Chapter 14: Dawn Mist Glowing
"Mind yourself while you're getting that stone," she said, bending down to give Leon a peck on the cheek despite his attempts to avoid it. "No getting hurt, and no causing mischief." She straightened up, prim and proper, looking down at the small Fellpool boy how glowered back up.
"I'll be fine, really," he assured them, standing alongside Claude, Opera, Bowman, and Celine at the castle gates. The other group was also there, wishing them a safe journey.
Dias walked over to Claude then, drawing his sword and offering it hilt first. "Here, take this Sharp Edge, Claude, it will serve you well. Gamgee forged it and wanted you to have it, but I never had the chance to catch up until now. I've tested it a little and its capabilities surpass anything you could have bought at Lacour this year."
Claude took it carefully, feeling its light build and perfect balance as Dias let go of it. He looked up at the other swordsman, a slight smile crossing his lips and he said, "thank you Dias. I'll take great care of it and give it use when needed - I don't doubt the ruins we're going to probably have some nasty surprises in store for us." There was something more he wanted to say, but couldn't with everyone there. There was something about handing over the sword that didn't quite match what Dias was saying; even if he was truthful abut what Gamgee had done, it did not mean Dias had to hand it over then. It made Claude think a bit, but he put the matter aside, letting it be. They had come to some understanding last night, and there was no need to read anything into things. "Shall we get going to Hilton, then, while the morning sun still shines?"
~*~
The trip itself was eventless, but their moods had all been alike about the impending dread that seemed to hang over all of Lacour. Even as they headed to Hilton, a few people were still fleeing the attacks. They stood at the turnoff of paths between the northern mountains and Hilton, looking over each other one last time before departing ways, as if somehow neither group expect to see the other again. Rena gave hugs to everyone going to Hoffman, lingering slightly with Claude, and stepped back demurely beside Dias, looking away to the north. Ashton's draconic companion crooned a bit at the others in farewell as they finally parted ways, and Claude couldn't help the slight smile as he heard Ashton try to quiet them - and because of Rena.
"Claude-" was all he heard Opera say before the world went crazy suddenly in a blur of motion before he collided with the ground. He blinked then, spitting out a bit of dirt as he heard Celine try to stifle her laughter. "Claude, are you ok? I was trying to warn you about that rock in the road!" He felt Opera's hands close around his arms, and her trying to help him up even as he felt himself scrambling to help ease getting up.
"I'm ok, really, I was just thinking," he said, looking around on the ground for the offending rock. However, he couldn't find it anywhere at all, which puzzled him. He glances at Celine, and then Leon, and dismissed the notion either had used sorcery to conjure a rock for the sole purpose of tripping him. He was sure - even with her laughter - Celine was above such a prank, and Leon was far too serious. His blue eyes glanced around the grassy surroundings, finding nothing any sort of prankster could hide behind. He shrugged then, and dusted off his clothing a bit.
"Thanks Opera," he said, smiling slightly.
~*~
"That was childish of you," Decus commented, grinning slightly despite his admonishment.
Cyril raised the eyebrow above his good eye and smirked coldly. "And you're not above such a thing?"
"I never denied that, my icy companion, a good joke always warms the body." He laughed then, a rather annoying laugh, Cyril thought, but he made no such comments to the fiery one. "Besides, that so-called hero needs to be put in his place. I could probably run circles around him."
Cyril turned from the looking-glass portal they had been using to scry on the others, glancing out at the hint of dawn on the fringes of the sky. It wasn't the blonde one everyone called the Hero of Light that he was truly concerned about or wanted to deal with - if he was so all-important, Indalecio could deal with him. The one Cyril truly wanted to lay hands on and rend suffering unto was Ashton. The one who had tainted Ruprecht, the one who had injured him. Very few things were forgivable, and the small scar that still was with him was a burning reminder of what that possessed swordsman had done - without the dragon's power.
"I still say a raging fire on the plains of Lacour would be fun," Decus said, glancing into the portal once more. "Besides that, it would cut the two groups apart."
Cyril smirked then, his good eye narrowing. "However great an idea that may be from you, Decus, Indalecio wouldn't have it. We may not be staying here "much longer", however a fire would impede our progress of conquering and invading."
Decus frowned and sighed. "Drat. I so enjoyed burning the area around this place."
"There's still some greenery you can toast, Decus, if you're itching to, why don't you?" Cyril wanted to quiet to himself, and to use the portal to watch the other group, to see what Ruprecht was doing, and to see how "well" Ashton was. He wanted what seemed a "fair" fight to the swordsman, but it was all Cyril's show now.
"True, true, and it is something to do more entertaining than sitting around this place. Ta, Cyril!" Decus vanished, leaving a small wisp of smoke where he had been. How Vesper endured the presence of Decus was beyond Cyril, as they were often opposites in behavior. He shook his head, waving at the mirror to change its focus. It was practical for long-range observation, but nothing could replace what had been the information trio for hard facts. Now however they were one shy, but Jibril and Nicolaus were still enough, or so Indalecio believed. Cyril looked back to the mirror as it came into focus.
~*~
"So, what are we going against?" Ashton asked, glancing at Ruprecht and Dias both, wondering if either had an answer.
Dias raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ruprecht. "I've heard various things in my briefings, but no practical examples. All I know is the front line is in bad shape and there's so many injured its not funny. Its worse then the aftermath of the last few tournaments of Lacour I've seen, and apparently worse then ones from ten or twenty years ago, when the fights were a lot more bitter."
Ruprecht shook his head. "If its Shin at the head of these, it's definitely been waves of horrors, probably getting more intense until they launch a final assault that will simply be to completely wipe out most of Lacour. Its not domination they necessarily want. This world is hardly the objective in mind, it never has been. Its a game to them, something to pass the time and get themselves ready for the real objective, which is Energy Nede."
"Energy Nede?" Rena asked, looking over at Ruprecht.
"Its another world, somewhat like this one, but different. I don't remember much about Nede myself. But right now our concern is here and now."
"Right," Claude said, nodding. "We need to get the stone for the Hope, and the front lines need assistance. Opera, Leon, Bowman, and Celine are going with me to the Ruins - we're splitting up at the crossroads east of Hilton. Everyone else is going with Dias - that's Rena, Ruprecht, Ashton, and Precis - to the front lines to assist in the effort of defending Lacour. Ruprecht, your knowledge of the enemy is invaluable here. We're going to get in, and get out as fast as possible and get back to you at the front line where the Hope will be maneuvered to."
Leon sniffed slightly. "They'd best not ruin anything on the Lacour Hope, otherwise this is all pointless! I won't be made a fool of in front of everyone because of careless mistakes!"
Precis rolled her eyes then and held onto Bobot, looking around. "Well, what are we waiting for?"
Hours later, they were parting ways, saying goodbyes that seemed strained under the pressures each faced, and the fears they might not see each other again. Claude stood there for some time, watching as the others walked into the distance, the sun reflecting off saddened eyes. A gentle hand touched his shoulder, gently jarring him from his reverie.
"Hey, come on, let's go," Opera said.
"Yeah, we should, since sunset will hit before we can sail." 'I just hate to think the last time I saw them was walking away with so much left unsaid.'
"More time lost!" Leon complained as they turned and headed west towards the port.
"Complaining about it won't get it back," Celine said, flicking some hair from her eyes.
"So, it makes me feel better, and lets you know how I feel!"
'Don't we all wish we knew what each other felt,' Claude thought, glancing once more over his shoulder before he lost sight of the others completely.
"Mind yourself while you're getting that stone," she said, bending down to give Leon a peck on the cheek despite his attempts to avoid it. "No getting hurt, and no causing mischief." She straightened up, prim and proper, looking down at the small Fellpool boy how glowered back up.
"I'll be fine, really," he assured them, standing alongside Claude, Opera, Bowman, and Celine at the castle gates. The other group was also there, wishing them a safe journey.
Dias walked over to Claude then, drawing his sword and offering it hilt first. "Here, take this Sharp Edge, Claude, it will serve you well. Gamgee forged it and wanted you to have it, but I never had the chance to catch up until now. I've tested it a little and its capabilities surpass anything you could have bought at Lacour this year."
Claude took it carefully, feeling its light build and perfect balance as Dias let go of it. He looked up at the other swordsman, a slight smile crossing his lips and he said, "thank you Dias. I'll take great care of it and give it use when needed - I don't doubt the ruins we're going to probably have some nasty surprises in store for us." There was something more he wanted to say, but couldn't with everyone there. There was something about handing over the sword that didn't quite match what Dias was saying; even if he was truthful abut what Gamgee had done, it did not mean Dias had to hand it over then. It made Claude think a bit, but he put the matter aside, letting it be. They had come to some understanding last night, and there was no need to read anything into things. "Shall we get going to Hilton, then, while the morning sun still shines?"
~*~
The trip itself was eventless, but their moods had all been alike about the impending dread that seemed to hang over all of Lacour. Even as they headed to Hilton, a few people were still fleeing the attacks. They stood at the turnoff of paths between the northern mountains and Hilton, looking over each other one last time before departing ways, as if somehow neither group expect to see the other again. Rena gave hugs to everyone going to Hoffman, lingering slightly with Claude, and stepped back demurely beside Dias, looking away to the north. Ashton's draconic companion crooned a bit at the others in farewell as they finally parted ways, and Claude couldn't help the slight smile as he heard Ashton try to quiet them - and because of Rena.
"Claude-" was all he heard Opera say before the world went crazy suddenly in a blur of motion before he collided with the ground. He blinked then, spitting out a bit of dirt as he heard Celine try to stifle her laughter. "Claude, are you ok? I was trying to warn you about that rock in the road!" He felt Opera's hands close around his arms, and her trying to help him up even as he felt himself scrambling to help ease getting up.
"I'm ok, really, I was just thinking," he said, looking around on the ground for the offending rock. However, he couldn't find it anywhere at all, which puzzled him. He glances at Celine, and then Leon, and dismissed the notion either had used sorcery to conjure a rock for the sole purpose of tripping him. He was sure - even with her laughter - Celine was above such a prank, and Leon was far too serious. His blue eyes glanced around the grassy surroundings, finding nothing any sort of prankster could hide behind. He shrugged then, and dusted off his clothing a bit.
"Thanks Opera," he said, smiling slightly.
~*~
"That was childish of you," Decus commented, grinning slightly despite his admonishment.
Cyril raised the eyebrow above his good eye and smirked coldly. "And you're not above such a thing?"
"I never denied that, my icy companion, a good joke always warms the body." He laughed then, a rather annoying laugh, Cyril thought, but he made no such comments to the fiery one. "Besides, that so-called hero needs to be put in his place. I could probably run circles around him."
Cyril turned from the looking-glass portal they had been using to scry on the others, glancing out at the hint of dawn on the fringes of the sky. It wasn't the blonde one everyone called the Hero of Light that he was truly concerned about or wanted to deal with - if he was so all-important, Indalecio could deal with him. The one Cyril truly wanted to lay hands on and rend suffering unto was Ashton. The one who had tainted Ruprecht, the one who had injured him. Very few things were forgivable, and the small scar that still was with him was a burning reminder of what that possessed swordsman had done - without the dragon's power.
"I still say a raging fire on the plains of Lacour would be fun," Decus said, glancing into the portal once more. "Besides that, it would cut the two groups apart."
Cyril smirked then, his good eye narrowing. "However great an idea that may be from you, Decus, Indalecio wouldn't have it. We may not be staying here "much longer", however a fire would impede our progress of conquering and invading."
Decus frowned and sighed. "Drat. I so enjoyed burning the area around this place."
"There's still some greenery you can toast, Decus, if you're itching to, why don't you?" Cyril wanted to quiet to himself, and to use the portal to watch the other group, to see what Ruprecht was doing, and to see how "well" Ashton was. He wanted what seemed a "fair" fight to the swordsman, but it was all Cyril's show now.
"True, true, and it is something to do more entertaining than sitting around this place. Ta, Cyril!" Decus vanished, leaving a small wisp of smoke where he had been. How Vesper endured the presence of Decus was beyond Cyril, as they were often opposites in behavior. He shook his head, waving at the mirror to change its focus. It was practical for long-range observation, but nothing could replace what had been the information trio for hard facts. Now however they were one shy, but Jibril and Nicolaus were still enough, or so Indalecio believed. Cyril looked back to the mirror as it came into focus.
~*~
"So, what are we going against?" Ashton asked, glancing at Ruprecht and Dias both, wondering if either had an answer.
Dias raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ruprecht. "I've heard various things in my briefings, but no practical examples. All I know is the front line is in bad shape and there's so many injured its not funny. Its worse then the aftermath of the last few tournaments of Lacour I've seen, and apparently worse then ones from ten or twenty years ago, when the fights were a lot more bitter."
Ruprecht shook his head. "If its Shin at the head of these, it's definitely been waves of horrors, probably getting more intense until they launch a final assault that will simply be to completely wipe out most of Lacour. Its not domination they necessarily want. This world is hardly the objective in mind, it never has been. Its a game to them, something to pass the time and get themselves ready for the real objective, which is Energy Nede."
"Energy Nede?" Rena asked, looking over at Ruprecht.
"Its another world, somewhat like this one, but different. I don't remember much about Nede myself. But right now our concern is here and now."
"Right," Claude said, nodding. "We need to get the stone for the Hope, and the front lines need assistance. Opera, Leon, Bowman, and Celine are going with me to the Ruins - we're splitting up at the crossroads east of Hilton. Everyone else is going with Dias - that's Rena, Ruprecht, Ashton, and Precis - to the front lines to assist in the effort of defending Lacour. Ruprecht, your knowledge of the enemy is invaluable here. We're going to get in, and get out as fast as possible and get back to you at the front line where the Hope will be maneuvered to."
Leon sniffed slightly. "They'd best not ruin anything on the Lacour Hope, otherwise this is all pointless! I won't be made a fool of in front of everyone because of careless mistakes!"
Precis rolled her eyes then and held onto Bobot, looking around. "Well, what are we waiting for?"
Hours later, they were parting ways, saying goodbyes that seemed strained under the pressures each faced, and the fears they might not see each other again. Claude stood there for some time, watching as the others walked into the distance, the sun reflecting off saddened eyes. A gentle hand touched his shoulder, gently jarring him from his reverie.
"Hey, come on, let's go," Opera said.
"Yeah, we should, since sunset will hit before we can sail." 'I just hate to think the last time I saw them was walking away with so much left unsaid.'
"More time lost!" Leon complained as they turned and headed west towards the port.
"Complaining about it won't get it back," Celine said, flicking some hair from her eyes.
"So, it makes me feel better, and lets you know how I feel!"
'Don't we all wish we knew what each other felt,' Claude thought, glancing once more over his shoulder before he lost sight of the others completely.
