Child of Darkness, Warrior of shadows
Chapter Three: Eyes
Disclaimer: I don't own any part of any of the Star Ocean games, though I'd very much like to have some hand in the next one. The additional original characters, especially those involved in Albel's past, are all copyright 2005 to me.
Clair put a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Please, I need to know what you saw," Clair pleaded. The woman shook her head violently and pulled back. Clair sighed and turned away. This woman was an espionage expert; it was hard to imagine what she'd seen that had reduced her to such a fearful state.
"We got something out of her earlier, but it's vague," Tynave said quietly as Clair walked towards the corpses. "She kept mumbling something about red eyes."
"Albel Nox has red eyes," Clair said coldly, loud enough for Nel to hear.
Nel ignored her. She was kneeling next to the first corpse with her eyes closed. It was obvious that whoever had done this was powerful, but moreover, they were incredibly accurate. The first corpse had been dispatched with a single slash from shoulder to hip. The second corpse had a black hole in his chest where the better part of his organs should have been and the final corpse was missing a head.
"This was done in the space of a few seconds," Nel said carefully as she stood up and put her hands on her hips. "The killer was alone and used two swords that were longer than Albel's. In addition they were capable of using a highly focused flame in a fraction of a second."
"You could tell all of that just by looking at the bodies?" Tynave asked, startled.
"That, and the tree back there," Nel said, jabbing her thumb at the single tree on the street. "He jumped across the street between the three men and attacked them in midair. These three probably never even saw him."
"So you've confirmed it was a man, then?" Clair said quietly. Nel had realized more about the murderer than the entire shield legion put together, but none of it was definitive. And they were still missing a suspect.
"Not necessarily. An exceptionally strong woman could have done it as well, though a man is far more likely," Nel said, turning to Clair. "What did your agent say?"
"Nothing, really. All we have is that the killer has red eyes," Clair answered, shaking her head. "He must have been terrifying."
"Red eyes, huh?" Nel said absentmindedly as she looked up at the sky. She and Clair had come straight here from the Zelpher estate after Nel had changed back into her normal clothes. She'd only taken her swords along because Clair insisted that she would need them.
"It's a rare coloration," Clair said calmly. "There can't be more than a handful of people on the continent that have eyes that color."
"It's late. I'll tell you what I think in the morning," Nel said quietly, turning away. "I'll meet you in the main square tomorrow morning."
"Fine," Clair said turning to Nel. "But be careful on your way home."
"Whatever," Nel said, shaking her head.
"You're pushing it, kid," he said, cracking his knuckles. "Nobody insults Ryga and gets off. Get out before I throw you out."
The young man calmly picked up his tea, took a long sip, and put it back on the table. Ryga's usual intimidation wasn't working; whoever this scrawny guy was, he was either stupid or deaf.
"Hey! You listening to me?" Ryga yelled, slamming his fist down on the table. If this little pipsqueak thought he could just walk in, sit at his table and get away with it, he was in for some serious pain!
"You're starting to get on my nerves," the cloaked man said coolly, snatching his tea off the table so Ryga wouldn't knock it over, "worm."
"What'd you call me? I'll crush you!" Ryga pulled back for a punch and his two cronies went for their daggers. The east side bar was their territory; this guy would make a nice example to the other east side gangs.
"Have it your way," the cloaked man said as he stood up and put a hand on the sword leaning against his chair. "Overconfident maggots like you deserve it."
Nel and Clair walked down the street, one of them on edge, the other at ease. Clair could never be calm around so many potential thieves and bandits, but Nel had no problem with them; she'd traveled with Albel the Wicked, after all. Clair understood the idea of searching the east side for someone with red eyes since Peterny was in between all of the murder sites, but why they were doing it in person escaped her.
Clair was so busy watching her back that she was hardly aware of what was going on in front of them until they were practically to the tavern.
"Well, that isn't something you see every day," Nel said casually as she stopped next to the bar. Loud yelps were coming from inside the tavern, along with the occasional piece of furniture.
"What's going on?" Clair asked, staring at the tavern. It was shaking violently from the fight.
"Looks like one of Cliff's fights, actually. But judging by the screaming and general mayhem inside, it has to be someone more frightening," Nel answered, smiling slightly. Cliff's last fight in this tavern had taken care of most of Peterny's thugs.
"Why are we here, anyway? You told me we were going to find a suspect," Clair asked, shuddering slightly at the sound of breaking bottles coming from inside the tavern. It was such a senseless waste! And she knew her legion would get stuck handling the clean up, too.
Nel didn't have enough time to answer; a large man came soaring out the tavern window and landed in a painful heap against the opposite building.
"Look, the worm survived," Albel said, smirking psychotically as he stepped to the window, dragging another man by the neck with his artificial hand. "Why don't you go join him?"
Nel watched dully as the man soared across the street and landed in a similar position to the first. Both men looked alive, which was surprising considering who they were just fighting. Nel stifled a yawn.
Clair was stunned for a moment, but only a moment. Anger overpowered every other emotion and before she or Nel realized it, she was heading for Albel like an attack dog.
"What do you think you're doing? This is Aquaria and we'll handle our own problems, thank you very much!" Clair said angrily. She was less than an inch from Albel when she got to him. He shot back a good five feet into a defensive crouch after one look at her. He looked more intimidated by Clair than any monster he'd ever faced.
"Calm down," Nel said as she placed a hand on Clair's shoulder. "I'm sure Albel was only fighting some thugs."
"Worms," Albel corrected her, straitening up back to his usual superior self.
"Right. Anyway, Clair here wants to arrest you for killing some people in Aquaria," Nel said quietly, looking at Albel mischievously.
"What? I said he was the main suspect, but we can't arrest someone on a hunch!" Clair said, stupefied. She stared at Nel like she'd gone insane.
"I said wants," Nel said, smiling.
"The infamous killer, eh? I read my agent's report before I came," Albel said coolly, smirking. "I'm here to see if this killer is as strong as everyone says."
"Really? I guess the tournament on Greeton wasn't enough of a challenge, then?" Nel said quietly, cocking her head to one side. "I heard you nearly lost a fight."
"Humph, I admit some of those Greeton weaklings had some interesting attacks, but none of them came close to beating me," Albel said, resting his sword on his shoulder. "Those cowards all used underhanded tricks. Not one of them was willing to directly attack me."
"Well, not many people are stupid enough to attack you directly," Nel said, folding her arms. "And I seriously doubt our killer is the type to fight head on."
"Huh, I don't care what type of fighter he is. I'll force him to fight me head on and crush him!" Albel said, making a fist to emphasize his point.
"How much did your agent tell you, again? I suppose they didn't hear my evaluation of the killer's abilities," Nel said, shaking her head. "That's pretty poor espionage."
"Hey…" Albel started, but Nel cut him off.
"No. I came and found you last night on your way into town. I knew you'd come eventually; you wouldn't dream of letting a swordsman as good as you run around unchallenged," Nel said, leveling a finger at Albel. "You didn't even check the murder sites, and you're already making assumptions about the target. How do you know this enemy can't simply outrun you?"
Albel grimaced and folded his arms. He really hated having to take this from an Aquarian, least of all Nel. She had half the battle experience he did and half the battle finesse. He had to give her credit for speed and cunning, and natural skill, but aside from that she was, when you got down to it, just a spy. Then again, he wasn't complaining about the lecture like he usually would, so perhaps she meant something more to him after all? Albel shoved that thought aside and labeled it "stupid."
"Something wrong?" Nel asked, setting her head to one side. "Or did you have something to say?"
"Albel, are you interested in helping us solve this case?" Clair asked bluntly, cutting Albel and Nel short. "Or are you just here to cause trouble?"
"Sure, why not? I'll help you two get rid of your killer. I came here to have some fun, after all," Albel said, smirking.
"What?" Nel asked, rounding on Clair. "He can't work with us!"
"Why? You worked with him to get rid of the Vendeeni, right?" Clair asked, turning to her friend. Albel raised an eyebrow and took a good look at Nel. Her hair was considerably longer and she seemed to have lost her cool-headed facade. The Nel that had helped bring down Crossel certainly hadn't been so emotional.
"I…just don't want to work with him!" Nel half yelled, backing up. "I can't believe you're encouraging this! I thought you'd try to get rid of him!"
"Nel, I…" Clair started, but, not unlike a child, Nel turned and ran.
"What's wrong with her?" Albel asked, visibly concerned. He stowed his emotions away before Clair could see them clearly. It wouldn't do to have anyone think he was soft.
"I'm not sure, but it might be…about her mother," Clair said, looking away. "She died from wounds in a battle with…"
Albel froze. He knew what Clair wanted to say all too well. His father had blindly followed the former King's orders with no qualms. He'd killed far more members of the Secret Legion than even Albel. If Nel's mother had been among them, then it made perfect sense for Nel to have a grudge against him.
"Forget it. I never asked," Albel said, softly, as he turned away. "I'll search for the killer on my own, if that's alright with you."
"Yes, that's fine," Clair said, watching the strange swordsman make his way down the street. There was a slight darkness that clung to him. It was the sign of old, painful memories stirring to the surface again, and Clair was sorry for both him, and Nel.
Author's Note: That's Chapter three for all ya'll that have been so patient. I know it took me about…whooh, over a month, to update, so please forgive me. I went on a manga binge and lost all touch with reality, but I'm back now! Don't worry; the next chapter will explain why Nel is acting so weird!
Character Talk
Nel: Stop doing this to me!
Me: What?
Nel: Am I an idiot? Did I go insane?
Me:...I'm not at liberty to disclose that information.
Albel: I have a serious problem with this story; You see, those thugs should have died…
Clair: Just what I expected from you! It's nothing but violence with you Airyglyph jerks!
Albel: What?
Nel: Clair?
Calir: Ah, um…
Me: MWAHAHAHA!
Nel, Albel, and Clair: Get him!
Monthly Questionnaire:
What do you say when you wake up in the morning?
A. Good morning, world!
b. (sniff for coffee)
c. The World is made of…Love and Peace!
d. Who would've thought I'd wake up here?
e. (mini-gun firing)