Dark Fascination
by Asurahime
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Chapter Four
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There are so many things that people require or desire, but how we act when we are deprived of such conveniences are an indication of our character. But how does such a philosophy preside over chance and change? I had desired freedom, but I have been trapped even further. How simple it would be to say that this fantasy is a mere illogical turn of the mind, leading me on to the bitter end.
What dare I think... when I have just been told that I am no longer a human? Do I dare think and find out this horrible reality? Do I dare dream only to have my world come crashing down on me once again?
This should be just mischief brought about by a moment of disillusionment, but how is it that I can feel the cold sensation of lavender blood cooling on my skin? How is it that the ground is solid through my worn shoes? How is it that I can feel my companion's hand and eyes trapping me as he drags me wherever he desires?
I could close my eyes but there is no peace in my heart. It is as if the dark mysticism of this place has frozen my heart into ice just like it has taken away the humanity of my blood. All I can see now is an eerie, unnatural light swaying against the waves of flowers beyond the gate which had heartlessly torn my hands from before.
A diamond-eyed knight had told me that I can only survive by forgetting everything I have every known and accepting the loneliness of this region. I must let the glass slipper be broken even if I do not wish to see it broken. I must endure this romantic vision even if I sadly chase after the sky.
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"Why has my humanity been taken from me? If what I heard in there was right, then I shouldn't even be alive," Harry's voice was piercing, as if he was still trying to convince himself that all of this is just a sort of dream.
Draco pursed his this lips as he pulled his unresisting charge towards the ominous gates of Chateau Aiguille. He knew that his unbreakable grip on the half-mystic's wrist was painful for the other, but he knew that if he did not keep a tight line on Harry, it would be more difficult to convince him of the reality of his surrounding. The Messenger did not remember how he reacted when he was granted mysticism by Lord Orlouge because time means nothing in Facinaturu, but he was certain that he never behaved in this foolish manner.
However, Draco found that Harry's words melted the pasted smirk on his face. The boy was not as irritating as before and there was a genuine sadness in his tone. The question may have been absurd and redundant, but Draco finally felt obliged to answer.
Harry found himself crashing into the still figure of the Black Wing due to his lack of attention when his companion stopped in front of the closed gate. It was then that he noticed that Draco's hand was no longer confining his wrist and resorted to rubbing the soreness away.
The other turned back to him with a condescending glare and Harry was amused to find that Draco wasn't too much taller than himself. "Nay, what you are so mindlessly stating is not quite accurate. Sometimes I have to question the attentiveness of humans, or in your case, half-mystics. It is unfortunate that you are the only one in existence. Lord Severus had just finished explaining to you that you still retain your humanity, but Charm Lord's spirit, the spirit of royal mysticism has also been instilled in you. It flows through your veins and is present in your gaze. You hold the power to fascinate and deceive every being in all the regions if you wish. We have not robbed you of your mortality; we have granted you a force which you can use to your will have."
Harry raised a hand to his face as if seeing it for the first time. He could hardly believe what he was hearing, but the sincerity of the other's voice made his world come crashing down. "But.... why me?"
Turning back to face the gate, Draco's eyes narrowed with an unknown emotion. "You have just asked the question that everyone wants to know the answer to. None knows, except for the Lord of All Mystics why he has chosen you to be his Prince. Just give in to fate. We are all corrupted, not with sin, but with darkness. Mystics are born to confuse, but humans do not know that we are just as easy to confuse as they are."
"But I thought that there is no such thing as magic..." Emerald eyes darkened as they focused on the tiny, lifeless village beyond Chateau Aiguille's gate. He was not expecting a bitter laugh to burst from his companion. The Black Wing raised a gloved finger and pointed it to the silver scar on Harry's forehead. "Magic... is the sense of simply being. It is in life, death, and reincarnation. It can be used for good or," Draco eyed the dark darkly, "for evil. There are many types and just as many uses. You will learn many of these uses later. Now, no more questions."
The half-mystic nodded as he looked up at the black vertical spears woven with roses which served as the gate. An icy fear stabbed him in the heart as Draco pulled a glowing length of wood from his robes and raised it to the air, lighting up the air before them like a beacon. These phenomena were going to take some getting used to. "Lord of All Mystics, what is the matter with you? It is just a gate."
"Ho--How will you open tha... the--"
"I am Draco, the Prince of Darkness. Open the Gate," snapped the mystic irritably, not impressed as his voice triggered the spell to raise the gate. The massive device creaked loudly as it slowly ascended to let the two of them through, startling Harry speechless.
A confused sigh escaped from Harry's lips as he looked from the gate to his new mentor. "I don't understand this. I have tried opening the door many times, but it did not even rise a centimeter. It's strange," Harry rubbed his pale hands together, remembering how the scratches inflicted upon them by the thorns of the gate's roses bled violet. Draco glanced at the gate once more and finally noticed how there were splashes of purple on the rose petals and how there were drops of the same shade on the floor of the courtyard below the gate.
The mystic put it in the back of his mind before grabbing on to Harry's hand once again and half-dragging him down to the dismal town of Rootville. Harry had no choice but to allow himself to be pulled along dark streets lighted with the same glowing crystals as within the Chateau. Two things intrigued him: that there was not a single rose of any color in the town and that the town itself appeared to be smaller than the interior of the castle.
Draco was quiet the rest of the distance with, as usual, a dark scowl on his face. It was not that he did not like the half-mystic, it was just the fact of how Harry looked so very human because of his clothes which made the mystic bitter. It was discomforting to see how this confused human boy in blood-stained rags can ever be the illustrious Prince of Mystics which Charm Lord believes he can be. However, Draco can do very little right now except for get Harry into decent mystic attire fitting for the Heir of the Mystic Kingdom of Facinaturu.
Yes, they can start with that.
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Harry stifled a cry of protest as Draco stepped up to the tailor's shop, unceremoniously threw the door open with more violence then necessary, and pulled the two of them into the said door without a word. It appears the mystics have no need for formality when it came to business with the human residents of Rootville. Obviously, that irked Harry, but he said nothing as he allowed himself to be drawn inside.
As he looked around, he saw the tailor stumble over his own feet with what was clearly fear in his eyes as he righted himself. "What brings such high and noble mystics to my shop, Your Lordship?" asked the wide-eyed tailor as he cowered even further behind the counter, wringing his hands together to control his suprise and his terror. He was plainly not expecting any mystics of the high class but rather one of the lower mystics or a messenger to his shop. Harry noted that he would have found this exceedingly humorous if he did not know what the human tailor was so scared of.
Like a poisonous serpent, Draco pinned the terrified tailor with his mercury eyes before hissing, "Go and get the robes I ordered."
The tailor almost jumped out of his skin as the mystic directly addressed him, but he still moved from behind the counter and called an unnoticed figure, beckoning him or her forward. Harry let his emerald eyes wander to the direction where the tailor was calling and they landed on a boy with raven hair that was the exact color as the half-mystics. As a matter of fact, the two boys would have been twins if the human was not so tall and had verdant eyes rather than his piercing crimson ones. "Y-yes, My Lord."
Draco glanced at Harry and followed the other's confused line of gaze to rest on the tailor's help, who seemed to be paralyzed where he stood. The mystic stifled a snort of laughter at the fascination and fear clearly imprinted in the human boy's face as he gazed at Harry. This is more proof that the power of Charm Lord now runs in Harry's veins: how the half-mystic now has the power of enthrallment even though he is unaware of it. Snapping his glare back to the trembling tailor, Draco then ushered his charge forward so that he could be in plain sight. It was then that the fear present in the two humans' eyes heightened when they noticed the red and purple stains on Harry's clothing. "Put the robes on him."
The tailor's tremors became even more violent as he tried to decide whether to run or to obey what the mystic commanded him. It was one poison or the other. Draco simply smirked with satisfaction at the horrified man and Harry was frowning with great sympathy and disapproval. "Ex-excuse me, Y-Your Highness. I don't... believe that I... uh... heard you correctly."
The glare Draco gave the tailor could have stopped his heart beat. "Put. The. Robes. On. Him."
"B-b-but, I can't do--"
The irritated mystic raised a brightly glowing wand at the tailor, his face savage and enraged against the blazing light. "I will not repeat myself again, tailor. Do not try to find the limits of my temper, for I do not take excuses lightly."
Harry looked at the infuriated glare on Draco's face and shook his head. A few minutes ago, he would have found himself cringing at the sight of that silver glower, but he now found himself adjusting to the personality of his supposed mentor. It was almost as if... he was getting used to him.
"I-I.... understood. Tom," murmured the tailor lightly, fearing more provocation from the black-winged mystic. He ascended the steps without looking back, almost as if he was more than ready to face Death.
The vermilion-eyed human boy tentatively drew Harry's sleeve and bowed. He had finally shaken himself from his stasis and was now looking at Harry with a kind of awe, not even paying any attention to Draco. "Please come this way, My Lord." He followed his master up the stairs with Harry following after.
The half-mystic took one more look at Draco with a question in his eyes, but the white-blonde mystic merely nodded his head and turned away. Harry finished scaling the steps and found himself in the tailor's workshop. Textiles, fabric, and clothes of every kind and color imaginable decorated the room. However, their vibrance was dulled by the dusky glow of the crystals.
The two humans rummaged through an ebony wardrobe and started pulling out the most elegant robes that Harry had ever seen. Granted, he has not seen many, but the ones which now lay before him rivaled the ones worn by the inhabitants of Chateau Aiguille. After setting down two more robes, the two humans drew aside silently with their eyes riveted to the floor.
Harry tore his eyes from the robes when he noticed the silence. It has gotten a bit much. "You can talk, you know. Your silence unnerves me."
The tailor cringed, but the boy named Tom raised dark red eyes to meet Harry's green ones. Harry smiled slightly before looking back to his choices. "What am I supposed to do with all of these?"
"Anything you wish, My Lord. If you desire to take them all, we would be more than happy if you do so," whispered the tailor, falling to his knees at being spoken to by the half-mystic.
"I don't want them all!! They are all too well-made for someone like me to--" The emerald-eyed boy suddenly saw the terror and pleading present in Tom's eyes. He knew that he would have to choose if only to save the tailor and this boy from having a heart attack. "All right..."
Silently stalking over to where the robes lay side by side, the leaf-green gaze stopped on a blue, sleeveless surcoat with black and yellow bands. Underneath was another blue cotton robe with large sleeves. The material was very light and gave the wearer little protection against weather. This is telling me of unlimited knowledge... learning but with that wisdom, the refusal to take chances.
Next, Harry noticed a short yellow robe with black stripes and orange tassels to serve as a tie. A flowing white shirt and black velvet pants, both of which could be tied with golden tassels. Now this... bright curiosity and a life without darkness and corruption... definitely not.
A long, black cloak with intricate emerald and silver trimmings caught his eye next. The green seemed to reflect the color of his eyes and the black contrasted with his hair. Beneath was a thin black satin robe and black pants. Harry frowned slightly, understanding fully what the piece of clothing stood for. Deception... and illusion. I do not want to deceive anyone and I cannot let darkness follow me wherever I go.
Harry was about to sigh with exasperation before Tom held out something to him hesitantly. The half-mystic took a red bundle from the human's arms and stepped behind a dressing screen. Several minutes of rummaging passed before Tom went behind the screen to assist the customer after receiving permission from his master.
"My Lord, if that does not please you, we have several others. Forgive us if--" The tailor had finally stood up and was starting to offer the black and emerald cloak to Harry before he was cut off.
"Wait... this will do." The black-haired half-mystic stepped away from the screen. Harry was resplendent in an ankle-length, crimson robe which was split in the bottom into many strips, similar to a phoenix's tail feathers, for freedom of movement. It would have been plain if the edges of the suit were not trimmed with cloth-of-gold and if the fastenings going down from the high neck to the bottom part of the suit were not silver. On Harry's neck was a golden choker shaped in the form of arrowheads going in every direction, and his long hair was tied back with a crimson ribbon. Under his cloak, the half-mystic wore a simple black silk robe, black leather pants, and black boots. In contrast, his gloves are pure white.
The outside shows of this "royal mysticism" without amplifying the darkness and deception of this place. It shows a life that this region doesn't have and the love for beauty that it has. It gives the greatest traces of freedom of movement which I most likely no longer have as the "heir" to his place. Underneath shows grieving and simplicity for the life I used to have and my conversion into what I am now in this place. Yet, my hands are untainted with the blood of another. This will do.
"Yes, this will do."
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"Now you look more like a mystic, let's go back to the castle." Draco kept his tone light and slightly exasperated by the wait, but he was actually amazed at the transformation of his charge. Harry no longer looked like the cringing little mannerless firecracker of a half-mystic in blood sodden clothes from before. The emerald-eyed boy turned out to be Draco's age, or at least the age he was when he was turned into a mystic. It seemed so long ago that he forgot when that was. But now, even the Black Wing had to admit that he was transfixed by the image now presented to him.
The red-clad half-mystic did not speak, but merely nodded his understanding as the two of them walked out of the tailor's shop, paying no mind to the sighs of relief and murmurs which started when they closed the door. It was not until they were traversing across the bridges connecting the spires of the Castle of Needles that Harry felt inclined to break the silence. "Draco, why is it that we wear these clothes?"
"Feeling uncomfortable? A little strange to be wearing such strange clothing?" The smirk which appeared on Draco's face was mocking. "Mystics are of a royal race, even those of the lower class. It all depends on how thick the blood is and from who the blood belongs to. As you can see, this especially true for you because you are the Prince of All Mystics. It is Lord Severus' wish that we are attired in such a manner. Do not forget that you are no longer mortal."
".......... How can I possibly forget?" asked Harry, his voice was soft and obviously hurt. It was a painful lesson, but it is one that must be learned as quickly as possible.
In silence, the two mystics entered the room of Princess Hermione. Draco stayed at the door as the half-mystic ventured in to stand next to another of those strange, flower-entwined coffins from before. Harry tentatively drew a hand and moved a sprig of daisies out of the way to reveal a smiling face with blue eyes which stared up at him inquisitively. The long-haired half-mystic quickly backed away as a flash of intense silver light filled the room, dulling the green gleam of the crystals before slipping into darkness once more.
"This is--" started Harry, shielding his veiled green eyes with his white gloves.
A tawny-haired girl stood on top of the open coffin, her white dress was billowing with an unseen wind and her blue eyes were shining brightly at the red-clad figure in front of her. Stepping down from the coffin, she walked towards Harry and clasped his hands in hers, giving him a wide grin. "Hello, you must be Harry. I am pleased to finally make your acquaintance, My Lord."
"Who... are you?" There was a shocked look which glazed the half-mystic's eyes which only doubled when a green robed figure appeared behind the brown-haired girl out of thin air. "What is going on?"
Harry had started to back away from the two mystics, but he was stopped when he hit Draco's solid figure. The red-haired figure in green robes gave an even wider smile than the girl, before he caught sight of the platinum-haired mystic and the smile turned to a fierce scowl. Draco returned the glare with a dark smirk as he rested a hand on Harry's back, preventing him from making a break for it. "She is the seventy-ninth princess of Charm Lord, Arch-Princess Hermione. The red-haired menace is Lord Severus' Strategist, Lord Ronald. Think back to what Lord Severus said before you started spouting off nonsense."
"I see that you haven't changed, Black Wing. Still have your feathers in a flutter, I say," piped the Strategist, the belligerent glare on his face fading as he approached the green-eyed figure. "So you are Harry. You really have a scar, eh? That is wicked."
"Honestly, do you boys ever think about anything but fighting and battle wounds?" asked Hermione, her hands at her hips as she kindly dragged Harry from the grasps of the two warring mystics.
Ron and Draco soon followed them, ignoring each other as they both kept watch over Harry--protectively in Draco's case, and curiously in Ron's case. However, it was clear that both of them could feel magic and power hanging over the newest mystic like a heavy mantle. It was apparent in the boy's unknowing grace, his sharp eyes, and his sad smile.
"He doesn't know, does he?"
Draco looked at the Strategist with surprise that he had managed a sentence without insult and told him thus.
Ron shrugged. "The Prince seems interesting enough if Hermione would let me have a talk with him to decide for myself. Besides, this is by Lord Severus' orders that I don't fight with you."
"I don't like it, but I guess there is no choice," fussed Draco.
Harry's questioning voice broke through their short conversation as he turned back to look at Draco and Ron. "I don't understand this. What is an Arch-Princess and what is the role of a Strategist in mystic society?"
Ron smiled as he threw an arm around Harry, leading him towards the courtyard with the rose-mosaic once again. "You will understand all of this in due time, Lord Harry. But now, you have a training session with the Black Wing."
The half-mystic whipped around to stare incredulously at Draco. Apparently, he wasn't expecting this turn of events. "Training session?"
Hermione stepped down and linked her arm with Ron's when he offered it. "Yes, Lord Harry. A training session. We will answer your queries after it."
Nodding curtly with a reserved grace, Draco started leading the four of them swiftly to the training grounds to the left side of the courtyard. At the pace Draco was going, one would think that he was trying to lose the three of them, but when they all arrived at the courtyard with the gates to the Throne Room and the one leading out of Chateau Aiguille, Harry caught up with the silver-eyed mystic and grabbed his hand, stopping him from moving further. "Wait, the others are still back there."
"It is their own fault for not being able to keep up."
The half-mystic frowned. "Don't you stop to think about how running through the castle may be something that Hermione and Ron don't do at a regular basis?"
Sarcasm from Harry was not something Draco was familiar with, but even this facet of the red-robed boy spellbound him. "I am not interested in finding out the strategist's or the princess' strong and weak points. My purpose is to find yours."
"So that's what this 'training session' is all about? To find my strengths and weaknesses at fighting," asked the half-mystic, turning back to wait for his two newer companions. However, before he could walk two steps, Harry found that he could not move as Draco had seized his right hand and was giving him the most intensely clear and searching gaze he has ever seen.
"I was not talking about on the battlefield."
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To be continued...
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Disclaimers:
This is my first slash story ever, so I am sorry if it offends anyone. I decided to cross two things I really love, which are the Harry Potter universe and the Saga Frontier universe into a crossover-AU work of fiction. Thus, I own nothing. I'm not really too certain about writing this piece since this is a whole new frontier for me. Please bear with me and I hope you enjoy reading. I don't really know what the final pairing would be for this, but trust that there would be a lot on the way. Perhaps someone could give me some suggestions?
Notes:
~Well everyone, there's your Strategist and Princess Hermione for you. Next chapter will contain my specialties when it comes to writing these kinds of fanfiction: Battle/Fight Scenes!! I just won't tell you who will be fighting... all right, Draco's about to train Harry on how to fight like a mystic. Hermione and Ron are also going teach Harry some things about Mysticism, Charm Lord, and all other aspects of his new life... some lessons with Draco, some lessons without Draco. Yes, the three of them are going to spend some time bonding... cute, isn't it?
~Next chapter, the explanation of the infamous Zero Princess and why Charm Lord is chasing her will be explained.
~Contrary to what some people may think, I am not too fond of Mary Sues. My name will be appearing from the next chapter on, but I state now that I am definitely NOT that character. Besides... I don't ever think I'd want to be...
~I am not sure if there was really a point to this chapter, but I am still quite fond of it. Anyone else notice the slight innuendo of the last few sentences of this chapter? Hmm... intrigue...
~Who on earth is Tom and what is his purpose in this story? *whistles to herself* Anyone else out there who would like to know?
~I've decided with the help of my muse, Hideaki, that I'm not going to raise the rating of this story just yet. He told me that nothing terribly evil has happened yet and it can still survive in the PG-13 rating still. I don't even know if it's ever going to be disturbing enough (aside from the bouts of bad writing and run-on sentences) to get an R rating...
~Thank you to all of my dear, sweet, amiable reviewers who keep me going on and on. I love all of you to bits and I certainly hope that you are all enjoying yourselves even a little bit with this work. I know that the slash is just in innuendos right now, but that will change later on, I swear to Draco Malfoy that it will change later on. Just please bear with me until then.
~*blushes* If this keeps up, I'm going to have a fever or simply remain red forever. *smiles* Hideaki and I love mochi too. I am happy that most of you seem to like this world I am creating... Moreover, for those of you who are confused at what is going on, don't worry. It's supposed to be confusing at the beginning. ^^
~I now have an idea of the final pairing, but the multitude of pairings in between is just too fun not to write about!!