The morning rose upon the world so silently that not even the birds nesting in the trees could call out a new day. Winds rustled in the miles of golden wheat, young and old awoke from their sleep to the rising of the sun.
One of them was the Empress, she groaned tiredly as her hands groped for her glasses on the bedside table. The sight of the room changed, more clearly as the glass lenses came over her eyes. The warm essence seemed to make her spirit cheerful, she blinked to make sure she wasn't mistaken…but a foreign looking bird pecked the glass of her window…
- - -
Dio ate his breakfast without haste, wishing Lucciola, or someone was there with him. Not a soul was awake, not as far as he knew, but still, the day before was on his mind. A smile came to those lips, as he swallowed the last of the toast at the remembrance of that clear dawn.
Brushing back white strands of hair from his face Dio made his way to Sophia's room. His fingers touched the brass knob and recoiled immediately, once again the young man tried to open the door. The handle hadn't budged, it seemed as if it was locked…but he knew clearly it wasn't right…
"Sophia?" Dio asked, stepping back from the door as it opened, the brunet didn't even look in his direction. Her hair wasn't even made, falling past her shoulders without being tended to. In that moment he saw emptiness in her eyes, of sadness or fear he didn't know.
The Guilder followed, catching a glimpse of a letter in her hand, the letter was a deep scarlet. A scent caught his senses, it was so familiar, but what was it…?
"Dio-sama," Lucciola spoke from behind him. He turned and gave an uneasy smile at his friend. Not even he knew how to feel. What had he done to upset someone such as her? Were her people calling for their Queen…unless…
"You look different today sir," He straightened his posture, though he barely slept at all that night. Worrying to move at the single sound of a familiar voice from their past, or the heavy stench of roses.
"It's just…" Even if he said what bothered him what good what it do? Lucciola was a friend, but he would jump to conclusions too quickly. With a sigh Dio followed Sophia, that letter meant something.
- - -
"Lavie?" The redhead turned to see the Empress, she saw the woman had hurried to get to her. With the urgent and helpless sense in her eyes, the look seemed to frighten her as they stood silently on the porch. "Where's Claus?"
- - -
The sound of bleating stirred the young girl in her sleep, pulling her far from the world of dreams. It seemed the dream wouldn't tear its grasp from her, warning the key of Exile with the unknown hold it had.
The fields seemed still, the moon loomed over the gold with a deep red, the color of blood. She looked down and found her whole body along with the white sleep gown illuminated in the color.
She rushed back to the home, the door wasn't even locked, and it was a dream she knew that, but something was missing. Every door was open, showing the familiar faces of Lavie and Claus, even Sophia.
The room where Dio stayed was closed, she reached the knob and the door opened, as if opened by an unknown spirit.
Cautiously she entered, seeing the glass window was open, the curtains fluttered in the breeze. An aroma filled the room, red specks seemed to dance around her, these specks were rose petals.
She closed her eyes tightly…a voice called her… one that haunted her for those days in entrapment…Delphine..
"No…Dio…where are- -" The bleat woke her suddenly, rising from her bed she ran into the hall, hearing the sound of the front door closing. Entering the kitchen Alvis saw Dio sitting down at the same chair he sat the night before, Lucciola kneeling at his side to comfort him.
"Dio, thank goodness!!" She came over to him, not seeing his face, his head hung in sadness. "Dio…?" The Guilder took hold of her hand affectionately, she smiled; he was so kind, even when depressed.
Lucciola looked at her with a weak smile, "It's okay…nothing's wrong…" Dio whispered, she perked up, hearing him repeat in a whisper nothing was wrong. She felt his hand slip from her own and then silence came between them as a barrier.
She didn't know whether to speak or leave, not one of the two spoke, turning back to their own troubles.
- - -
Claus worked at the vanship with struggle, budging the wrench a little more to tighten the scrap of metal over the deep dent at its side. It was from the incident at the Grand Stream. With a sigh and a feel of guilt he turned away from his work. Dabbing a musty cloth on his forehead.
"We need to talk, Claus," Taking the cloth from his face he saw Sophia, still in her gown with a pleading look on her face. She came to his side and smiled to cover the worry on her face, the paleness still shone on her face.
"A carrier bird brought this to my window, out of knowing, or just by instinct…but it seemed foreign, I never saw anything like it before. I thought I was still dreaming, but…look Claus." He was handed a letter, the neatly torn envelope had a strong scent to it.
That scent sent a chill down his spine, an image flashed in his mind of Alex, bound in roses…
"Delphine…"
Sophia's hand shook and she turned her back from Claus, "The new war shall begin," He hesitantly reached out for her, "It has to be her…nothing can make me doubt that. The smell of her blood fed roses…the ones she used on Alex…"
"But how is she alive?? Didn't Alex…didn't the ship dissolve by the blow??" He saw her begin to shake; it frightened him of her existent fear that she never showed to anyone.
"Exile brought back the ones that were of good and of which Alvis cared for deeply…" Sophia turned suddenly and stared at him hard, "But some are still alive, ones that should have been dead…when the world was renewed…there must have been some sort of opening…"
"It still makes no sense…I mean with Alex… wasn't he good?"
"I thought when the elders would say that ones from the spiritual world would haunt others I laughed…not knowing something like that was really true. Alex had finished his duty here… but Delphine had things yet to be done."
He placed the letter back in her hands and closed her hand, "I'm not the right one to hear this, Dio is the one who needs to know." She closed her eyes and bit her lip in pain, he knew it would be hard to break the news.
"We've rejuvenated the world before, right? Then maybe, there is another chance." Claus felt a familiar kiss on his cheek, seeing her leave the room as he stood there silent. Thinking of all they had gone through…all of them…together.
- - -
Dio walked out to the fields and breathed the fresh air in slowly. The cold seemed to bite at him, covering his body warmly beneath the Guilder cloak of his. As much as he wished to forget, he would always be Dio Elaclaires…
After Alvis reassured him he came out into the fields, to feel the world's pleasant embrace. To actually be somewhere safe, not a soul looking for him, or trying to tear him from the home he wished to live. No, this place would be there for him, and them…
"Dio!! Look at the stars!" Alvis leaped up to reach the skies, she could never touch them unless by vanship. Trying to catch the gold specks shining in the sky. He to looked up, staring in wonder.
It seemed as dawn and night were linking together, light still filled the sky, but stars glimmered beyond the clouds. The time was split, never had he seen such a sight in his life. The fascination kept his hazel eyes from looking away.
A sound of birds filled the air, the beating of wings against the sky, not wishing to falter. He sees one fluttering differently, trying to keep it's body in the skies. Falling listlessly to the ground he lifts his hands to the air, feeling the light creature touch his skin.
He brings the bird close to him, to give off some warmth. Stroking the pure silver-white feathers. Black eyes barely opened stare at him, one wing moves to show him it still has life. The feeling of death comes to mind, feeling sorrow for the pained animal.
The bird's eyes close, his heart stops in that second, never to open again.
Hot tears stream down his face and he strokes the feathers of the rain bird.
"Dio what do you have- -" Alvis sees a white being in his two hands, seeing it clearly as a rain bird. She stands there and finds herself crying, it was the first being to die... it wasn't right. It wasn't fair. The young girl only remembers one falling from flight back in the battle for Exile.
But it didn't make sense…the dream…was it trying to tell her something?
- - -
"Dio," Sophia stops, seeing him kneeling beside Alvis with what looks like a small burial to the side of their home. She feels a deep lump form in her throat, turning to see the white birds, calling out to the vast blue ahead…
Looking back she sees that Dio has clearly noticed her there, hiding her hands behind her back, the letter in hand. His hazel eyes brighten to see her, she smiles back but to feel her sadness deepening.
"Sophia…"He whispers softly. She closes her eyes, wishing she was inside, still lying in bed, hiding the letter. The wind falters, and darkness begins to shroud the newborn day.
"Will you come take a walk with me…Dio? Just, one more time?" Her voice shakes, seeing him nod, taking her softly by the hand. With a weakening grin both walk off, hand in hand off. The letter clasped tightly in her grasp.
"I woke to find this letter, I told myself I was dreaming…but the bird was so real, and there in its talons was an envelope…" She stopped, releasing her hand from his to hand the letter over to him. Seeing his eyes brighten for that moment, then look at her with a empty look on his face.
"It's for me?" Dio whispers, looking at the neatly torn top, and the scarlet color of the envelope. The wind returns and an aroma tinges his senses, it was of roses…
Delphine…
- - -
Alvis stands up from where she knelt, looking up to see a moon, one irregular colored. The shade seems to illuminate on her skin and she sees the blood red color, the rose scent from where Dio stands with that scarlet envelope..
The dream showed her this…deep in her heart she knew something was to happen.
But what will happen…with a world so pure and real… that could fading back into nonexistence do to them….what could happen? And why…?
End of Chapter Three –Scarlet Sky-