.Cherish the Day.
Emprisonnement avec pitié – Imprisonment with pity
Disclaimer: Nothing in here belongs to me, except Ferdinand (which is only in here for like 2 minutes. lol)
Now we're beginning to get to the nitty gritty. This chapter was hard for me to think out, hope it turns out right!
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Argent faict guerre - It moves men to begin, and enables them to follow it
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My palms were sweaty, and my head was dizzy. Finding myself lying on a cold stone floor, the dampness wetting my hair and skin. I remember nothing about what happened to me. Was I still in Kirlsa?
Groaning, I lifted myself still feeling my head pound. Gently, I brought my frail hand to the side of my head. In the middle of feeling something sticky and sodden, I wince and brought my hand back to my face. Blood!? Looking at my surroundings what I saw was such a shock to me. Was I back in Airyglyph's dungeon? The murkiness and misery told me no different.
What was I doing here? The cell was locked shut, am I a convict? Remembering what came about earlier, I closed my eyes and lamented. That was right; something took me away from Fayt when we tried to make our escape back at the Kirlsa Training Facility.
Nel and Cliff had their handful with Airyglyph soldiers... did one snatch me? Why would they want me? So many questions strewn around in my head I became very confused.
A rapid door slam broke my chain of problematic ponderings.
"W-who's there..?" I stuttered helplessly shielding my face from whoever it was, wondering if it was my kidnapper. Hearing a whip snap, the anonymity spoke,
"So you're awake, hm? What a relief, my whip was becoming eager after all this time..." The voice was low and grim, and I could tell it was no where near charitable.
I looked up like a scared puppy dog and gasped. It was a large man with a type of linen on his head, covering it completely, he was bare chested, red gleaming eyes beamed at me meanderingly and he held a thick, strong whip in his right hand tightly.
I ran up to the bars holding them strongly, "Please, get me out of here! You must have been mistaken; I haven't done anything wrong..."
The hefty man cracked his whip at my fingers making me shriek and fall back on my bottom.
"I make the commands around here, and I command you to keep your mouth shut!"
Huddling up on the ground, I held my hands close to my chest and started to shed small tears. The inquisitor grunted saying something about foolish little girls and began slowly walking to the door he came through.
"I'll leave this to the Wicked One, he'll be able to deal with your sick pouting and whining. Just staying in here with you, I feel like grinding your face in."
"The... Wicked One?" I said aloud with sourness through my sobs. Sounds a lot worse than that whipper...
"Are you alright, m'lady?"
"Huh?"
A soft male voice came to the left of me. I looked over to the spot and saw a fairly small and pale man standing in a corner of a simple cell. He was wearing the clothes that of a seventeenth century nobleman, a deep purple over coat with faded white tights, and his hair pulled back in a velvet dark purple bow.
"You took quite a pasting since you first came here. I was a little unsure if you were alright or not."
"Who... are you, why are you in here?" He looked too extravagant and well-off be behind these cold bars in this horrible place.
"Ah, pardon me," He bowed as one would do among a courting in a ball. "I am Viscount Ferdinand Christoire. Once a rich and wealthy land owner in the Scared City of Aquios."
Well, one being from Aquios, which would explain why he was locked up in here. I knew the Glyphians didn't take quite a liking to anyone who came from that country. It really reminded me of how the Germans didn't take the Jews so lightly previously in Earth.
"You asked why I was here, did you not? It is a long story, I was once on a pilgrimage to see my dear beloved in the mining town of Kirlsa. It, being Airygylph territory, had gotten me in a dilemma. A solider from Airygylph spotted me, asking what I was doing in such a forbidden place. I seemed to have stumbled upon my words and he took me for being a spy. So, there you have it. Now here I am."
He closed his eyes regretfully and heaved a sigh, "Now I am not sure if I'll ever get to see her once more..."
I looked down watching a small mouse scurrying away into a tiny hole, "I'm sorry... these people mistook me and my friends for spies not long ago. I'm very familiar with this place." Swallowing, I placed my view on the tiny man.
"Ferdinand, is it? It's nice to meet you even in a place such as this. My name is Sophia Esteed."
"My pleasure, Lady Esteed." He bowed once more in a similar fashion. I shook my head lightly,
"Oh no, just call me Sophia."
Ferdinand gave a small chuckle, "Yes... Sophia."
"I have a question, if you may, Ferdinand. Do you know who this Wicked One is? I'm kind of scared... the interrogator said he'd have whoever that is deal with me."
The nobleman's eyes went wide at this, "Wicked One!? He must have meant the captain of the Black Brigade, Albel the Wicked, and the cruelest soldier in all of Airygylph."
"That's just great..." I hung my head down too tired to express my fear.
"One of the reasons I asked if you okay earlier, is because he was the one that carried you down here, and threw you roughly in your cell. The bruise on your arm would explain so as to."
"I don't remember that..." I said looking at my arm's underside.
"You were already insensible m'lady, with that injury on your head. And oh, you are still bleeding. I feel dreadful for you. Behind these bars, there is nothing that I can do."
"It's quite alright. I think I'll be fine. Now, about this Albel guy..."
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"Did you found out anything at all about where Sophia might be?" Tynave asked her red haired partner with a bit of hopefulness.
"No not much. The only thing I'm certain of is that she is located in Airyglpyh territory. Who knows what kind of fanatical things they might have done to her."
It was about exactly one day after the capture of Sophia Esteed back at the Kirlsa Training Facility. Fayt, Nel, and Cliff headed back with dismay to Arias; it felt different without the cheerful young girl following behind them. Nel asked her subordinates about any information they had on her whereabouts, but to no avail.
Fayt seemed to be the one that was most displeased. Sitting down in a wooden chair next to the crackling fire in the hearth, he hung his head with grief. Thinking to himself what could have happened to his darling.
Was she alright, or was she as dead?
Her all alone in Airygylph was like a set free chicken in a slaughter house. And on top of all this, Fayt thought he knew why those cretins took her. He was pretty sure as it came clearer and clearer in the deep deeps of his mind.
Ever since he spilled out the information to the inquisitor, back when all three of them were locked up in the murky Airygylph dungeon. If only he hadn't said the truth about....
"Yo Fayt, you don't need to worry so much. I bet little Sophia is A-Ok." Cliff spoke with reassurance giving a hearty thumbs up.
The blue haired boy shook his head and hung it even lower,
"How do you know? Who knows what those bastards could be doing to her right now..."
He then sighed with deep regret, "How could I be so careless, if only I was watching were I was going, then-"
Cliff got his chance to interrupt before Fayt went on feeling sorry for himself.
"Hey, hey, hey. I said she's probably fine. If you're gonna keep moping around about this I'm afraid I'll have to kick you in the butt."
"And I'm saying she's probably not fine!" The younger man got out of his seat and headed for the window, watching the rain drops hit the glass calmly in the breeze.
The fighter raised his arms in defeat, and Nel slowly walked in the depressed filled room with sullen look about her face.
"I'm back. My informant found nothing more on the case with Sophia, but there is a huge chance that she is in the city of Airygylph. No one seems to know why they took her hostage there, but that seems to be the pinpoint."
Nel saw Fayt drearily looking at the pane glass, and closed her eyes. She never wanted to get in personal affairs but it was something deep within her heart that made her care with interest about anyone she befriended.
"...Are you alright?" She asked with apparent concern.
"Of course I'm not. I'm worried about Sophia."
"We all are. Why don't you just rest up a bit. I'm trying all I can do to leak out information, but for now we'll just have to wait. And you know, this shouldn't distress me one bit since it has nothing to do with the war between-"
"I know... I know, but Sophia..."
She nodded her head with consideration, "I understand."
Fayt turned from the depressing scenery to face the older woman. Just who was that, the one that took Sophia? Since the time they had gotten back to Arias, Fayt wondered.
"And Nel?"
"Yes?"
"Since you're familiar with the environment in Elicoor, do you know who took Sophia away?"
"That I do. It was the captain of the Black Brigade, Albel Nox. He is other wise known as Albel the Wicked for his cruelty with either comrade or foe."
"The one with the pretty girl hair, and delicate face? He's called Albel the wicked? Sheesh..." Cliff chimed in with a slight laugh.
Nell placed her hands on her hips and gave a sly smirk, "Don't judge a book from its cover, Cliff. I thought you were all brawn and little brain when I first saw you. And believe me, I didn't take you too seriously."
"Scar-ee..."
"Nel... is he really that dangerous?" Fayt inquired with slight panic.
"I'm afraid so, no matter how many willing citizens try to surpass him, they never come through. Even Sir Shelby. But what I find odd about this matter is, why would he take Sophia when me and my subordinates where there for the kill. It would make much more sense if he took me, Tynave, or Farleen."
Fayt gulped with anxiety. Giving much more thought to his little hypothesis in his head, he was completely confident in why they took the girl.
"You guys, I'm pretty sure why they took her."
Cliff's azure eyes bugged out with surprise at that sudden comment,
"And what would that be?"
"Let me explain..."
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"So you see, Lady Sophia, Albel has no sympathy for the weak and powerless."
"Is what you say really true?"
"I believe so," Ferdinand stated with a bit of grief in his voice, "I also heard many rumors that he kills anyone in his way without mercy, even women and children."
"You can't be serious!?"
The many things Ferdinand told me already was enough, I was beginning to think this Albel was just an arrogant and anti-social person you'd see in movies and books. But killing people for petty things? That's just not human; it's something a mindless machine would do, or someone not right in the head for that matter.
"I do not know if those are true, mind you. I just heard them when I was out and about in town amongst the common folk."
"I see." Viscount Christoire gave me more than I needed to know about this Wicked One.
Ferdinand scattered about his cell in alarm, a fervent look on his face as I yawned and blink my eyes a couple of times.
"Are you sure you are well, m'lady? Maybe you ought to get some forty winks. I'll tell you my plans once you have awoken."
"Plans for what?"
"I think I might just know a way out of here, if I could distract one of the guards, it would you a chance to escape through the ventilation above your chamber."
"But Ferdinand that would be suicide! I could not let you do such a thing." I said with great care.
"Need not to worry about me, Lady Sophia. I've been trapped in here for a good two seasons. I need my soul to become free from this retched doom."
"Ferdinand..."
"And, I may never get to see the one dear to me ever again if I waste my life away. I'd rather meet her in the spirit world waiting for me."
"But still...,"
"So sorry to have interrupted your sugary bonding time." A new chilling voice joined us in our discussion.
The friendly, over the top Viscount stared off with immediate terror in his large brown eyes.
"S-sophia, it is him!"
"Silence, you fool!" The voice commanded the Christoire fellow with true domination.
I lifted my head to face who it belonged to and it stunned me significantly. It was a slightly tall young man dressed in a dark purple get up. His hair just about reaching the middle of his neck, with golden streaks at the ends. The bangs falling over his dark red eyes giving him the look of great reserve.
Judging from what Ferdinand had said and his cold façade, it must have been no other than Albel the Wicked. He silently ordered the two soldiers by his side to open Ferdinand's cell. Taking him roughly by the arms, the two men dragged him out ruthlessly.
"Take him to the executioner's chamber. He's been here long enough, and I don't want him to meddle with the girl. He should have been rotted away by now, anyway." The young man commanded.
"Yes, sir." The two soldiers obeyed simultaneously, as they carried the Viscount off into the dark halls of the dungeon, leaving me with their superior.
Ferdinand did nothing at all, not even one struggle. He just looked at me with sheer apology, as if saying he was extremely sorry.
"You! How could you do such a thing, and act as if it was no big deal? That's someone's life you know."
I felt the tears running down my face promptly. I felt stupid for crying, but I was sensitive in situations like this. He just shrugged off my comment as if it was nothing to worry about.
"It was either that or taking you to the king's quarters, but I don't think he'd like your filth scattered about the castle. It was the most comprehensible choice to me."
"...That's a poor excuse." I exclaimed with sullenness, wiping my hot tears from my cheeks.
He gave a small smirk, ignoring me completely. "I didn't come here for no reason; I have better things I could have tended to. I merely decided to stop by for a pleasant little chat with you."
"Are you Albel the Wicked?" I asked randomly and quit unthinkingly, since I could already tell from the way he came in, and the mysterious look to him.
"What's it mean to you?"
"Just wondering..."
"I ought to tell you, I didn't come down in this melancholy place to have a nice friendly chit chat."
"I should have known." I sat down on the ragged bed provided and stared at an aimless cobweb on the wall.
"Do you know why you are here?"
"No, I don't. Would you mind explaining, please?"
He leaned against the left wall closest to my chamber and crossed his arms.
"Our king found out about your noteworthy powers. I believe it's called Symbology, or that's what the miserable maggot called it anyway."
"..Miserable maggot?" I asked between my sobbing. Is Ferdinand feeling any pain right now? Oh please, I hope not.
He completely avoided my question,
"So you see, I brought you here on his order. We want your power to help us with the war against those Aquarian worms, seeing as it brings great advantages."
"And what advantages might those be?" I inquired with distastefulness.
"Healing the wounded, bringing harm upon the enemy, you know the drill."
"...And if I don't cooperate?"
"You'll face your persistence in living hell, what else?"
Help them with the war? Never. I'm with Nel and her fellow Aquarians with the belief of Apris the Sun God. How did they found out about my magic, anyway? Someone I knew must have told them. But who could possibly do such a thing to me? It surely wasn't Ferdinand, I just met him and I doubt he knows what the term Symbology is...
And how would they have asked Cliff about it? He was locked up alone. Definitely Nel would never say something so enigmatic about one person; I put a great amount of trust in that woman. Along with Fayt... but... Fayt could you have been the one who told?
"Albel..."
He looked over to me with abhorrence,
"Call me that again and I'll have to smack you."
"Well whatever you want to call yourself!" I proclaimed in a fluster, "Who was this miserable maggot you were referring to?"
"What's it to you?"
"Just tell me!" I nearly screamed through my weeping. I was getting very angry with his inflexibility with my questions. The dark young man lowered his head, causing more locks of hair to fall into his face.
"Hmph, how impatient you are. If I wasn't following the king's orders, I'd have you slaughtered at this very moment."
I turned my head in the other direction, looking into his eyes was very intimidating especially when he made a commentary such as that.
"If it will stop your ridiculous pouting, very well, I shall tell you. The maggot was a foolish young boy, with unnaturally awful cerulean colored hair."
"Fayt..." I looked down at my hands fumbling them in my lap.
"So that's the fool's name? Heh, it was so thoughtful of him to tell us all about you."
Thoughtful? Sure, when the inquisitor whipped him to death. Since I said nothing more, Albel added more to his sentence.
"Of course, I only know that he spitted out the Symbology part, but the inquisitor had affirmed he said much more than that, nevertheless the idiot refuses to tell me, saying it was too outrageous to be true."
More about me? What else is there about me besides the Symbology art? Fayt, do you know more about me than I know about my own self?
Furthermore, why did you tell them about that, is it really that essential? Did they question about me, personally? Now they want to use me in this waging war thanks to you. Fayt, I trusted you. I don't know if I should forgive you or not.
"Now that it seems you're done with your pity questions, will you collaborate or give up the ghost? It's your rightful judgment."
Sighing and turning my body to face him, I felt my stomach drop.
"Does it look like I have a choice?"
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Another little cliffhanger, don't cha love it? As you can see, I'm developing a bit of the plot in this chapter. And now a word for my lovely reviewers, thanks guys!
Suzuno Oosugi – So you're still reading? Many thank you's. bows a million times
Moon Catcher – Aha, you guessed right! Thanks for the review, glad you likey likey.
Vi3t Girl MOMO – Sorry about the lack of updates on my SH fic. I really really have a bad writers block on that one, but I'm coming with the chapter as we speak, so don't fret! Glad you found something you like in this one though. Yeah I was hoping for Sophia and Albel to hook up too! But I like her with Fayt too, so.. meh. And about the letter thing, you'll just have to wait and see!
Nami The Time Traveler – You like it so far? Thank ya! Hope you continue reading.
Event – So glad you like the dialogue in here, I'm trying to make most of the entire fic with tons of dialogue. You better update soon!! Grrr..
Youko Mitsutama – So happy you found interest in this. Keep reading, k? I hope I won't let you down! And yes, I tried to make Sophia less annoying cuz she has potential. -