Disclaimer: Vision of Escaflowne and its characters and likeliness is copyrighted to its respective company(ies). But the characters I created and this story is copyrighted to me.
Rating: PG-13
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FATES' JUDGEMENT
By Cosmos (mleclipsehotmail.com)
Chapter 11: Battle at Cummerson Forest
Part II: Passage to the Skies
How long had it been…in this place where everything appeared the same? The forest sentinels stood silently all around them, breaking the faint curtain of moonlight here-and-there with their immense trunks while the night wind played serenely with their leaves, rustling it softly high above the weary travellers. The atmosphere remained as dark as night itself, and the moon kept a vigil watch on their every move regardless of where they might be.
They kept a constant pace, never once stopping to rest; yet it seemed they hardly moved at all. Wherever he looked, the scenery appeared to be the same as the last. He began to doubt whether these men truly knew where they were going. Perhaps it was a mistake to follow them. They were only travelling in circles with the enemy approaching quickly from behind. Van frowned deep in thought. Another encounter with The Hunter would mean death for them all. He alone could not protect everyone, and he knew none of these men would stand a chance in a direct battle against the elite forces of The Hunter. The best bet would be for Hitomi and him to leave. The Hunter would have no inclination to pursue these men if their main objective was not there. But Hitomi..., Van thought as he glanced over at her. She had become quite silent for the past few hours. Even the exercise of speaking became too exhausting for her. Her feet were dragging on the ground ceaselessly and her arms flapped limply by her side. Yet, not once did she complained or voiced her fatigue. Van frowned in concern. She has to rest soon or she will not make it. Then unexpectedly, Hitomi tripped on a hidden stone and tumbled forward. She gasped in surprise as she reached out with her hands to protect herself from the ascending ground but, to her surprise and utter relief, a pair of strong arms immediately intercepted her descent. Breathing heavily from the sudden adrenalin rush, Hitomi looked up into beautiful garnet eyes gazing worriedly down at her.
"Are you all right, Hitomi?" Van whispered softly as he steadied her to her feet.
"I'm fine," Hitomi barely responded. Her voice was heavy with exhaustion.
"No you're not." Van let out a sigh as he glanced aside at the ground. His brows knitted together deep in thought. He juggled between the decisions to stop and allow her some rest or continue on in order to maintain their slowly diminishing distance from their pursuing foe.
She watched him tenderly but her expression was solemn and sorrowful. She had caused so much pain to him and the others. Had it not been for her, they would not be in this mess. Nevertheless, Hitomi knew better than to blame herself. It would not do her, or them, any good to wallow in her pity. She must keep her wits about her and try to find a solution to their dilemma.
She noticed his hands remained on her arms to steady her in case she might fall again. Being so close to him, she took this moment to analyse his facial features while he was occupied with his thoughts. Although it was dark, the pale moonlight that fell across his face revealed his profile clearly to her. He was handsome; that she had to admit. Although his physical beauty might not equal some men she knew or have seen, he had something that these other men clearly lacked. Van's features carried a stateliness that captured one's attention and enhanced his physical characteristics, making him more handsome. One might say he had a certain look of refinement to match his roguish appearance. A contradiction but with him it was a harmonious combination. Perhaps his regal appearance stemmed from his very personality, she thought.
Sensing that he was under her observation, Van immediately returned his attention to her. Her soft emerald gaze slightly startled him for some strange reason but of course he did not reveal this sense of uncertainty to her. Despite his steady gaze upon her doleful face, Hitomi did not turn away although she coyly lowered her eyes.
Van continued to gaze at her a second longer before he said, "We will stop here."
She immediately looked up at him quizzically but the expression on his composed face was indiscernible. He continued in a solemn voice, "There is a river nearby. We can refresh ourselves there."
"But how do you…" she began but he interrupted her.
"I can hear it."
Rad gave an exhausted sigh. "Hmm, perhaps it would be wise to take a short rest," he acquiesced. "But we should continue soon after."
"Which way is this river, Van," Theo asked.
"I can't hear anything," said Arik with an irritated frown.
Cade looked at him and asked, "Are you sure there is a river nearby Van?"
Looking in a westerly direction, Van responded angrily, "If you would stop making such a ruckus you would hear it too."
The anger in his voice immediately hushed the other men. Soon enough, once silence settled comfortably in the atmosphere, the faint but undeniable sound of a small brook was heard. Theo, Arik, and Arius simultaneously let out a cry of delight before they dashed ahead of the older men toward the source of the wonderful sound.
"Hey wait up!" Landen shouted as he ran after the other three.
Rad let out a light laughter as he commented, "Young kids…it amazes me how they always manage to be so light-hearted despite everything."
"What else can they do?" Cade asked.
"Come on," Sythe said as he followed the young boys. The other two men soon accompanied him.
Van watched them silently before his attention was captured by Hitomi's voice.
"Shall we head there as well?"
He looked down at her pale face thoughtfully. Nodding, he offered his left arm to her for support as they both headed for the stream.
It was a beautiful area. The clear water sparkled like millions of diamonds beneath the pale light of the celestial moon. Tall blades of jade-coloured grass rustled softly in the gentle breeze alongside a pebble-covered shore. The small exposed area flanked on all sides by short brushes and medium-size Poplar were immersed in the tranquil sound of the bubbling brook as it made its way southward. Van and Hitomi stepped into the moonlit area to find Arius, Theo, and Arik wading around joyously in the shallow stream while Cade and Landen took small sips of the pristine water by the river's edge. Van glanced over to the side to find Rad and Sythe carrying on a relaxing conversation beneath a Poplar tree. Van knew Hitomi needed to be somewhere quiet to rest. Giving the area a quick scan, he chose to lead Hitomi over to tranquil spot a little ways from the others, especially away from the three younglings pouncing noisily around in the water. As tired as she was, Hitomi paid little attention to where he was leading her. She only noticed the warmth of his body close to her as she clung onto his arm exhaustively. Unravelling his arm from her gentle grip, he held onto her hand as she slumped tiredly down onto the soft bed of thick grass that grew on this side of the clearing. Van pulled her gently back and placed her bag beneath her head as a pillow. Once she settled down, her eyelids immediately felt incredibly heavy as they drooped over her emerald pupils, but just as she was about to fall asleep Hitomi felt a gentle breeze by her side as Van stood up. She instantly opened her eyes and held out her hand to him with panic clearly written on her face as she spoke.
"Van, you're not leaving me here alone?"
Van took her hand as he bent back down to her. He gave her a comforting smile as he said, while placing her hand back to her side, "Don't worry, I'll be nearby." His gaze became affectionate when he noticed the expression of fear on her face. He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand gently as he said, "You won't be alone, Hitomi. You have my word." She gradually calmed down from his reassurance. "Now try to get some sleep. You won't have much time to do so."
Hitomi nodded and closed her eyes. Due to her physical state, sleep instantly rushed in and claimed her. The gentle sound of her breathing soon informed him she had fallen asleep. He watched her serene face a little while longer before he stood up and strolled silently to a large flat rock extruding over the river's edge. He lowered himself into a cross-legged sitting position as he gazed out at the dark forest watching him from across the river. Usually he would take this moment to strategize his next move, but right now he felt too exhausted to think of anything. He closed his eyes and dosed of into a light sleep in the position he was in with his hand placed guardedly over the hilt of his sword.
Although sleep usually offered a mean to escape reality, Van soon found that this was not to be the case for him. When he closed his eyes to one world, he opened them to another.
[dream]
A horrific field of death spread before his shocked eyes. The once emerald land now lay scorched and bare like the lifeless bodies that littered its marred face. The image of an immense crimson sun wavered blindingly while casting its tears of light upon the dark and dismal miasma, which now crept silently over the innumerable bodies of mournful soldiers like a white blanket over the dead.
The unimaginable horror of seeing this image of death choked the scream that rose into his throat. He clenched his hands tightly while his eyes squinted shut in an attempt to block this horrendous picture from his mind. What happened? he thought. Why have all these men died? What kind of a battle was this?
"A battle against fate," an unexpected voice intruded into his mind.
"What?" Van spun around to face this intruder but to his surprise he encountered no one. The image of the dismal battlefield quickly faded away to reveal a canvas of stars against a pitch-black background. "Who are you?" Van growled in rage. "What is it that you want?"
"It is not what I want," the hidden voice spoke again, "but what you will eventually decide."
"I decide?" Van said confusedly. "Speak something that makes sense. What is it that you want from me?"
From within the curtains of stars, the silhouette of an individual emerged. From this person's stature Van guessed to be a young male. Instinctively, Van reached for his sword but to his dismay the weapon was not there.
"No weapon can help you here," the individual spoke again. "Such actions cannot solve your dilemma."
"Who are you?" Van asked suspiciously with narrowed eyes.
"I am what we are," the individual answered. Suddenly, a pair of magnificent black wings unfolded from the stranger's back, which initiated a gust of wild winds that blew against Van, who now struggled to keep his position.
"Judgement will soon pass," the individual spoke as he faded away from Van's view.
"No!" Van yelled as he reached a hand toward the stranger.
[end dream]
While she slept, Hitomi could not help but notice heavy breathing coming from below her feet. Her eyes flickered rapidly beneath her lids while her brows tightened in concentration. What is that sound? she wondered. It had been over twenty minutes before this strange subtle noise awakened her from a well-rested slumber. Beautiful bright green pupils appeared from beneath a slowly rising curtain to encounter a dark lavender sky speckled with the vast faces of numerous stars. Hitomi laid there a moment to allow the heavy blanket of sleep to drift off her but all the while she continued to listen curiously to the quiet rapid breathing emanating somewhere below her. Lifting her head slightly, Hitomi looked down the length of her body to see a figure sitting on a rock outcrop by the edge of the river a little ways from her feet. The slightly forward slouching posture indicated that he was asleep. Sitting up silently, Hitomi crawled slowly toward Van's sleeping form, taking care to avoid making any noise that would wake him. She knew he was extremely exhausted despite his attempt to hide his sufferings from her. As she crept closer, the sound increased in volume. Once she reached his side, Hitomi turned to look at him curiously. She would have loved to say that the expression on his face was serene while he slept, but he wasn't. In fact, there was such a pained look on his handsome face that caused her to gasp in surprise. Even in sleep, Van could not find peace.
She watched him sadly. His brows were knitted together as he struggled with the flood of emotions that overwhelmed every fibre of his being. His eyes moved rapidly beneath tightly closed lids while he watched horrific images unfold before his gaze. Van's chest heaved up and down with his laborious breathing as he struggled against something Hitomi could only guessed. Hitomi lifted a gentle hand toward his cheek to wipe away the beads of perspiration escaping down his face, but before she was able to do so Van suddenly reached out with his left hand and grabbed her wrist painfully. His garnet eyes snapped open with a fierce glare directed at her. Instinctively, Hitomi retrieved her hand and shifted slightly away from him in fear.
"No!" Van cried out angrily but his furious expression immediately dispersed when sleep faded to reveal the frightened individual sitting in front of him. "Hitomi?!" he gasped in surprise.
Hitomi looked up at him with uncertain eyes while she held her bruised wrist with one hand. He immediately felt guilty for what he unknowingly did. With a softened composure, he apologized to her in a regretful voice.
"Hitomi, I'm sorry. I didn't…"
"It is alright, Van," she said with an assuring smile. "You were dreaming; you couldn't have realized what you did."
"Yeah," Van sighed as he looked at the flowing water, "…dreaming."
Looking at him curiously, she edged closer and asked, "What did you dream about? Your expression suggested it wasn't a very good dream."
"No," he whispered with concern as he recalled what he saw, "it wasn't good at all."
"Maybe you would like to tell me about it. It may help."
He shook his head in the negative. "No," was all he said.
Giving a disappointed sigh, Hitomi dropped her hands to her lap while her concerned gaze remained on his face. You keep so many secrets, Van, she thought sadly. After a moment, she turned her attention toward the tranquil brook flowing right at their fingertips. Within the ensuing silence that overcame them both, Hitomi's thoughts drifted to all that had happened in the past three days. For such a short period of time, the events that had unfolded forever changed their lives. Their hearts have now become heavy with much sorrow, and their minds now raced with so many unanswered questions. And always there was the disturbing thought of what lay ahead for them all.
From the side, Van silently studied her face while attempting to guess what she might be thinking at this moment. At first, he did not consider her to be beautiful but as he came to know her, he now found her to be the loveliest woman he ever met. Van was uncertain at which point during their trip together that his view of her changed. Perhaps what opened his heart to her was the sincere concern she had for a stranger (for him), or the considerate manner of which she showed to the orphans. Van had immediately noticed she held no prejudice against the social position of these men. Despite their looks, she treated them with equal respect and compassion as if she was speaking to a group of fine gentlemen. Hitomi's beauty, he now realized, did not come from her physique but it flowed freely from within her like a river of compassion. And so it was this aspect in her character that gradually secured his respect and affection.
He reached out and wrapped her injured wrist within a gentle hand, startling her in the process. She turned to look at him questioningly but he made no offer to explain his action. Instead, he pulled her hand down toward the cool water and immersed her bruised wrist beneath the gentle waves of the river. Reaching down with his other hand, he gently rubbed her wrist.
"The water will help ease the bruising," he said in a tone subtly tainted with regret. She watched his actions quietly, warmed by the kindness he presently showed her. After a brief moment, Van let go of her hand, which she retrieved back to her side, and then he did another unexpected thing. He raised a wet hand to her cheeks and began to wipe away the bloodstains that have encrusted on her smooth skin. Hitomi allowed him to wipe away the stains because she was too surprised by his actions to react, but also she felt very comforted being so near him. Sadly though, she watched his gentle expression slowly change into one so troubled. The pain he evidently felt created much anguish in her. She wanted to help him, to erase all those grievances he carried within his heart, but she did not know how to go about doing so. Instead, she did what instinctively came to mind; she embraced him.
Van immediately stiffened when her arms reached out and wrapped themselves around his neck and her head rested on his right shoulder. "Hitomi?" he whispered uncertainly.
"You always," she whispered into the crook of his neck, "you always look so sad, Van. I want to help you but this is all I can do. I'm sorry."
Sighing tenderly, Van timidly returned her embrace as he enclosed her smaller form within his strong arms. "Don't be," he whispered back warmly. A brief window of serenity opened to him at this moment, and he decided to seize it immediately before it closed on him again. He closed his eyes and rested the side of his head against hers affectionately. The warmth of her kindness flowed ceaselessly into his soul as they sat there within each other's arms unaware of the curious eyes that watched them a short distance away.
Words could never describe the emotions that flowed between these two innocent hearts as they held each other within a world only they could enter. The closest description would to say their hearts felt at peace and loved. Fulfilled and aching longing to forever remain this way were also among those feelings that flooded their soul at this very moment. After a while, Hitomi's eyes opened to notice the wound in his side that still remained to be attended to. Cursing herself for being so inattentive, Hitomi detached herself from his embrace and turned her attention to his wound. She examined it closer to assess the extent of his injury.
"It's alright, Hitomi," Van said gently.
"No, Van," she said as she looked at him in a disquiet manner. "We have to get that wound of yours attended to properly. Here." She rushed off toward her bag, which remained in the spot where she slept. He watched as she rummaged around in the large carrier looking for the towel she smartly packed along. Returning, Hitomi carried with her a large blue towel, an antiseptic bottle, and a white T-shirt. Dropping back down beside him, she ordered, "Now turn to your side."
He silently obeyed. With a frown, Hitomi immediately went to work. She dipped the towel in the cool water before using it to wipe away the old and fresh blood around the deep gash. Van watched her every move with quiet eyes. Her actions were gentle as she carefully cleaned the wound before applying the antiseptic. Looking up into his eyes, she said softly, "This will sting a bit, Van."
"That's fine," he replied nonchalantly. She carefully poured a small portion of the bottle along his wound, which began to bubble in reaction to the applied chemical. His eyes immediately snapped shut in pain but his lips remained unmoving. Once the pain subsided, Van opened his eyes and looked across the river deep in contemplation. So many thoughts were flying through his mind: about his home, about the enemy, about his mission, about their fates…and about her. He glanced down briefly to find Hitomi tearing apart the white shirt she retrieved from her bag. He frowned apologetically.
"You needn't ruin your shirt for me," he said.
She smiled kindly. "Don't worry, Van," said Hitomi. "I have many more in the bag. Besides, what else can I use to bandage your wound with, hmm? Here." She held out the end of a strip of fabric to him. Van gave her a quizzical look.
Letting out a subtle laughter, Hitomi said, "Take the end and wrap the fabric around your body. I'll hold the fabric in position on your wound while you do so." While he took the piece of cloth, she continued, "I certainly can't wrap the cloth around you, you know."
"Why not?"
Her attention snapped to his face. Hitomi remained silent while she analysed his composed features. Is he implying...?
"Don't tell me you're shy of me already," he said with a smile.
"Of course I am; I hardly know you," she replied honestly, which drew out a quiet chuckle from him. Her face brightened upon hearing his laughter. It was the most beautiful sound, and one so rare.
"After throwing yourself into my arms, you are now shy?"
Crossing her arms, Hitomi feigned irritation. "I did not throw myself into your arms. I was just…I just wanted to comfort you."
"Comfort me?" Van said with a slight raise of the eyebrow while the teasing smile remained on his lips. "Now that's something."
"Now what are you implying, Van? I saw how sad you were and I…I…" His smile was becoming too alluring. "Augh!" She raised her hand in the air in an annoyed gesture. "You know what I mean."
He decided to play ignorant. "No, I really don't. Care to explain?"
"What has gotten into you, Van?" she asked while trying to suppress a giggle. "Why are you acting so crazy all of a sudden?"
He fell silent for a moment with a wistful expression on his face before replying in a more somber voice, "You said so yourself…I looked too sad."
"Oh, and irritating me has made you feel more cheerful?"
He smiled.
"Cruel, cruel man," said she. "And why have you made me your target?"
"Do you see anyone else nearby?"
"Of course there are. There's Rad and—." Hitomi stopped when she noticed how isolated they were. Rad and the others were sitting some distance farther down the riverbank. Turning to him, she coyly looked away and left her sentence unfinished.
He watched her gentle nature with a quiet smile. Standing up, he held out a hand to her. "Come on," said Van, "it is time we move on." She acquiesced and took his hand.
They have now walked another five hours before Van heard Rad announced their arrival. Finally. Van gave a glance back to the dark woods that hid the trail they have just passed. They are not far behind, he thought gravely. "Let us keep moving," he told the others.
Rad nodded silently when he saw the apprehensive look on Van's face. Leading the way, Rad continued ahead down a narrow trail descending into a small clearing from which the thunderous sounds of falling water could be heard. Above them, the lavender hue of the dark sky began to lighten.
About midway down, the trail suddenly took a sharp turn left along a very steep ridge. By now, the sky had brightened enough for them to see the small clearing situated around the base of a magnificent waterfall right below them. The view was breathtaking. The same clear, crisp water sparkled brilliantly with the rays of the dawning sun peering over the distant horizon, which could be viewed through a narrow passage between the walls of the surrounding rock cliffs. A small inlet harboured the falling water around the base of the fall before feeding into the mouth of a small stream on the opposite side. Smooth faces of huge boulders lined the shore around the fall before giving way to luscious carpets of vivid green grass carpeting the entire clearing. Here-and-there patches of brilliantly painted wildflowers popped up within the sea of green.
"It's beautiful," Hitomi breathed.
Van watched the enchanting scenery with melancholy eyes. This place reminded him too much of Etheria. He turned silently away and walked on ahead. Hitomi noticed his sad expression.
"Van?" she whispered.
It was now an hour past the full rise of the morning sun. The trek down the steep trail took much longer than Van had anticipated. This certainly had cost them vital time and distance from their pursuers. Standing now at the monstrous base of the massive fall, Van turned to Rad and questioned, "So where are these caves you mentioned before? I see nothing but a wall of rocks and water.
Rad smiled as he said, "It is not what you can see, but what you cannot." Van looked at the fall in bewilderment. What does he mean? Then he slowly understood.
"I see," he thought aloud. Rad looked over at him with a respectful grin. Slowly, the group made their way around the sheet of falling water and into a massive cave hidden behind. From this main entry, Van immediately noticed four different passages on the opposite side, which led deeper into the belly of the mountain.
"It has been a long time since we're here again," Arik spoke up from beside him. Van turned to look at the child. His spirited forest-green eyes sparkled with excitement as he gazed desirously into the dark passages. Turning to Van, he continued animatedly, "I've always liked to explore these tunnels. There are such fascinating caves within filled with life and treasure you couldn't imagine. I would often think myself a famous explorer or a great hero tramping into the cave of a fierce dragon."
Van smiled at the child's enthusiasm. Arik returned his attention to the passages when Arius joined them.
"Each passage leads to a different area of the forest," said Arius in a calm voice, "but only one leads to the skies."
"To the skies?" Van asked in confusion.
"Yeah," Theo chimed in from behind them, "the skies." Van turned his attention to the fifteen year-old. His brown eyes were sparkling with the same excitement that danced in Arik's eyes. He was pointing up.
Arius laughed heartily at the look on Van's puzzled face. "It means that it is the only passage which leads to the very top of this mountain," he kindly explained. "It's a shortcut to the other side of the forest. Since it leads straight up, we call it the Passage to the Skies."
"And that is the one we're taking," Rad said as he walked over to them. "There are tunnels and side passages throughout this labyrinth, so I suggest we all stay close together. We don't want to lose anyone in here, and we don't want to get lost ourselves."
"Here," Sythe threw Van part of a rope.
"What is this for?"
"Tie it around yourself because you won't be able to see anything once we step into the passages."
"Then how do we know in which direction we are going?"
"Rad has the entire passage mapped out in his head," Cade said. "He had taught himself to navigate it in the dark."
"He is the one who discovered it after all," Landen said
Van noticed the single coil of rope he was holding was looped around the bodies of all the other men, tying them together like a chain. He nodded silently. Before he tied it to himself, Van walked over to Hitomi and wrapped his arms around her waist, to her utter surprise, to loop the rope around her body and tied it tightly in front of her. Taking half of the remaining cord, he in turn tied it around himself. Looking deep within her startled eyes, he said gently, "This will keep you near me."
Turning around, he handed the end to Arius. Without wasting anymore time, they began to head toward the passages. Rad led the way as he stepped through the mouth of the passage farthest right. The others followed silently behind him. Immediately, they were enclosed in utter darkness. Hitomi involuntarily let out a gasp of surprise and fear when the wall of blackness hit her. It was as if someone suddenly placed a blindfold over her eyes. Nothing, not even her very hand held right in front of her could be seen. Sensing the anxiety rising in her heart, Van whispered to her comfortingly, "Don't worry, Hitomi. I'm right behind you."
"Try not to think about the darkness," Arius' kind voice drifted to her ears, "Perhaps you should think about the window located approximately halfway through the passage."
"Window?" she asked.
"Yeah," said Arius, "it's a rock ledge overlying the waterfall where the rock wall have broken away. It gives you a wonderful view of the entire area and the forest beyond. If you keep your mind on this, the darkness won't seem so enclosing."
"Thanks Arius," Hitomi whispered gratefully. "I will do that."
Arius' kind-hearted gesture to Hitomi did not go unnoticed by the young man walking in front of him. His open and honest words gave her much needed comfort, and that, Van was thankful for. It was these little things; these little gestures of kindness, which have brought about the doubt in his mother's words against the mortals that Van now found himself confronted with. Can't we coincide? Van thought sadly. Why has fate pitted us against each other?
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Exhausted murmurs and heavy breathing subtly echoed through the dark night all around him. Scanning the good numbers of men placed under his command with solemn light-crimson eyes, he frowned with concern upon seeing the utter exhaustion on their sweat-covered faces. Much as his foes were struggling, for which he was certain, he realized that his men were growing weary as well. The rate at which they pursued their prey was rigorous and demanding. He knew they could not keep up this pace for much longer, but they could not allow Infinity to evade their grasp again. The battle had dragged on far too long, and they were now all desiring to see its end. Yet, for what they believed in, for whom they were fighting for, knowing these reasons gave them enough strength to fight a million battles.
He looked up sadly at the brightening sky with its starry face fading beneath the veil of dawn. It was not in their desires to kill the vessel for she was innocent, if not for the power she was cursed to harbour. The awakening of Infinity would mean the death of them all. They have earnestly believed this since the day mortals learned of the Trial. So in order to prevent that horrid day from coming, The Hunter was formed. It was the idea of one young man over two millennia ago to fight against the Fates and Goddess Varie in order to preserve the lives of their beloved world.
He looked down at the moss-covered terrain with mournful eyes. His short silver hair caught the early lights and shone brilliantly. Yet, he did not live to see the birth of his ideal, he thought solemnly. Now, Folken leads The Hunter seeking to fulfill the last wish of his dearly loved brother. But now, a frown of annoyance and bewilderment washed over his face as he continued in contemplation, he believes that his brother still lives. But that is impossible. The sorcerers of Leftlet gave only thirty men the power of the pendant to live outside of fate and time. His brother had mysteriously passed away long before then, but had he lived for some miracle, he would surely be dead by now for it has been two millennia we've traversed this world.
He returned his attention ahead of him as he continued on this wearisome pursuit. He recalled the last time he spoke to Folken, nearly twenty-four hours ago.
[flashback]
"Are you insane, Folken?" he cried, incredulously. "He is not your brother! Your brother had long deceased."
Folken did not stir from the bed he lay after the surgery to stitch up the wounds Van inflicted upon him during the battle. He kept his emotionless eyes on the grey canvas tent top. "Dilandau," he said in a low and steady tone, "he is my brother."
"Augh!" Dilandau cried out in frustration at the sheer insanity he was hearing from a man, a leader, he had come to admire and respect.
"I know it seems impossible," Folken continued, "but he is my brother; although I don't know how or why he is here."
"It has been two thousand years, Folken," Dilandau said exasperatedly. "No one lives that long without the power of Leftlet."
"I know."
Dilandau watched the older man with much sympathy. He knew how dear Escaflowne was to Folken but to seek his younger brother in another completely unrelated individual was something Dilandau could not understand. Yet, for the sake of his friend, he was willing to drop this painful subject for now. Besides, there were more urgent matters to be discussed.
Changing the subject, Dilandau said, "You won't be able to lead the troops under your current condition. So I will take twenty men with me to hunt the girl down."
Folken turned his gaze to Dilandau. He nodded solemnly. "Do what you must," he said painfully, "to stop her."
Dilandau gave him a quizzical expression. Folken turned away as he responded to the unasked question, "Infinity's defeat is the most important objective now. We must stop her…at all costs."
[end flashback]
He kept his gaze focused on the dark path ahead, but in his mind, many thoughts were racing and many unanswered questions kept surfacing. Giving a sigh, he thought grievously, What will be the cost at the end of all this?
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Author's note:
For those of you wondering who Escaflowne is, ever since the name was mentioned in Chapter 7, well now you know.
And for those who are more perceptive, you might have probably figured out how this name connects in with the chapters posted so far.
Next: Chapter 11: Battle at Cummerson Forest
Part III: "Innocence Lost"
Cosmos 2004