CHAPTER THREE: Cold Welcome
Umi and Fuu opened their eyes and saw not the bustling city of Tokyo but a wide expanse forest around them. The tall trees were all they could see and all they could hear was dead silence.
"I guess we're back," said Umi, dusting off her shoulders. She looked at her hands and saw that her old armor was back on her. So was Fuu's and Hikaru's.
"Yes, we are," Fuu said, looking up at the bright, blue sky.
"Oh, goodness! Hikaru!" Umi gasped, going on the ground to help Hikaru up. Hikaru was lying on the ground, unconscious. Blood stopped flowing from her nostrils but she was limp and pale. Fuu listened to her breathing. It sounded fine but Hikaru looked unhealthy.
"Let's get her to the castle, to Master Clef," said Umi. She felt a strange rush inside her but she suppressed it. Fuu agreed with her.
"I know where we are but I have no idea how to get to the castle," whimpered Umi, looking about, Hikaru's arm draped around her shoulders. Fuu turned several times and pointed forward.
"The air seems to be fresh from there. This is the way," she said with certainty. Umi frowned, unconvinced. "How do you know that it's the right way?"
Fuu smiled. "Ferio knew these woods like the back of his hand. He taught me."
Umi knew better than to disagree. "Oh, okay. Well, then, let's go because these stupid shoes are killing me! Hikaru, how could you look so thin and weigh this much!"
Clef was on his way to the balcony when he saw Presea's twin---Sierra---approaching. He stopped as she bowed slightly in deference.
"Master Clef, news has arrived from Autozam. NSX radar readings are flying off the scale. Something is amiss in Cephiro, isn't there?"
Clef closed his eyes, nodding. "I have been feeling it, building up. This does not bode good for Cephiro. It is an unknown foe."
Sierra frowned. "Debonair resurrected?"
Cleff shook his head. "Debonair was dark and one-sided. I don't think she'll be back, not that kind of evil. However, this might be some kind of shadow again. The monsters are popping out of thin air. Two villages have already been attacked."
Sierra sighed. "There is no end to this, Master Clef. Not a moment's peace. Ten years... is that even enough?"
"Cephiro is in bad shape. It needs something to keep it alive. You know of what I speak."
Sierra looked sad. "Yes. Is there no other way, Master Clef? There's always another way to things, right? Must it be our only resort?"
Clef had no answer. He was about to tell her so, that he was out of ideas, when he caught a strange thought in his mind. Sierra noticed the change in the expression of Clef's face.
"Puu puu puuu!"
The cute, little animal jumped into Sierra's arms. Clef looked at Mokona and the red orb on his forehead glowed brightly. Clef looked at Sierra happily.
"They have come back!" Clef hurried to the balcony. Sierra stepped beside him and they looked over the woods of Cephiro. Sierra felt it then. Their presence.
"Yes, Master Clef. Indeed."
"My prayers have been answered," Master Clef whispered as Mokona jumped off from Sierra's arms. He passed by Lantis, who was looking for Clef. Mokona bumped his leg gently and went on his way out of the castle. Lantis saw the look in Sierra's eyes and forgetting about Clef and whatever it was he needed to speak with him about, Lantis hurried out of the castle, his black cape flying behind him.
He was out of the gates, upon his black stallion, when Mokona appeared. The little animal waited. "Mokona!" he commanded. Mokona jumped up and into Lantis' arms. Lantis dug his boots' heels into the sides of his black stallion and snapped the reins. He rode down the road and diverted from the track into the dense woods.
So. They were back. It should not have happened. She should never have come back, the silly girl.
Umi was too tired to go on. She stopped and leaned Hikaru upon the giant roots of a tree. Umi herself collapsed beside Hikaru. She wiped the beads of sweat from her face as Fuu calculated in her mind how to reach the castle quickly.
"Oh Fuu! The lunch we ate is almost gone and I'm tired!" she groaned. Umi removed her shoes and saw the large welts and calluses. She wanted to scream and cry. So much for Paris.
"I know, Umi. But Hikaru's not well. We must do all we can to help her. Only Clef or someone wise from Cephiro can tell us what's the matter with Hikaru. The blood she lost from those crazy nosebleeds was enough to cure five hemophiliacs. Come on, Umi! Let's keep on walking. We don't want to stay in the woods after dark."
Umi grunted and helped Hikaru up. They walked for a few more hours until even Fuu was weak. The three of them sat down on the ground.
"This is hopeless! The woods here are tricky, Fuu! We're not going to make it to the castle before dark. Oh, by the way, it's already dark!"
Fuu was exhausted. She knew they were on the right track but the path was too long. Maybe they could just stay for the night. But the woods were dangerous and if Wingdam was telling her the truth, monsters could very well be abounding in the region.
They barely had rekindled their physical strength when they heard something move in the dark. Umi and Fuu perked up their ears. Instantly, they backed towards Hikaru, willing to protect their unconscious friend from anything that may come in the night.
Then...
"Puu puu puuu!"
Umi was in the middle of a karate chop when something soft and furry landed on her.
"Aieee! Get it off me! Get it off me!" she shrieked, trying to get whatever it was attacking her to go away. All she heard was Fuu's laughter. Incensed, Umi shouted, "Fuu! What's so funny? I'm getting attacked here!"
"Oh, Umi! That's no monster! That's just Mokona!" It was too dark to see but Fuu knew that sound. She approached and tried to get Mokona off Umi, still laughing.
"Fuu! If it's not a monster, then what's that hovering above Hikaru?"
Fuu was suddenly seized with fear. She turned around and by the dim light of the moon, she finally saw what Umi was talking about. The monster already had its front legs, armed with sharp claws, on Hikaru's shoulders. The claws dug into her skin.
"Puu puu puuu!" Mokona jumped away from Umi and she and Fuu were left alone to watch in horror as the monster opened its wide, sharp-toothed mouth to eat Hikaru's red head.
Just then, a swift, slashing sound echoed in the woods and the next thing Umi and Fuu saw was the monster's head lying several meters away from its body and Hikaru. Both of them looked up in wonder as a tall figure walked out of the dark, bent over Hikaru, and carried her easily in his arms.
"Lantis," Fuu whispered. Lantis showed himself to them and Fuu and Umi heaved sighs of relief. Mokona appeared and bounced into Umi's arms.
Before they could thank Lantis, he said, "You shouldn't have come back." Then, he walked away from them. Umi growled and followed after him, Fuu just behind her, more curious about Lantis' behavior than annoyed like Umi was.
"Why, you jerk! Do you think we wanted to be here in the first place! If your crappy world didn't need us so much, we wouldn't even be here, risking our necks to save you! The least you aliens could do is thank us! Shouldn't be here, eh? Well, tell that to your Rune Gods!""
Lantis stopped walking and said to Mokona, as if he heard nothing of what Umi just told him, "Get them a carriage."
"Puu puu puuu!" Poof! A carriage materialized. Lantis sat Hikaru inside. Fuu and Umi followed. Then, he attached the carriage to the saddle of his stallion. He got onto the stallion and slapped the reins. The stallion reared and Lantis drove hard.
"We're lucky Mokona and Lantis arrived," said Fuu, a slight frown on her face, thinking. Umi had her arms crossed, still annoyed at Lantis for the cold welcome. "That monster almost killed Hikaru. I got waylaid by Mokona."
"I just want to get into the castle and soak my poor feet in a basin of warm water," Umi said, leaning back against the plush interior of the carriage. "Whoever our enemy is this time, I just want to chop his or her head off and go have a real life in our world. I mean, I crave adventure, Fuu, but this! This is just plain suicide! Can't we ever come here just for fun, you know? Like we were on a vacation. Why do we always have to come here and kill? I'm tired of that, Fuu.""
"I couldn't agree more." Fuu was more than just reluctant to be back. She was afraid to see Ferio. Their past was past; she has no wish to bring it back again.
A few minutes later, the carriage halted smoothly. The door opened and Lantis was there. Fuu and Umi (ignoring Lantis completely) got off first. Lantis reached in and carried Hikaru from the carriage. Mokona appeared again and led the way into the castle. Inside the throne room, they saw an entourage waiting.
Clef, with his long staff, stood in the center of the group, surrounded by Caldina and LasGaspar, Ascot and Innouva. Sierra stood beside Clef.
"Lantis," Clef said. Lantis approached him, carrying Hikaru to him. Clef laid a hand on Hikaru's head. The expression on Clef's face was grave.
"I should have known. Sierra, lead Lantis to a room where Hikaru can recover." Sierra bowed and Lantis followed her out of the throne room. Caldina and the others quickly went around the other two Magic Knights and exchanged pleasantries.
"We missed you for so long!" Caldina said excitedly. Fuu and Umi smiled. Umi looked at Ascot.
"Are you getting taller or am I getting smaller?"
Ascot chuckled. "I'm younger. I must be getting taller. You look well yourself, Umi."
Umi giggled. "If it weren't for your chest looking straight at my face instead of thin air, I would have said you haven't changed a bit, Ascot."
"Hey! What's the racket about?"
Everyone turned around to see Ferio, holding a basket of vegetables in one hand. They made way and Ferio saw Fuu. No one spoke for a long time. Fuu realized it was rude of her to ignore him. She was about to walk towards him and shake his hand cordially or maybe even give him a hug when a small voice shouted, "Father! Father!"
Ferio, too surprised to see Fuu standing in front of him, did not notice a small boy wrap himself around his legs. Fuu saw the boy, however, and her heart broke a thousand times over.
The boy looked from Fuu to Ferio and back. He stepped towards Fuu and tugged at the hem of her white coat. "Miss, you look like my mother." Hearing the boy say this made it all the more painful for Fuu but she forced a smile and offered a hand to Ferio.
"Hello, Ferio."
Ferio was speechless. Nevertheless, he extended out a hand to her. He held her hand tightly, not wanting to let go. He missed her hands and her touch...
"Get some rest, Umi and Fuu," Clef said, breaking into Fuu and Ferio's thoughts. "We have urgent matters to discuss tomorrow for I will not tell you with your bodies and minds in such disarray. Caldina, Ascot--- take care of them."
"Of course!" said Ascot. He led Umi to her quarters and fixed her a basin of warm water for her feet while Caldina took Fuu to another room. Caldina knew enough about Ferio and Fuu but did not dare ask.
"I feel so tired," Fuu said. Caldina helped her change her clothes and tucked Fuu to bed.
"That's why you need to sleep. Tomorrow, the kitchens shall prepare for you a sumptuous breakfast."
Fuu nodded, closed her eyes, and quickly went off to sleep, dreaming about Ferio and the little boy that should have been her son. Their son.
Hikaru woke up in the middle of the night. Her nightclothes were drenched with sweat and so was her bed. She looked around and found herself in an elegant bedroom. Her casual earth clothes were laid out on a chair nearby. Hikaru stood up and stretched. Her bones and muscles felt like they have not been used for years.
"Time to go to school," she muttered. She took two steps away from the bed and remembered. "Oh, yeah. I got fired." Shaking her head, Hikaru pulled the bedsheet from the bed and used it to wrap around her. She also remembered she was no longer in her world but back in Cephiro. Early mornings in Cephiro were very cold.
When Hikaru went out of the room, no one else was awake. No one littered in the corridor and she thought of walking around to warm up her aching body. I feel like I've just been into battle, she thought. Hikaru walked quietly and went outside the vast castle to a nearby water fountain. She washed her face to get rid of the remnants of sleep and looked up at the sky.
The sun was only beginning to rise and some stars were still visible. Hikaru went back into the castle and walked around, careful not to make any sound. As she toured the castle for the nth time, she reached a long and dark corridor. Hikaru felt something tug at her heart and she walked down to the end, where a door stood ajar. She held the knob and pushed the door slowly.
Hikaru found herself in a room, darkly lit by a glowing orange light. She walked forward, getting closer and closer to the source of that light as her ears began to pick up the sound of falling water.
I've been here before. I know this place.
She stopped and stared. In front of her was Escudo. The last time she saw the sword, it had joined with the crown of Princess Emeraude.
By right it belongs to you. You are bound to it as it is to you. You and Cephiro are One.
Hikaru turned her head around. She could have sworn she heard someone talking to her. But the voice seemed so distant, she could barely make out who said the words.
It wants me to take it. Take it. Take it again.
She stepped forward, the floating sword inches from her face, as her hands steadily reached out to take hold of the sword.
Cold steel on the skin of her neck stopped Hikaru from going any further. She turned her eyes to her right and saw the dark, towering figure of Lantis. He had his sword right under Hikaru's neck. Hikaru held up her hands in surrender as Lantis used his sword to push Hikaru gently away from Escudo. When they were too far away for Hikaru to reach out for the sword, Lantis placed his sword back to its sheath at his side and looked down at Hikaru.
"Escudo is mine," Hikaru told him. Lantis stared at her with a deadpan expression on his face.
"It belongs to Cephiro."
I am One with Cephiro. Hikaru opened her mouth to say the words but a cold fear of what she was thinking seized her and she closed her mouth again. Lantis started to walk towards her and Hikaru's instinct told her to step back. For every step her took towards her, Hikaru took a step back until they were both out of the room. Then, Lantis closed the door shut.
Hikaru was suddenly too afraid. Of what? Of whom? Lantis? But she liked him. Maybe even more than liked him. But all Hikaru could think of was to run away and forget him. What was she to Lantis, anyway? She will always be the Strange Girl who killed his brother and the Last Pillar of Cephiro. True, she and Fuu and Umi have made peace with the fact that the salvation of Cephiro lay in Zagato and Emeraude's life sacrifice.
Kill. All Hikaru knew was to kill. Kill the enemies of a foreign land she barely knew. A land that cared nothing for her, only for what she and the other girls could offer. Hikaru desired to be needed. Truly needed. For comfort. For hope. For the touch of her hand. For her jokes. For her laughter. For her bad singing voice.
Clef was too serious and old to take notice of such things. Sierra was too mature and womanly. Caldina would probably get the jokes but wouldn't really ask for Hikaru's advice on love; she already had LasGaspar for that. Ascot had Umi. Fuu and Ferio had each other.
And Lantis... Lantis never needed anybody. He took care of himself. Hikaru thought he likes the idea of being alone. Then she must leave him alone. She doesn't need him either.
They stared at each other for a long time until Hikaru could bear the pressure of his dark stare so she turned and almost collided with Sierra. Sierra smiled, "Hikaru, Master Clef wants to see you and the others after you've had your breakfast."
Hikaru only nodded and ran frantically away from Lantis and Sierra. Sierra looked up at Lantis, whose eyes followed Hikaru's blanket-wrapped form until she disappeared from sight.
"It is her will that brought her back to Cephiro," Sierra told him. Lantis stared straight ahead as Sierra walked forward and stopped beside him, facing the other end of the corridor---the Door.
"There's no place for her here," was all Lantis said and with a flurry of black silk, he walked away from Sierra. Sierra stared at the closed door in front of her, her hand caressing the smooth exterior.
"How did it come to this, Emeraude? How did it come to this?"