Chrono Cross Second Journey
Fan Novelization
Book 3
3 Forging Companionship
Here she was once more, between one world and the next. Here she was as a lone soul imprisoned within a space of black whose ends seemed neither too far to reach, nor too near to touch. All around it seemed like a lifeless dream set in darkness, a dream doubtful to the senses and not at all real. Yet, it must exist, for in her clarity of mind the awareness of her presence here suggested so. For as long as she had lived, this was but a shapeless world that could not be outlined by boundaries and anything tangible, for it had within none of them; a changeless world hopelessly stranded across the vast, hollow rifts of time, and long were forgotten and forsaken.
Before her eyes even saw the first of lights, before her feet even walked on solid footing, it had been in this dark, lifeless void where she woke. Here she could find all of nothing, and none of the day, of the trees, of the winds, cold or warmth, but the solitude within an indefinite space. The magical colors of the world that defined her and the memories of her life would find no room for existence here. It had not been her strength in the knowledge of time, but it had been made known to her that here, those with the heart would look beyond the black walls and recall the memories of old, and the foresights of the coming. With a heart as heavy as hers, she saw only the world of the blind. And even it had been years since her first awareness, Harle had never gotten accustomed to such a place and she had never gotten comfortable.
The Void of Light, she now called it, as appropriately as she could ironically. A void not filled of light, but plainly devoid of it. What reason it had been for such a name, she had long forgotten. But as with everything anonymous she had stumbled upon, it had been a meaningful pastime for her to give it a name. There could be no easier way to cast aside the feeling of awfulness crawling behind her mind than injection of irony and humor.
"Things are as we have planned," said a voice that spoke to her.
"It does seem so, doesn't it?" replied Harle, standing on her toes. "It is a risk we took, but the Sacrament was necessary. I suppose he has now discovered the truth?"
"Like her, he was once clueless. For Prometheus has guarded its secrets well. But too late it is now for him to know. It was of his own choice that he has given his strength away. Retribution can now be swift, and evil subdued. I see that the end is near. What do you read of the moons?"
"That... the end is near?" said Harle as a matter of fact. "I thought that it is obvious enough without the moons. Are you now so corrupted beyond reasoning you can't tell? Shall I do as we have agreed and kill us all and end this right now?"
"We are still of sound mind, but you seem otherwise. What is it exactly?"
"What is what?" she snapped.
"I sense that you do not want this to end. Rather you would let rain of fires descend upon our planet and thereafter cloud our world in darkness?"
Harle raised her brows in doubt. "I would rather not, silly! But why do you all care, I wonder? All that you care about is a way out of that shell and when you would return home. And... cut the ancient talk."
"Our partial mind has not robbed us of our reasoning," the voice explained. "For as long as we have the last bits of consciousness to resist, we shall. The Planet belongs to us, wherever it is. And--"
"And in time to come, you will eradicate the Planet of its evil living within. It's been fourteen years. Tell me something new?"
"We will also eradicate the mutants living on it."
"Your choice of words still annoys me."
"We speak as precisely as we require. However, if you insist we could call also them vile offspring. That is as fitting a name as any other."
Harle gaped. A certain hurt pricked her heart. "Thank you for your understanding every time!" she protested.
"And every time we remind you of your roots, of where you came from."
"And every time you remind me why I look exactly like them--a mutant bastard."
"Your sarcasm is uncalled for. Have you been around him too long and grown so unnecessarily attached to evil? Forever we have been warning you against it, and today we discover you have heeded nothing. Perhaps you have found us too accommodating and now need a little motivation to guide your decision?"
Harle drew a breath and regarded the threat lightly. "You still need me. Take heart in knowing that my decision will never change."
"For your sake, I hope so."
x
x
x
Harle woke up in Serge's room on his bed, on which he had insisted she slept last evening. The bed was pleasant, and was by any comparison superior to any other she had spent a night of slumber on. The soft pillow was to her a harbor for her mind, a rest in between the long voyages it still must travel. The soft sheets of the bed, along with the cool of weather in this world, were as the gentle embrace of the waves wrapped around this little child within. And in the still night of Arni, the sounds from the ocean were soft chants of lullabies that ferried her to lands of dreams. Undoubtedly, it being his bed mattered.
Weakened and reluctant to wake, she decided to curl up on her side, cuddle closely to her chest his soft pillow and relish the precious moment that slowly was flowing by. There, lying down, she watched Serge peacefully sleep on the floor over an old mattress. She noticed how his feline brows did not furrow during his sleep, how his cheeks were not always tensed. She noticed that even in his posture he was not nearly as stiff as the real Lynx was. It was clear to her that Serge was inside at peace with himself, whilst the world around him remained stormy and unpredictable. It was such calmness he exuded that made her enjoy watching him and wonder what it would feel like to be in his shoes. Of such elevated state of the mind she was envious, for she knew that never in her life she would attain it.
At length, without much effort she got up from his bed, reached for Serge's blanket on the floor and carefully pulled it over him. He fidgeted but did not yet wake. Still, no moment's worth of hesitation would come between his forehead and her lips to it. And thus she did, gently, lay her lips on it for as long as she would like. When her lids closed upon themselves, she found herself drawn behind a curtain and living a world of dreams. Sweet as the scent of the morning rose, or the taste of warm honey they were, but in them she understood the bitter reality that fortune as such would fall upon anyone, anyone else but her.
Ever since she grew of age, all she had known and had learnt of was Serge's name and the webs of the world woven around it. She had not seen him since ten years after his death in the other world, yet all that she had done in that world was for him. Such had been her purpose and till today it remained so.
When she opened her eyes and plucked her lips from his forehead, she saw that Serge had woken. She smiled when their eyes met, when in that moment she felt a slight rush of fire up her neck. But sooner than she would feel ashamed for stealing the kiss without consent, Serge's gaze began to flit about nervously. He did not try to retreat or struggle. But she would not wish to further embarrass him, so she stood, spread her arms and greeted him with her best of smiles.
"Good afternoon, Monsieur Lynx!"
He sat up and made a clear effort to avoid her gaze. "G-Good afternoon," he said softly.
"Lunch?" she said delightfully.
"Sure."
And so Harle left Serge in his room to ready himself, while she joined Marge in the kitchen.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Marge," greeted Harle.
"Oh! Good afternoon. You're just in time."
"Ooh! For another great feast! Already I can smell it from Serge's room."
"Nothing spectacular, really. But I would be happy to know that you enjoy it."
"I'm sure I will! And all the hospitality you've shown. I cannot be more grateful."
Here, Marge was about to lay the last dish on the table, when she stopped and looked at Harle in the eye.
"Harle, I don't know where you come from." Her tone had changed. "And I don't know what you've done to make Serge stake his trust in you. However much I desire to find out, I don't suppose you mean to tell me if I asked. Either way, it seems to me that Serge needs you by his side. Can I be assured of his well-being and that he will return safe?"
And in reply, Harle said, "I live for him. Even if I don't return home, I'll make sure he will."
A smile came to Marge's lips, and she laid the final dish of delicious-smelling boiled potatoes on the table top.
The two ladies then sat at the dining table and upon initiation from Harle they both began an uneasy conversation about the food and their preparations. So this was Mrs. Marge, she thought as the dialogue went on and on, until one topic led to another and then to more. From the latest gossips at home and in Termina, to the current affairs far beyond the borders of El Nido they talked. Accompanied by the laughter of the village children, the mood to Harle could not have been merrier. Slowly the troubled tension between them both began to settle, though the wariness and caution, Harle could tell, still ran cold and chillingly in Marge's veins beneath her skin.
When Serge at last joined them, Marge urged the diners to begin feasting. Harle did as she was told and into the potatoes, stewed meat, omelets, beans and corns she dug. Like the dinner of last evening, lunch was a delight with each bite an experience unmarred even by the simple ambience of Arni. Though she knew little of the art of cooking, the effort poured into the tantalizing tastes and tender bites was apparent, and the result, a clear indication of that from a masterful chef. Then again, that being Mrs. Marge mattered.
Lunch was over too soon for Harle. All things must come to an end, and the good ones in particular ended with a bittersweet after-taste, and set her mind desiring for more. In deliberate steps, she walked towards the door as she walked out of a feast. As much as possible she soaked herself in the tenderness filled up within its walls, and relished the fragrant of wood of the modest house like sweet dessert after the feast. But that too came to an end and at the doorstep she must now wipe as custom and courtesy her lips of the senses, and etch only in the canvases of her memory some taste of her experience.
"Thank you, Mrs. Serge!" she said earnestly to Marge, who saw them out.
"You have thanked me enough, Harle."
Tears came to Harle's eyes, though she permitted none to see them.
x
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x
Radius spent the morning at the pier of Arni, staring far into the horizon but behind his eyes there strayed the thoughts of yesteryears and mixed emotions. Long had he rendered his services to the Dragoons, and ever to them he was loyal. When he retired from the Dragoons four years ago, he left with an empty husk, for his soul he had devoted to the army, and took none when he left. Yet he would have chosen to die with them, if his past had not been so dark and treacherous.
Three years before, the Dragoons had emptied its headquarters for an undisclosed expedition. Few had seen the ships that took them away, and fewer was the word of farewell was whispered even to kin and kith at home. A week later, the disappearance had become knowledge. When two long weeks had passed, knowledge became omen. Wait was such torment until one by one, the people surrendered to the fact that their rulers were never to return. Families were devastated and smiles crumbled. A throne was left untaken, and a manor cold in the blue of nights. Void of rule and governance, the mourning town stirred with unease. And wind soon bore to the ears of the people ill rumor of a power in the East that would set foot on their shore. More weeks passed. Rumor grew in strength and word from abroad had brought tales of hardship and terror.
"We shall crush the invaders. For this is our land, and none shall steal it!" sang the leaders who crowned themselves above all. Mobs formed and in name they claimed to defend the people, but in reality, they sought power of them. No great army was formed but fragmented factions that began to threaten to tear apart social order.
At last, the army of the East, Porre, who fifteen years ago crushed the Guardia Kingdom, then sailed into the seas of El Nido and seized its lands unchallenged. The frail mobs were efficiently weeded and mercilessly executed before the eyes of the people. The Blue Army put in place tough regimental laws, and each came encased in the silver bullet. Authorities granted soldiers the power of judgment, and in the pull of a trigger could sentence one to death. Voices against the army were considered treason and earned easily a rifle to the head, and in so doing the Blue Army forced the people in submission. Then, greed drove the rulers to implement heavy taxes so that they earned into their hands what the people worked hard for. Black days veiled the white town when famine hit and beggars roamed. And ever its people waited for such a day of liberation.
Thus, grew in the hearts of the people the intent to revolt and in secret the strong mustered a band of resistance. And a plan was so hatched to overthrow the rule of their dictators. It came at last some half a year into occupation on a dark night of the new moon. In one great coordinated effort, the resistance seized major posts of the Blue Army in Termina, and used their own pyrotechnics against them. Rifles cracked in the silent of night and fires raged in the streets. A stolen bomb took down the Viper Manor in which Porre resided, and its collapse killed the general and much of his aides. Just two days the siege went and only at night did the fights become intense. The tides favored the resistance and surprise was their strength. But victory was won at a hefty price: the lives of their leaders and the blood of innocents and otherwise.
The town emerged on the third day burnt and torn. Yet word had somehow left the borders of El Nido and reached the mainland. Porre it seemed was bent on sending another host to ensue its rule. But battered and too tired the people were to fight. The twentieth day following the insurgence saw the arrival of a fleet of ships from the East and the Blue Army again marched into the broken town. At its helm a young gentleman took the lead and these first words he said to the people, "I did not come to mend you hearts. But I can mend wrong to right."
This commander saw indeed that order was restored and the town rebuilt. He judged and punished fairly, even if many saw punishments emerging signs of dictatorship, and so triggered memories of the dark days. He returned to people their jobs and paid justly for their effort. But for all that he had done, the manor he left untouched and chose instead to command from its dungeons. A year into his guidance, or so he would call, the people lived reasonably, but warily. Still currents beneath the surface stirred. For the Blue Army had carved on the lives of the people an indelible scar and never a wound as such would heal.
Today Radius would meet the commander of the Blur Army, and already in the fields of his mind he saw their encounter and which direction it would head from there. He knew also that this would stir at the bottom of the teacup and many memories settled within would once again surface. So with a heart sincere he prayed to the sea that he would not crumble, and a cool wind came then blowing into his face from over the ocean blue.
x
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x
Radius led the companions of three out of the village of Arni and followed the trail towards Cape Howl. A gentle wind drifted from the east and against the cape it broke; the remaining breeze of it rolled over the land and set flora gently swaying in its wake. Overhead a flock of gulls soared, and took with them into the skies an ode to the morning sun. But it now shied behind great blooming clouds and only through a rift of them it glowed. And soon it faltered behind wisps spread across the skies. The grass that straddled the trail soon dwindled and when the path opened, they turned north towards Fossil Valley.
At length, they came to the great crack, a steep ravine that divided the mount of volcanic rocks. Bounded by the dull gray on either side, the path through the Valley brought the travelers through gloom and darkness. Here and there from fissures in the ground rose hot steam and so shrouded the valley thin with mist. The air was moist and stifling, as would a day baking in heat. Above them the day peeked through the narrow peak, and behind the mist looked like lightning that split asunder a stormy sky. Yet, as they approached the exit the blue skies opened as would when night turns into day.
Brown sand laid before them a path between the greens, long and rich. Not a mile later, sand gave way to stones and over them tired feet trod. The sun peaked but still the clouds persisted. And the breezes had died, so that the land now felt warm. They walked up a slope and where it crested the land fell away hastily, and they now saw a wide plain against the white shores. A cluster of dark rainforest trees had amassed in the west, and there stood the Shadow Forest. Near the forest a ruin of Viper Manor lay crumbled. To their east lay sprawled by the coast a white town and its magnificent harbors, where now a huge ship sat docked. From all around came in light shudders of unrest, and the three companions were silent until a stone's throw away they were from Termina.
Here and now, on the week of Viper's Festival, no music played and no flowers adorned the white walls. Only the stench of rifle oil reeked and a solemn mood that greeted the three companions as they approached the gates. Above the gates, the flag of Porre danced gracefully, upon which Radius looked in disdain. Two guards dressed in blue stood restlessly at each end of the gate and both cast a glance at Serge when he neared. Doubt shrouded their eyes and hesitantly, they stiffened and saluted Serge.
"S-Sir Lynx!" they stammered.
Serge did not return the salute until he received a nudge from Harle.
"G-Good afternoon!" said Serge. "You may stand at ease."
The guards lowered their salute slowly and then shifted uneasily.
"I can't believe you are back in Termina!" said one of them suddenly. He tried to put on a smile, "I-It has been three years since you left, has it not?"
"Three years," Serge cleared it throat. "We've been gone that long? It seems like only a week. But much has changed since then. And it seems to me Porre has given Termina facelifts in more ways than one. I do not suppose the people are pleased."
"Never have I seen the likes of my commander in the mainland, who treats his people equal as he is. Alas, they are never pleased! And they probably won't be too happy to learn that you have returned. For from their lips I was told that it was you who led the dragoons out on the ill-fated expedition."
Radius raised a brow in expectation, and he hoped more than a drop of information would come from this soldier.
"Lynx led them? What else do you know?" Radius asked.
The soldier went pale and his eyes went flitting back and forth Lynx and Radius. "T-That much I hear from my s-superior and the townsfolk, Sir, Sir! Know nothing more than I need to know. And rumors they must be, like all others!"
"Loosen up," said Serge. "What rumors are you talking about?"
"Rumors? About many things, Sir, most are baseless anyway. You have rumors of you having died and never would again return; an uprising from Guldove; boats getting stolen; the Zelbess cruise ship launching an attack and Sir Dario coming back from the dead--"
"Dario?" said Radius. "Coming back from the dead?"
"As much rumors as they are, like that of Sir Lynx's death. The situation is tense from ground to top, you see. Says Dario did not leave with the dragoons on the expedition. Says he died on the Isle of the Damned, but no body ever was found. Says when he wakes he will summon forth an army to quash our presence. Says many things ill to our spirits, and so in hope smother our will to fight," and then with an angry tone he hissed, "Something like the resistance will do."
"The resistance?" asked Serge. "Has it not been subdued?"
"You reckon?"
Then, from the gates then came walking out a merchant and an assistant, and with much strength they pushed their cart of wares. When their gazes fell on Serge, up came a finger, as if words from Serge were wind that fanned the flames and fire was now ablaze. The merchant came up to Serge and crudely he swore, "Lynx! How dare you have the nerves to return to this town! Get out of here!"
The soldiers loaded their rifles and pointed their tips at the merchant. Serge pressed the weapons down whilst the soldiers struggled to exercise their right to judge.
"Show a little restrain, please," said Serge, as he raised his hand as his order to cease. "This man means no harm."
"But Sir!" the soldier protested.
The merchant remained ungrateful and his eyes piercing. He growled, "I fear not you or your toys. Shoot me for all I care, but you'll never earn my respect, not when you and your devilry drove the general out of the manor."
"I drove them out?" said Serge.
A great flame leapt from the merchant's eyes, and the afternoon sun seemed suddenly too hot to be under. A rude bellow thundered from the tense merchant and his arm flew up, but was quickly held back by his assistant, who whispered seriously into his ear. Following a while of struggles, his temper was quelled. Then, with a finger pointing, the merchant spat into Serge's face.
"You'll be damned, Lynx," he said. "Mark my words."
The merchant hauled his assistant away and left reluctantly. Whilst he dragged his cart on the southern road towards Arni, he cursed again and again, until the toil up the slope silenced him. When, at last, the merchant vanished from sight, Radius spoke.
"Looks like you're an unwanted guest here as well," said Radius, stroking his beard.
"To think these very people once bowed their heads before you," added Harle. "Now they are as anxious to lay blame."
"Pardon my insolence, Sir," said the guard and then he summarized, "but letting him off the hook is just as well as putting your life on the table, if you know what I mean."
"I understand," said Serge. "But I came here seeking your commander, not trouble. Would you tell me where he is?"
"I most certainly will, Sir Lynx. You can find him at the Manor where he now commands, in the prisons, where all still is intact. And it seems like those rumors about you are false, too. You are not so terrible a person to engage in a chat with, I reckon."
And so the three companions left the gates of Termina and turned west towards the Manor. Under the warm afternoon sun they walked on a familiar stone road wide first built a century ago by men of skilled trade. In times of peace, Radius had once supervised the repair work on this road. For barrows and carts and weather that battered them for over half a century crushed their stonework.
This road brought them across a field of green of leaves and shrubs and the occasional tree. And the road brought them elevated upon a low mount. To their south the Fossil Valley spanned the island until into a range it swelled, so that it encircled the crater that hugged Fort Dragonia. In the clouds its tower hung, wherein lie the ritual chamber.
They came soon to Viper Manor, and there stood a ruin crumbled of walls and of pride, so that in Radius heart came a throbbing ache. He laid his gaze upon the ruin home once to him, home now to moss and green fern. He stopped and tears of memories long held back now welled up in his eyes, and from where came a flicker of light. Harle, however, quickly became restless and about she went hopping, so that Radius became upset and his brows furrowed with displeasure. He cleared his throat noisily. But he drew deep breaths and not a moment later, with a low, calm voice, he spoke.
"Time sure does fly! And it's been four long years now since I retired from the Dragoons. I was shocked to hear of Dario's death three years ago. And now, the general and the others are missing, and the manor in shambles. I've always wondered if I would suffer a fate the same as the General's, had I chosen not to leave.
"I took the liberty of conducting my own investigation. But out of it I have yielded nothing. All I know is that Lynx approached the general and has involved him in the expedition."
Radius regarded Harle suspiciously.
"I know nothing!" said Harle. "I was not involved with the plan. I do not find it amusing!"
And to that, Radius grunted. "I'm sure he would know something."
A soldier of the Blue Army stood at attention near a battered well until on them he set his eyes. As he approached he raised his hand to his head in salute and with much respect he greeted, "Good afternoon, Sir! Our commander is not expecting any visitors this afternoon, if you are here for him."
"No," said Serge. "But we seek his counsel on matters of grave importance. Send to him word that Lynx is here."
For some reason, that lightened Radius's mind, and under the despair of painful memories he managed a contained smile. He would not expect to hear the use of the words "seek his counsel," not from the real Lynx in earnest at least.
"L-Lynx? Y-Yes, Sir! You can reach him from that well. N-Not exactly a pleasant welcome and I'd have to trouble you to climb the rope, but... Let me first inform him of your presence. Y-You may follow after me!"
Color had fled and left behind cheeks pale as the skies on a day of rain. Like many others, his eyes could not bear even a glimpse at Serge's, and they too flew like deer from leopard. Then, he scuttled to the well and hastily down the rope he slid.
"Who should I take pity on?" Radius mused. "Those who live here, or those who did? Or those who ask such a question?" There was no reply he would wait and before Serge and Harle he went forward. And there came resonating from Radius' footsteps a sense of troubled frustration.
x
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x
Gone are the days when the words spoken through the lips of a man are golden. Today the words of a man will weigh no more than a quill, with which a signature must be forged before a promise sealed. And by this seal of affirmation honor was cast on paper yet cast as hard as solid stone. But as he counted the tall stacks of paper placed before him, he wondered how many of them were as worthless as gravel of a crumbling tomb, how many more were seals of their own fates. Certainly such institution favored those who were keen to seek cover from responsibility. And it was of no coincidence or irony that the top brass in the military talked more than they did write, and made others write more than they should talk. Yet here he was, he acknowledged grimly, shouldering the weight and the paperwork of the overpaid, bloated superiors above him.
These were the recurring laments of a tired man who sat perched on his wooden chair, buried deep in mind in the piles of paperwork scattered across his desk. Near the edge of the desk a steady oil lamp sat and upon the walls of red brick it cast a glow as hot as it was irritable. The lamp was about to fall over when the man reached out and set it where it would be safe. Drawn away from the mundane his work, he gazed into the flame and from it lit the glitters of gold in his gentle eyes of brown. As a reward to his diligence for the first half of the day, he allowed himself a lazy diversion and then, he was quickly lost deep in thought. As he stared into the flame, his mind drifted on the musings of much: most of all, how much longer it would be before he was deemed unnecessary. When it seemed to him that his eyes began to ache from the brilliance of the flame, he rubbed his eyes and returned his attention to work.
Not a moment later his subordinate came knocking on the door and then entered.
"Commander Norris!" he said without his salute. "S-Sir Lynx!"
"Sir Lynx?" said Norris, commander of the Porre regime in El Nido. "What about him?"
"He's alive! He's back!"
"Calm down, soldier. You said he lives? Where's he?"
As the anxious soldier pointed to the dungeon passageway, three figures appeared from the dimness and into his room they walked. One of them he had not before seen: a young lady of queer and colorful wear, so that she seemed to his eyes a performer from some strange land. And one other man Norris knew; for he was slim in frame and but staunch in stature.
"If it is not Sir Radius," Norris stood and said respectfully. "Long have I held you in honor. But little did I expect your sudden return to the manor."
The build of Lynx Norris could not forget since Norris first saw him parade along the golden city halls of Porre. His eyes were then deep as night and cold as glass and held fast in them a boding of death and destruction. In his speeches to rally the populace he had seemed to summon the elements and weather to his bidding. But his power lied in his uncanny ability to mesmerize the people, as if beyond their free choice he could control their minds and speak into them his own will. Norris remembered only a swiveling sensation in his mind, and scarcely could recall the matter of Lynx's speech. But the outcome he was clear: Lynx had held in sway the world under his feet.
"Sir Lynx?" said Norris doubtfully. "You seem different than I last remember."
Radius laughed. "I'm impressed, commander. Even I could tell little of difference between this Lynx and the other. It is said on the mainland that where Porre sets its feet on, the land shall be stained with the blood from its hands. Yet, El Nido has remained as peaceful as it had been before Porre's arrival. Much of that credit must go to you, Sir Norris, and for that you have my greatest respect. Sir Lynx and I, and this little clown here, are on a journey, and we think you have some information that we might need. That is why we have come to you, and we would appreciate if you could be of some assistance. Our situation is a little convoluted and may not warrant that much of an explanation. But if you wish--"
"Apologies for my interruption, Sir Radius, but you must know that I'm terribly busy. I have no wish to offend you lady and gentlemen, but I'm afraid that I can ill afford precious time to be your guide. If there are any questions that you might have, please feel free to approach my second in-charge."
"Our journey brings us to the Frozen Flame."
Silence fell and in his heart Norris began to understand the goal of this visit. An interest for their mission was then aroused, for he had long wished to seek the dreams of Porre and with his very hand end it. Then, he urged his subordinate, "Lester, you may leave us and all that you've heard within these walls."
"Yes Sir!" Lester saluted and left and thereafter closed the door behind him.
"You now have my attention," said Norris to Lynx and Radius.
"Excellent," said Radius. "This man you see here is that of Lynx, but his soul is of another. He is a bright, young boy by the name of Serge who also lives in Arni. Something that has happened between him and Lynx that made them switch places."
"That is... quite strange if I may say so."
"Stranger if you hear that this Lynx is from a totally different world, yet similar to this world. Parallel uni-something."
"A parallel universe? A world that is similar but is another existence altogether?"
Serge appeared puzzled.
"Have you been to the other world?" Serge quizzed.
"Well, no, pardon me. But I have read theories and ideas that many worlds exist all at once. Thoughts conjured by the most intelligent people on the planet. And now you're telling me that your body comes from this other world, which I presume you have already visited and experienced?"
"Yes," Serge. "And this Lynx in the other world is after the Frozen Flame and he seems certain enough of its location."
"Which is?" asked Norris.
"Well, he says it lies asleep--" Serge
"I think we've shared enough of our story, Sir Norris. What of yours?" Radius said reservedly.
"Sir Radius, having served the dragoons, I am certain that you would understand it is no trivial matter for me to reveal information that belongs to the military. I function as a soldier and there are rules that I must follow. Tell me why I should place my trust in you, and if it is reason enough, you shall have it."
Radius looked to Serge and for a while he pondered and scratched his head. And when something seemed to have occurred to him, he reached hastily for his pocket and removed from it a pouch of soft velvet.
"This belongs to a close friend of mine," said Serge, "who also comes from the other world. It is with this that I can cross the borders of both worlds from one to the other. She calls it an Astral Amulet. It may feel a little warm and it will always be, day or night."
"May I have a look at its contents?"
Serge nodded and handed over the Astral Amulet.
"It feels strangely warm. It may not be a technical impossibility to build such a device. Only the military I believe now possesses the capability to create something like that. But even with the technology of our military, the idea of building something of a size this small seems a little stretched. What leaves me baffled is not the amulet, but the design of the crest on the pouch. It is of an ancient origin. I do not suppose you are aware of it?"
Serge raised both brows and regarded Norris with a puzzled look.
"The history of our kind has always fascinated me," explained Norris. "I have come across materials and I understand that this crest has been said to be the crest of a legendary kingdom Zeal, known to have existed some twelve thousand years ago. While its existence has been dispelled as a myth on the mainland, the old sea of many secrets has once or twice revealed to us a little from our past. And from the sea, this design of this crest has drifted its way into the hands of Porre's researchers."
"I've heard of Zeal from this same friend of mine," said Serge. "She said that Zeal was once a mighty kingdom that built its civilization in the air during the Ice Ages some twelve thousand years ago, by tapping into a source of power that came from this creature known as Lavos. A great misfortune befell, however, and the entire civilization of man was thrown back to earth."
Norris walked to shelf behind him. He drummed his fingers across a row of books until he found a research compilation given to him by a fellow colleague in the military.
"Here it says," and he pointed as he took the book and placed in open on his desk, "'The ancient kingdom of Zeal is believed to have at least designed a floating citadel, if it has not realized it in its entirety. It is not clear by what means they had intended to achieve such impossibility, or if they had achieved it at all. But there has been some evidence suggesting that Zeal was governed by a different race of men gifted with the prowess of magic, and perhaps even of flight. They call themselves (roughly translated into Common), "Those who have seen." It is believed that they harnessed such powers in their attempts to realize their dreams of living in the heavens.'"--Norris flipped to another page--"Here it is, the crest of Zeal."
"It's chillingly similar," said Radius. "But are you suggesting something? Can this not have been copied from the book?"
"It might be, but how I do not know. I haven't seen many of such designs on the streets. And this book is a highly classified publication of the Porre military. Only through connections with the research divisions I have managed to obtain it."
"This sounds like another thread to the already convoluted puzzle. And you say Porre is researching a legend? For what?" asked Radius.
"The same reason it is now looking for the Frozen Flame," said Norris factually.
"And what about it can you tell us?" asked Radius.
"It was actually Sir Lynx who approached us about the existence of the Frozen Flame in El Nido. Being from the main continent, we had doubted its very existence, so I was sent to El Nido Archipelago as a spy. I had myself enlisted as a support officer and but in that several months with the dragoons I have discovered little. Eventually, I was called back to Porre. Later, I heard General Viper and his men had disappeared and that the manor had been destroyed as such. I came back to El Nido to investigate. But only recently I understand that there is good evidence the general and his men headed to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea, once called the Sea of Eden, is an ocean located to the east, surrounded by poisonous corals and great mountains. We investigated the area for an entrance, but have thus far found none. And their reason for their entry is still unknown."
"To search for the Frozen Flame, I'm sure," said Serge.
"Is that where Lynx in the other world says it lies asleep?" asked Norris.
"Yes," said Serge. "But in the other world, it still is the Sea of Eden. It has never been known as the Dead Sea. Has Lynx ever spoken of his intentions with the Flame?"
"Lynx spoke of bringing forth a new order in this corrupted world. He envisions a world of perfection, one removed of suffering, removed of conflict. It is you, Sir Lynx, who wished to change this distorted world using the Frozen Flame."
"Ooh-la-la!" sang Harle on her toes. "Such grand dreams, Monsieur Lynx!"
"Hold your tongue!" ordered Radius.
"Zut!"
"And how should I address you, Miss?" Norris asked.
"You can call me Harle!" she introduced herself with a graceful bow.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Harle," and Norris returned the bow.
"Ooh-la-la! The pleasure's all mine!" Harle said with a smile and her arms spread wide.
"So events in this world and the other are beginning to fall into place," said Radius. "Once we uncover Lynx's plans in this world, it should be easy enough to counter them in the other. In the end, it all leads us to the Dead Sea, does it not, Serge? The question is how we can get in."
"I have a request to ask of you," said Norris.
"You would like join us," said Radius, "would you not?"
Norris saw wary in Radius' eyes, as from one who played his cards, and guarded his secrets. For through the corners of them came a glance that stung his pride and honor, virtues of a man he felt in his world today were rare as gold. Steadfast he remained, in the face of remarks from his peers that he knows little of the rules of the world; that the best tell the truth not in whole but twisted and smeared even, so that there now exist shades of gray between black and white. Trust between two had long become a delusion, but sought still by those who remained hopeful. Thus, he believed still that words spoken through the lips are as gold indeed, yet priceless. That which came from his he must mean with no pretense.
"You have had me read well, but read wrongly, sir. To join you in your search is my intention, but to earn filthy credit from it is not."
"Then, what is? Why would you desert your men to join us? Why would you risk treason and the punishment by death? I put the question back to you: tell us why we should place our trust in you and give us a reason good enough to consider," Radius said with a challenging smile.
And thus Norris found himself once again on that side of the river, a hopeful seeking the trust of a strategist who had now turned the cards on him, and sought better for his side of the bargain. But alas, the deal could not be made here and now.
"That reason must not be spoken within these walls. If you will wait, my reason will not disappoint. In the meantime, you will have my boat docked in Termina, my badge of identity and my pistol."
"Serge, do you have any objections?" said Radius.
"No, chief. Welcome aboard, commander. I think you should keep with you your badge and pistol. We will need them sometime."
And Norris was grateful.
"Thank you, Serge! Then, you have my word of honor. We will leave tonight under the cover of darkness."