male fell limply to the floor, gasping.
"A little while ago he was informed I was corresponding with you. We had a little talk about the messages I've sent to you. After we were finished talking he had his disciplinary crew 'speak' to me too. When I woke up from their blunt "conversation", I was ordered to locate your next known whereabouts." He coughed rigorously until he gained his breath. "That why I sent that post to you asking you to meet me here."
"Only it wasn't going to be me meeting you but the "Red battalions" squad. They are coming here to infiltrate Nanai at 0500 hours to capture you. I figured if I came here before they did I could reason with you. I was hoping I could bring you back to him without brute force..." Evenson positioned his Katana back into its sheath.
He couldn't believe the words he was hearing. No matter how low Evenson thought of Commander Kenneth, his father never failed to astonish him time after time. Not only did he make it so his best friend set him up, the arrogant bastard even ordered Evenson's former squad to bring him back to the Alliance.
"Dammit Marcus! He spoke in a whisper. "How could you be so careless?"
Evenson turned away from him and ran his fingers through his russet blond hair. Marcus took a ragged breath, trying to gain his composure back. Grabbing a hidden dagger from his boot, Marcus quickly stood placing the sharp blade to Evenson's back.
"Marcus, at least allow me the dignity to face you when you issue my warrant." Marcus's hold on the dragger loosened as his friend turned to stare him in the eye. "
"Look at me when you repeat those words he drilled into us. Go ahead. Recite that meaningless crap he forced down our throats. Repeat the fugitive act and arrest me, while you're at it, remember what that sick monster did to my family..." Evenson spoke quietly, taunting his friend into action. Small beads of sweat trickled down Marcus face as he remembered the past.
"Evenson, I've tried to be the hero in all of this but I can't, I can't. You haven't seen the things he's done in the name of "world defense". He says it's for the security of our nation but I know the truth, it's because of you!" Marcus reasoned waving the pointed blade dangerously close to Evenson's face.
"Men, even some in my division, are now eunuchs because they resembled you. Men who've had their tongue's cut out because they sounded like you. The Yellow Cannon Division was sent to raze the farming town of Ki'kiros all because he heard a rumor of enemy activity there. Reality was he heard you were there! Do you know how many people died in that town? All of them, including 14 innocent children because of a damn rumor of YOU!" He countered angrily. Evenson lowered his head absorbing the disturbing information placed before him.
"But it's not about you anymore, Evenson. By the Alliance's Code of Honor, it is my duty to protect the innocent, uplift the righteous and stop all danger threatening our people or the Alliance and right now the major threat we have is you. I'm asking you one more time to please turn yourself in."
Evenson couldn't bring himself to look at the desperate weathered face of his only friend when he replied, "Until I'm able to get revenge Marcus, I won't do it... "
Unsheathing his own long sword while continuing to hold the dagger to his face, Marcus motioned Evenson towards the door. "Then I have no choice. Evenson Otori, under the official charge of Commander Kenneth of the Alliance Faction, I place you under arrest for desertion.
Evenson stared into his friend's face "Don't do this, Marcus. You're my blood brother, only family I got now..." Evenson reached out to take the blade away but in retaliation Marcus reached forward to stab Evenson in the chest. "No Evenson, I will always cherish our friendship but now it's business..."
Evenson dodged the knife quickly avoiding being pierced in the chest, but he took a cut to the arm. Marcus's agonizing cry grated into Evenson's ears as he watched his softhearted friend.
With a frustrated grunt, Marcus wiped the blood of his dagger. "You will go back to your father's command, even if I have too I'll drag you to him, Evenson!"
With a roar he charged. Evenson sidestepped the onslaught causing Marcus to fall face first on the ground. Evenson drew his sword in self-defense and stood ready to battle his long time companion. Enraged, Marcus pushed himself of the floor and ran blindly towards Evenson, not noticing his sharp blade.
The sharpened blade slid easily through his soft flesh into his stomach. Marcus, mystified, stared at the weapon that now penetrated his body.
"How many more will have to die because of you?" Marcus questioned. As soon as he finished the sentence, the frustration and savageness he once had slowly dimmed away. A small trickle of blood dripped from the corner of Marcus's lips as he slumped forward. Looking up his face contorted with empathy and disorientation as he reached for his friend. Rushing to his friend's aid, he caught Marcus up into his shaking arms as they fell to the ground.
Evenson pressed his hands over the oozing wound hoping to stop his precious blood from seeping out as he rolled his comrade's head into his lap. Marcus weakly place his hand over his friends, softly shaking his head in the process.
"Forgive me...I...never...meant t...to..." his voice trailed off as his eyes glossed unseeingly towards the ceiling as his last breath escaped his body.
"Why, Marcus? By the gods, why did it have to be you?" Evenson whispered harshly as he cradled his friend's still warm body. It frightened him that he was unable to cry for the only person who loved him like a brother. Yet he quickly realized why.
He spent them all on his family his father had taken from him.
Taking off a small golden necklace he gave Marcus on his sixteenth birthday, Evenson tenderly placed around his own neck. "Farewell, Marcus. May the god's guide you to the paradise you deserve." He recited a simple prayer for his slain friend after he searched around and found a simple tablecloth to shroud him in.
Evenson started towards the door. Based on the night sky, he had less than an hour to escape before his father's troops found him.
"Bravo! I was almost misty at the end." A figure clapped in the darkness. "people never fail to amaze me." He turned to a shadowed corner of the room, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword once again. His father's men had come earlier than expected...
"Show yourself." Evenson voiced dangerously. The figure snapped its fingers and the room began to glow in a brilliant green light. The intense flash caused Evenson to shield his eyes. As the light died down, he made out the figure of a young beautiful blond lady.
"Good riddance. One less mortal I would have to convert to the side of the goddess." She stated as she pointed to the body lying on the ground.
"Watch your mouth, girl! The man you speak of was my friend." He replied harshly.
"Some friend he was." She answered plainly. "He just tried to run you through with his blade."
Evenson glared at her "Are you one of my father's soldiers?" The girl laughed at his words as she disappeared into the shadows.
"I'm my own force to be reckoned with." she responded innocently. Evenson searched to find where the young woman had hid. He began to tire after a few minutes.
"I have no time for games!" He snarled at her. "Come forward!" The girl reappeared behind him, laughing him his ear.
"I'm sorry, you don't like games?" She smiled sweetly. The girl smiled as she gazed up at him wantonly. She licked her small pout lips as she crossed her arms. "Looks to me your playing cat and mouse with your father..."
"I know what happened to you when you were younger. You have an old score to settle with him, right?" She questioned as she sauntered over to him.
"How could you have known that? Who are you?" Evenson stammered.
She turned away from him and giggled again. "That is not important right now. We can use a man like you. I have a proposition for you. If you accept, I'll get whatever you want."
"The girl couldn't be older than twenty-three at the most! What possibly could she give me?" Evenson wondered. However, his interest had become sparked. Maybe he would go along to see what she was offering. He was in long need a good laugh.
"You still don't believe me do you?" She smiled "'Ok, then I will give you something small now. Ask for anything." Evenson thought about his wife and child and then to his friend.
"I want my family and Marcus to be alive again." He stated simply. The young woman turned towards the warrior and waved her hand slowly in front of his face. There a blurred visualization appeared in front of his face of a young fair hair woman and her child playing joyfully in a beautiful garden. An elderly woman was sitting under a tree enjoying the summer breeze, singing and sewing some type of clothing.
Somehow they all knew Evenson was looking at them because they all stopped what they were doing and waved to him happily. It was too blurry to see well but someone who closely resembled Marcus was seen walking towards the group and he too began waving.
"...Mother, is it you? Marcus, Lily... "he peered closer, unsure of images before him until one of them giggled
"...Ella!" Evenson overcome with emotion reached out for the vision, causing the reflection to disappear into the air.
"Hey! What happened? Where are they!"? He yelled at the young woman trying to grab her by the shoulders. Yet, before he had the chance to lay his hands upon her creamy skin, she forcefully pushed Evenson to the ground with a blast of wind magic, staring coldly at him.
"Be careful of your actions, Evenson! They are in a utopia far from here but you will never see them in the state that you are in." She replied.
Evenson thought about what had transpired in front of him and with out delay decided to offer his assistance. "Tell me what it is that you need done." He replied as he stood up in front of her. " What do I have to do to get them back?..."
She gleefully clapped her small hands, catching him off guard. "Really, you'll do it? No questions asked?"
Evenson stepped away from her "What exactly is it you need me to do?" his voice strained with frustration.
The blond youth strolled towards the door. "The only thing you have to do is help me with a small task."
"How will I know that you'll let me have my family, if I help you?" He retorted with disbelief.
She gave an impatient sigh placing her hands upon her hips" You have the word from a Daughter of Eva. That should be enough for you. Just come when I call for you."
"Fine, I'll do what I can." He answered softly more to himself than her.
The girl grinned, "Done and sealed! I will call for you soon after I finish with other pressing matters. When I call for you, don't keep me waiting." She chuckled as she ran outside into the cool night air.
"Wait!" he called running after her outside only to see the empty road. "How will I know its you? What' s your name?" He called out.
In the breeze he heard her voice reply.
"You may call me...Maya"*
(* Maya means Illusion in some India Religions -Symphony Areia ^_^)
Some reviews are questioning the basis behind chapter 2. At the end of the Chapter one I mentioned Imperial slipped into unconsciousness and began to dream. If this is what is confusing you, I apologize for my sloppy handling of words. If its not, please tell me what I have to do to get it "oh so right".
There! I admitted it. I make mistakes!
Why do you question my greatness?
(Mumble mumble mumble...darn... my poor little ego)
Just kidding $(^_^)$ Thanks guys for all your help and responses!
Sincerely, Symphony A.
-End Rants & Raves-
(I wish but) I don't own Capcom, Breath of Fire or its characters. But the characters, and world in this story for the most part are my own creation
Chapter 4: Illusion in the Wind
In a mud brick hut dimly illuminated by candles, a worn man sits legs crossed in forced meditation. Feeling a presence enter the chamber, he makes no move at acknowledgment.
"Evenson, I bring news from your father, Commander Kenneth. Since you failed to follow his orders to come and see him at the town of Glaive, he has reinstated a warrant for your immediate arrest. He has placed you as a dangerous fugitive to the Alliance. All soldiers are to bring you into custody if found." A soldier explained breathlessly.
Wiping off the dust from his clothes, Evenson stood up and stepped towards the candles. "Your father decided that it would be best that you honorably turn yourself in." The soldier continued.
Thinking to himself Evenson turned to the fighter. "My father, and I use the term loosely, has no idea what the word 'honor' means." The young man replied angrily.
"As your best friend, I'm offering advice to help you, Evenson." The soldier spoke. "Turn yourself in before something worse happens to you." Evenson somberly nodded at his words as he turned back to the candles blowing them out one by one.
"But as a solider, it is my duty that I place you under arrest. I am honor bound by duty to take you back to him..." With blinding speed Evenson cut his conversation short by unsheathing his well-hidden Katana. Grabbing the dark haired man by his shirt he placed the cold metal against his neck pressing him into the cold, unforgiving wall. Applying pressure, Evenson drew a small trail of blood from his victim.
"Evenson, it's your father's command! I'm only following orders." The soldier whispered hoarsely.
"I will never serve the Alliance again! NEVER!" He snarled through clenched teeth. A thought flashed through his mind as Evenson glared at the solider suspiciously.
"He knows I'm here in Nanai, doesn't he?"
The soldier wincing from the cutting pain of the sharp steel mouthed a silent yes. Evenson let him go and sighed deeply as the poor male fell limply to the floor, gasping.
"A little while ago he was informed I was corresponding with you. We had a little talk about the messages I've sent to you. After we were finished talking he had his disciplinary crew 'speak' to me too. When I woke up from their blunt "conversation", I was ordered to locate your next known whereabouts." He coughed rigorously until he gained his breath. "That why I sent that post to you asking you to meet me here."
"Only it wasn't going to be me meeting you but the "Red battalions" squad. They are coming here to infiltrate Nanai at 0500 hours to capture you. I figured if I came here before they did I could reason with you. I was hoping I could bring you back to him without brute force..." Evenson positioned his Katana back into its sheath.
He couldn't believe the words he was hearing. No matter how low Evenson thought of Commander Kenneth, his father never failed to astonish him time after time. Not only did he make it so his best friend set him up, the arrogant bastard even ordered Evenson's former squad to bring him back to the Alliance.
"Dammit Marcus! He spoke in a whisper. "How could you be so careless?"
Evenson turned away from him and ran his fingers through his russet blond hair. Marcus took a ragged breath, trying to gain his composure back. Grabbing a hidden dagger from his boot, Marcus quickly stood placing the sharp blade to Evenson's back.
"Marcus, at least allow me the dignity to face you when you issue my warrant." Marcus's hold on the dragger loosened as his friend turned to stare him in the eye. "
"Look at me when you repeat those words he drilled into us. Go ahead. Recite that meaningless crap he forced down our throats. Repeat the fugitive act and arrest me, while you're at it, remember what that sick monster did to my family..." Evenson spoke quietly, taunting his friend into action. Small beads of sweat trickled down Marcus face as he remembered the past.
"Evenson, I've tried to be the hero in all of this but I can't, I can't. You haven't seen the things he's done in the name of "world defense". He says it's for the security of our nation but I know the truth, it's because of you!" Marcus reasoned waving the pointed blade dangerously close to Evenson's face.
"Men, even some in my division, are now eunuchs because they resembled you. Men who've had their tongue's cut out because they sounded like you. The Yellow Cannon Division was sent to raze the farming town of Ki'kiros all because he heard a rumor of enemy activity there. Reality was he heard you were there! Do you know how many people died in that town? All of them, including 14 innocent children because of a damn rumor of YOU!" He countered angrily. Evenson lowered his head absorbing the disturbing information placed before him.
"But it's not about you anymore, Evenson. By the Alliance's Code of Honor, it is my duty to protect the innocent, uplift the righteous and stop all danger threatening our people or the Alliance and right now the major threat we have is you. I'm asking you one more time to please turn yourself in."
Evenson couldn't bring himself to look at the desperate weathered face of his only friend when he replied, "Until I'm able to get revenge Marcus, I won't do it... "
Unsheathing his own long sword while continuing to hold the dagger to his face, Marcus motioned Evenson towards the door. "Then I have no choice. Evenson Otori, under the official charge of Commander Kenneth of the Alliance Faction, I place you under arrest for desertion.
Evenson stared into his friend's face "Don't do this, Marcus. You're my blood brother, only family I got now..." Evenson reached out to take the blade away but in retaliation Marcus reached forward to stab Evenson in the chest. "No Evenson, I will always cherish our friendship but now it's business..."
Evenson dodged the knife quickly avoiding being pierced in the chest, but he took a cut to the arm. Marcus's agonizing cry grated into Evenson's ears as he watched his softhearted friend.
With a frustrated grunt, Marcus wiped the blood of his dagger. "You will go back to your father's command, even if I have too I'll drag you to him, Evenson!"
With a roar he charged. Evenson sidestepped the onslaught causing Marcus to fall face first on the ground. Evenson drew his sword in self-defense and stood ready to battle his long time companion. Enraged, Marcus pushed himself of the floor and ran blindly towards Evenson, not noticing his sharp blade.
The sharpened blade slid easily through his soft flesh into his stomach. Marcus, mystified, stared at the weapon that now penetrated his body.
"How many more will have to die because of you?" Marcus questioned. As soon as he finished the sentence, the frustration and savageness he once had slowly dimmed away. A small trickle of blood dripped from the corner of Marcus's lips as he slumped forward. Looking up his face contorted with empathy and disorientation as he reached for his friend. Rushing to his friend's aid, he caught Marcus up into his shaking arms as they fell to the ground.
Evenson pressed his hands over the oozing wound hoping to stop his precious blood from seeping out as he rolled his comrade's head into his lap. Marcus weakly place his hand over his friends, softly shaking his head in the process.
"Forgive me...I...never...meant t...to..." his voice trailed off as his eyes glossed unseeingly towards the ceiling as his last breath escaped his body.
"Why, Marcus? By the gods, why did it have to be you?" Evenson whispered harshly as he cradled his friend's still warm body. It frightened him that he was unable to cry for the only person who loved him like a brother. Yet he quickly realized why.
He spent them all on his family his father had taken from him.
Taking off a small golden necklace he gave Marcus on his sixteenth birthday, Evenson tenderly placed around his own neck. "Farewell, Marcus. May the god's guide you to the paradise you deserve." He recited a simple prayer for his slain friend after he searched around and found a simple tablecloth to shroud him in.
Evenson started towards the door. Based on the night sky, he had less than an hour to escape before his father's troops found him.
"Bravo! I was almost misty at the end." A figure clapped in the darkness. "people never fail to amaze me." He turned to a shadowed corner of the room, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword once again. His father's men had come earlier than expected...
"Show yourself." Evenson voiced dangerously. The figure snapped its fingers and the room began to glow in a brilliant green light. The intense flash caused Evenson to shield his eyes. As the light died down, he made out the figure of a young beautiful blond lady.
"Good riddance. One less mortal I would have to convert to the side of the goddess." She stated as she pointed to the body lying on the ground.
"Watch your mouth, girl! The man you speak of was my friend." He replied harshly.
"Some friend he was." She answered plainly. "He just tried to run you through with his blade."
Evenson glared at her "Are you one of my father's soldiers?" The girl laughed at his words as she disappeared into the shadows.
"I'm my own force to be reckoned with." she responded innocently. Evenson searched to find where the young woman had hid. He began to tire after a few minutes.
"I have no time for games!" He snarled at her. "Come forward!" The girl reappeared behind him, laughing him his ear.
"I'm sorry, you don't like games?" She smiled sweetly. The girl smiled as she gazed up at him wantonly. She licked her small pout lips as she crossed her arms. "Looks to me your playing cat and mouse with your father..."
"I know what happened to you when you were younger. You have an old score to settle with him, right?" She questioned as she sauntered over to him.
"How could you have known that? Who are you?" Evenson stammered.
She turned away from him and giggled again. "That is not important right now. We can use a man like you. I have a proposition for you. If you accept, I'll get whatever you want."
"The girl couldn't be older than twenty-three at the most! What possibly could she give me?" Evenson wondered. However, his interest had become sparked. Maybe he would go along to see what she was offering. He was in long need a good laugh.
"You still don't believe me do you?" She smiled "'Ok, then I will give you something small now. Ask for anything." Evenson thought about his wife and child and then to his friend.
"I want my family and Marcus to be alive again." He stated simply. The young woman turned towards the warrior and waved her hand slowly in front of his face. There a blurred visualization appeared in front of his face of a young fair hair woman and her child playing joyfully in a beautiful garden. An elderly woman was sitting under a tree enjoying the summer breeze, singing and sewing some type of clothing.
Somehow they all knew Evenson was looking at them because they all stopped what they were doing and waved to him happily. It was too blurry to see well but someone who closely resembled Marcus was seen walking towards the group and he too began waving.
"...Mother, is it you? Marcus, Lily... "he peered closer, unsure of images before him until one of them giggled
"...Ella!" Evenson overcome with emotion reached out for the vision, causing the reflection to disappear into the air.
"Hey! What happened? Where are they!"? He yelled at the young woman trying to grab her by the shoulders. Yet, before he had the chance to lay his hands upon her creamy skin, she forcefully pushed Evenson to the ground with a blast of wind magic, staring coldly at him.
"Be careful of your actions, Evenson! They are in a utopia far from here but you will never see them in the state that you are in." She replied.
Evenson thought about what had transpired in front of him and with out delay decided to offer his assistance. "Tell me what it is that you need done." He replied as he stood up in front of her. " What do I have to do to get them back?..."
She gleefully clapped her small hands, catching him off guard. "Really, you'll do it? No questions asked?"
Evenson stepped away from her "What exactly is it you need me to do?" his voice strained with frustration.
The blond youth strolled towards the door. "The only thing you have to do is help me with a small task."
"How will I know that you'll let me have my family, if I help you?" He retorted with disbelief.
She gave an impatient sigh placing her hands upon her hips" You have the word from a Daughter of Eva. That should be enough for you. Just come when I call for you."
"Fine, I'll do what I can." He answered softly more to himself than her.
The girl grinned, "Done and sealed! I will call for you soon after I finish with other pressing matters. When I call for you, don't keep me waiting." She chuckled as she ran outside into the cool night air.
"Wait!" he called running after her outside only to see the empty road. "How will I know its you? What' s your name?" He called out.
In the breeze he heard her voice reply.
"You may call me...Maya"*
(* Maya means Illusion in some India Religions -Symphony Areia ^_^)