This story belongs to me and my creative mind. However, most of the characters, names, and places all belong to their respective companies, so don't yell at me for copyright infringements! Remember, Italics represent a person's thoughts or the telling of past events.
Enjoy...
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:Faraway Dreams:
Chapter Eleven:
"Take this!"
Fedrich leapt into the skies, his short sword raised and ready. With gravity at his side, he dropped to the ground and lashed out at his opponent with incredible strength. Gordan, at the ready, put his hands on the blade to completely absorb the energy of the attack, his knees nearly buckling under the strain. Fedrich landed on the cobblestone of the Square, then jumped back to avoid a counterattack from Gordan's own broadsword. The two then ran at one another and attacked, swords ringing out and echoing in the walls of the buildings. The two continued their dance, Fedrich taking an aggressive stance and managing to force Gordan back a step, the nobleman surprised at the Burman's actions.
"You seem to have improved your skill somewhat!" Gordan complemented.
"I guess facing a stronger warrior made me realize how little I knew!" Fedrich replied with another clash of swords.
The two continued their duel for a minute, until Gordan lashed out with such ferocity to knock Fedrich off balance and onto his rear. The Burman was about to get up, but the tip of Gordan's blade put itself in front of his eyes, stopping his movement.
"Victory, it seems, belongs to me." The nobleman stated, offering a hand.
"Yeah, same as last time." Fedrich grieved, accepting the assistance.
"You have made some improvements, though. Last time you were reckless to attack, but this time you knew your strength and tried to force me to adapt, not the opposite way around. That is a sign of experience."
"Still, you did beat me. I just have to find a way to get stronger, improve my skill so Elric won't beat me again."
"It will not benefit you to practice just to beat someone. It is better to have a proper mindset while practicing, so your morals and desires are forged and improved much like your physical strength and skill."
"What mindset do you mean?"
"It is not part of a Dragon Knight's duty to protect others and to do your utmost in battle?"
"Yeah."
"Then you should have those thoughts in your mind as you fight. Is it not better to fight for the protection of all innocents rather than to defeat one sinful individual?"
Fedrich nodded. "Good point."
"Trust me." Gordan smiled, patting the Burman on his shoulder. "I have learned that the mind needs to be trained just as much as the body to make a warrior truly effective."
"I'll take your word for it." Fedrich smirked.
"Fedrich!!" A voice called from the doors of the Hall.
The two swordsmen looked to the source of the voice, seeing Ruthy present with an angry expression.
"Uh oh..." Fedrich squeaked.
Ruthy stormed over to the two, her eyes boring holes into Fedrich's head. "I thought I told you to rest so your body could heal! What are you doing out here training!?"
Fedrich scrambled to come up with an excuse. "I can't rest while Elric runs around. Besides, my wounds are healing just fine..."
"That's hardly a good enough reason to be running around. Your scars won't heal good if you keep this up."
"If it's any relief, I haven't been doing this more than ten minutes, and I'm done for now."
"You're done, alright, and it'll be that way until I say you're good and ready!" She declared, gripping the Burman's arm with a firm hand and pulling him towards the Hall. "Come on, you need to sit back and take things easy."
Ruthy and an unwilling Fedrich stormed through the Hall doors, sweeping past Illis who was preparing to go out for the afternoon. The dark clothed woman watched as her little sister pulled Fedrich to the small medicine room, breaking into an apologetic grin for the Burman. She continued out into the Square, passing near Gordan.
"Fedrich certainly seems to be a new interest of your sister, Illis."
"Guess she's just being overly concerned for him."
"Ever since Mackenzie was put into the Medical Hall's care, she seems to be holding more than just friendly concern for him. It is strange to see such a sudden change in her attitude..."
"Maybe she's just being protective because she's got a new friend who's putting himself into more danger than he can handle."
"Could be..." Gordan mused. "Then again, Fedrich too has gone through changes since his arrival. No longer if he a independent warrior looking for glory, but has switched his motivation to become a defender of the innocent."
"Yeah, except now he's thick-headed instead of sensible."
"Overzealous would fit him better." Gordan offered with a smirk. "He does not attack without thinking it through beforehand. There is potential for him yet."
"Well, I hope that he gets better a lot sooner. Elric isn't going to sit back and let him gloat over his victory for long. Sooner or later Fedrich's gonna find himself in a fight be may not win. That spell...it uses so much power, nothing could hold against it, not even a fast footed Burman..."
"Is it that strong?"
Illis nodded. "It's one of the most lethal spells known...thank the Gods he doesn't know the others..."
Gordan held a confused expression for a moment. "Others?..."
How does she know this kind of information? I've checked through the National Library, and there is barely any information about spells more dangerous than Firaga or its elemental cousins...
"...What other spell could be worse than that horrendous fireball?"
"Flare...Meteor...Doomsday..." She intoned. "All are much stronger, too strong for normal people to learn, too powerful for even a Grand Dragon to withstand."
Gordan felt sweat bead on his forehead from just the thoughts of such devastation.
Dear Gods in heaven, what kind of forces exist to give rise to such power? Worse yet...how does Illis know of such ancient and forgotten knowledge?...
"Illis, how do you know of such things?" He finally asked.
The dark clothed woman hesitated a moment, but donned her mask of indifference and started to walk away. "There are things called books where you can read about it. Why not read up on it, huh?"
"Wait, Illis!"
"I'm going shopping for food, so I'll see you later." She replied, ending the conversation.
Gordan's words died in his mouth, knowing that Illis wouldn't reveal anything else now that her mind was against it. He thought heavily on her words, remembering that she rarely revealed anything of her past life outside Lindblum. Her hometown, family, friends, they all were unknown to him, as well as their location on the Mist Continent. Her avoidance of her past lead him to believe that there was something between the two deeper than appearances let on.
There are simply too many coincidences to allow for a simple answer. Her knowledge of magic foreign to even the highest of Lindblum scholars. Elric's ability to conjure such magic to its deadliest strengths. The mere fact that the two know one another from the past is enough to raise suspicions...
Gordan ran a hand through his hair. "What connection is there between Illis Killjoy and Elric the Fire Bandit?..."
"Now you get some rest, okay?" The redhead ordered.
"Alright, already!" Fedrich whined. "You've made your point more than clear, okay?"
Ruthy nodded. "Good, 'cause if I see you up and exerting yourself today, I'll see that you won't be able to move for a week!"
"Yes, Ruthy..." He replied.
The redhead gave a smile. "I'm doing this for your benefit, though, so please don't be so upset."
"Okay."
"Right, then see you later." She spoke, closing the door to Fedrich's small room.
The Burman fell back onto his cot, sighing heavily as he tried to think through her behavior. At first meeting, she seemed cocky and arrogant about her knowledge of scavenging monsters. Afterwards she was sociable to him whenever they met, and he began enjoying the time he spent with her. However, he couldn't understand why she became so protective of him to the point of dictating his daily routine.
She's changed, that's definitely true, but because of what? Ever since Macky was put into the Medical Hall, Ruthy's been on edge for everyone safety, mine especially. Maybe it's because the threat of her friends being hurt from something in the city, not in the field, that got her like this...
Fedrich shifted on the cot, putting his arms behind his head to stare blankly at the upper corner of his room, observing a few wispy strands of cobwebs gently sway with the weak breeze from outside. He brought up mental images of the Bandit, Elric, wondering what the man wanted with Illis, why he attacked a friend of hers to get a message across. His thoughts gravitated back to Ruthy, wondering just what was making the younger redhead so worried.
I swear...I'll find that Bandit and make him pay...
Ruthy sighed once she closed Fedrich's door, looking up towards the ceiling of the hall. Despite her best efforts to try to be conscious of the needs of her friends, she still knew that her efforts to keep them safe came off as stronger than normal. She found herself getting even more worried than normal, something she attributed to the arrival of the Fire Bandit and his mysterious connection to her sister. Then there was Fedrich, the Burman offering her a refreshing change of pace with his friendly attitude, but at the same time complicating matters even more than they were.
...Who says it can't?...
Why did Illis ever suggest such a thing? How could a human and a Burman ever come as close as she thinks? We are of two separate races, the two couldn't ever be together so intimately...
She began a slow pace towards the main room of the Hall, her mind still running.
But what she said...does she believe that there truly is nothing separating different races from interacting like that? It's been said that what's on the inside counts...but can the same thing apply?
"You look worried, Ruthy." A voice commented.
The redhead was surprised at the sound, snapping out of her thoughts to see Gerick sitting on a chair with a mug in his hand. She felt her face blush, and she quickly thought of excuses to use.
"I'm just...scared about my sister being stalked by that Bandit..."
"Ah, that's understandable. You don't need 'ta worry so much, your sister's in good hands with us 'n Gordan at her side, you know that."
"I do." She argued. "But that Elric is just so strong, I don't know what I would do if he attacked us with that magic again. I wish there was some way to stop him from using it, or some kind of protection we could get."
"Ya got a point, 'cept that we don't have either of those. Only powerful healers know spells to silence him and to make barriers fer protection, something Lindblum doesn't have much of."
Ruthy moaned in despair. "Gods, it seems like we're doomed to fail!"
"Now don't you go get all worried," Gordan spoke with a grin. "I'll go all the way 'ta Alexandria 'n drag their General Beatrix down 'ere by her hair before I give up!"
Ruthy forced a snicker out. "She'd bust you up even before you got there. It would be nice if we had someone as famous as her to help, but we'll just have to make due with what we have."
"There 'ya go, we'll get 'im before he knows it!"
Ruthy grinned back at the bearded man. "Thanks for the talk, Gerick. I'm just gonna have to face up to my fears when it comes."
"Yep."
"Well, I'm going out for a while, so I'll see you later."
The sun was beginning it's descent behind the massive walls of Lindblum, the clouds in the sky beginning to gain the reddish pink hue of the evening hours. Ruthy, tired from an afternoon of window shopping, walked through the front door of her small home, and she was immediately thrown off guard by the presence of someone least expected.
"Elric!?" She blurted, spying her sister standing nearby. "What are you doing here!"
"Calm down, Ruthy!" Illis quickly ordered, hoping her sibling would comply.
Ruthy felt her fingers curl in anticipation of drawing her dagger, her longbow not available. She glared at Elric, the older man standing idly with a casual expression on his face instead of an angry one.
"I'll calm down as soon as you explain what the hell he's doing in our house!!" She demanded.
"Relax, kid." Elric sighed. "Jeez, you take after Illis more than I wished..."
Elric's statement threw Ruthy off balance. "What do you mean by that!?"
"Just let me explain it! She'd never believe anything you say, anyway." Illis motioned her sister to a chair. "I'd sit down for this."
Ruthy, still cautious about an enemy in her home, took the chair farthest from Elric and sat down. Illis sighed and leaned her head back, looking at the ceiling as if any divine inspiration would help her explain away Elric's presence.
"Alright, you know that you weren't born in Lindblum, and that our home is in a faraway village to the east. I'm sure you don't remember all the events that lead to me leaving there, taking you with me.
"Our village is called Ulura, and has been an isolated region for a long time. What makes this place so special is that almost everyone there knows magic in its various forms, specifically each of the four basic elements: fire, earth, wind, and water. Those four elements are easy for our people to master, but there is a magic that is difficult to learn, and is only known by one lineage in the entire village."
"Ours?" Ruthy asked.
"Yep. That magic happens to be white magic, spells that can heal or harm, depending on the need. Our mother knows white magic, and so do you and I, at least instinctively. To be able to use this magic, people have to go through harsh training for many years. However, there are some people that go an extra step, going through several years more to attain a special title, 'Guardian'. A Guardian is someone who has complete mastery of a certain element, and there is only one per elemental type. Since our family is the only one that knows white magic, it was necessary for us to go through the training to master it."
"So why didn't we? Why did you decide to leave and take me with you?"
Illis ran a hand through her hair. "White magic is very fickle in who can use it. Only the women of our family can use it, so that would mean that both of us would've gone through the training to master it."
"...And?" Ruthy asked, looking confused.
"Don't you see what that would mean? We would become the new Guardians of white magic, and be forced to have families and raise the next generation of white magic users! Staying in Ulura would have meant that we would never be able to leave!"
Ruthy's eyes widened, finally understanding what Illis was explaining.
"So you understand why I had no choice but to take you with me."
"You just were making sure to leave no liabilities behind!" Elric shouted.
Illis looked back at the man, her expression burning with anger. "I was making sure that my sister wouldn't become a prisoner of her own people!"
"You were avoiding your born destiny!"
"I was freeing myself to make my own destiny and make my own life!"
Ruthy looked between the two arguing people, her mind working to try and figure out why the two seemed to know a lot about the other.
Illis and Elric both seem to be stubborn beyond reasoning. They look almost the same height, their eyes are the same color, and his hair is red like mine...
Interrupting her thoughts, Elric slammed a fist onto the table in anger.
"You don't know what kind of chaos you brought to the village! Without a white Guardian to support the other four, the entire defense of the village would fall apart! Do you even care that mother had to take your place in the village defense, even though she is getting old and sickly!?"
Illis' hardened expression fell, revealing shock and surprise to the Fire Bandit. Elric smiled wickedly, knowing he finally exposed a weakness in her stubborn defense.
"The village doctors told me she has a year at most, and that's if she doesn't push her luck. It's been three months since I left. Do you want to see if she'll make the other nine?"
"Shut up!" She swore, avoiding his stare.
Elric chuckled. "Come now, sister, and return with me for her sake."
"Sister!?" Ruthy shouted.
Elric glanced over at the redhead. "Illis never told you about me? How rude of her."
Ruthy looked at Illis, eyes begging for an answer. Illis couldn't meet her sister's glare, and she swallowed her guilt and spoke. Ruthy looked back at Elric, and the similarities between the three manifested themselves so the truth became evident to her, despite her feverant wishing for it to be wrong.
"Yes...he is Elric Killjoy, our brother..."
Ruthy held back a cry of shock. "No...it can't...it can't be true!!"
"But it is very true, little sister." Elric cooed, looking at her. "And you've grown to be a pretty young lady from a noisy little four year old."
"That's enough out of you, Elric." Illis threatened.
"Spare me the drama, sister, there's enough as there is." He muttered. "You were always the dramatic one, constantly looking to be the center of attention. But as soon as you hit twelve you decided to take leave, exit stage left, bid farewell to the audience. You decided to play the role of the independent woman, a lady who had nothing holding her back and let the fates direct her. Mother said you'd be changing from a girl to a woman, but I never thought it would change you this much!"
"I changed from a ignorant child to one that sees reality!"
"Your damn rebellious emotions overrode your common sense and convinced you that life in the world is better than at home with your family!"
"How can you call living in a isolated village, forbidden to leave the forest, a life!?"
Elric remained silent, prodding Illis on. "You knew that we would never be able to leave that place until we died. Everything we would live for would be for the 'benefit' of the village, not us!
"But what of Vicktor?" He prodded.
"His attraction to me was entirely based on the arranged marriages you planned for me and Ruthy, all arranged by the elders! Don't think I didn't see that as soon as he first came to our home."
"Well..." He muttered.
"Oh no, I'm not done! You think that you can guilt me into going back home, but you're wrong! I came this far on my own, even with my little sister to add to the work, and I won't go back home and leave this behind. I worked myself near to death for this, and to go back there would make it all worthless!"
"Well, what of little Ruthy here?" Elric asked.
Illis stood up, knocking her chair over and glaring at Elric with a stare that would have intimidated the gods. "Don't you dare. Ruthy came with me on her own because she wanted to be with her big sister. I won't have you trying to convert her to your side!"
"But what if she wants to go home to see her mother?"
"I worked so hard to give her the freedom to live outside the village...and I won't let her leave and go back to that prison! I won't let you ruin everything I've done for her to make sure she could live as free as her fondest dreams!"
Elric slammed his fists on the table, his face wrinkled in anger, eyes glaring back at the woman. Illis hesitated in her defense, hoping Elric wouldn't be pushed to attack them in her home.
"You would place your life before the lives of everyone back home?" He posed, venom in his words. "You would abandon them to be harassed by the monsters of the forest freely? Do you have any idea how many people have died when you could have saved them!?"
Elric walked around the table, anger pushing him to lash more sense into his sister until a blade found itself pressed against his neck. He glanced to his side, seeing the Ruthy next to him, shaking badly as she fought within herself for answers.
"Don't move!" Ruthy ordered, voice cracking with fear.
"Ruthy, you don't need to do this." Elric pleaded.
"She knows the truth about everything, brother, and has chosen my side." Illis commented, stepping to a rack to draw her sword from it's resting place. "And I'll let choose between leaving this house alive or dead."
Elric stepped back, hands away from his own sword as he moved towards the door. Illis kept her sword ready, and Ruthy was pointing her dagger at him as if it was the only thing keeping him there. He brought an arm back and found the handle of the front door, opening it and carefully stepping through the doorjamb.
"I warn you, sisters, I won't let you stay here. I will bring you back to the village, even if I have to destroy everything you hold dear in the process!!"
Elric finally turned and left, slamming the door with an echoing finality and leaving the two sisters alone to decide their future.
