Chapter 5
"How is she?"
"For goddess's sake Mabs, Gin is no different then when you asked me 30 minutes ago!" Draish snapped at the young Elvaan. Mabs blinked at him offended, then sighed and trudged off.
". . . . you shouldn't have snapped." Ziggeraut said softly. Draish sighed and rubbed the back of his head.
"I know, I know." He grumbled. The two of them sat in a conference room at the Chateau, awaiting reports from the rest of the generals who had been sent to the other cities. Zig smiled.
"You realize what Mabs's protections are going to lead to right?" He asked smirking. Draish shuddered.
"Oh god . . . I honestly hope it never does, else wise we should've just let the Orcs destroy Sandoria. The offspring from those two would drive this country to insanity." He said ruefully. Zig snorted.
"Offspring from what?" A voice sounded form the doorway. Both Elvaans turned to find Scwol. Zig laughed.
"Never mind. How is Miaah?" He asked, giving a sly wink to the Paladin who quickly rubbed the lipstick from his cheek. Draish shared a knowing glance with his Commander and they both smiled as Scwol took a seat.
"Oh, she's good. Took a direct spell shot from a Mesmerizer, but she'll be fine. She exhausted herself during the battle." He said calmly.
"Who didn't?" Zig said dully standing, and walking over to a stand in the corner, grabbing the pitcher he began to pour water into three glasses.
"Sir- I should be doing that!" Both Draish and Scwol said at once getting to their feet. Zig laughed.
"Nonsense, you're both so tired from the battle I'm amazed you can stand. I got to stay on the wall as a ranger. I swear, I told Chster to let me go as a warrior but he wouldn't let me." Zig said irritably. "That second in command of mine . . ."
"He was absolutely right sir." Scwol said standing and assisting Zig with the glasses. Draish still had a sort of limp from the arrow that had skimmed his thigh.
"If you had been on the front-lines, some Orc might have gotten lucky and killed you. Then were would the Adventurers be?" They reached the table and sat down. Zig clenched his hand, his gaze downcast.
"Chster would have been able to take command . . ." He said softly. Then he clenched his eyes shut, his knuckles went white. "So many people died . . . if I had been on the field . . . maybe . . . maybe I could have saved a few more." He whispered. Draish shared a confused glance with Scwol.
"But sir- it was better that way. You were safe, you had a better chance of living, we are the front-line fighters. We will die for y-"
SLAM!
The table wood found itself cracked as Zig slammed his fist onto the surface, and stood up so fast, his chair fell to the floor with a clatter, causing both Scwol and Draish to jump.
"I DIDN'T BECOME AN ADVENTURER TO HIDE! I DIDN'T BECOME WHAT I AM TODAY TO BE SAFE, I BECAME AN ADVENTURER BECAUSE I WANTED TO HELP SAVE LIVES DAMMIT! AND THIS BATTLE-!" He cut off abruptly. Sighing, he grabbed his chair and sat back down. He was silent for a moment, running his hand through his hair, his gaze was filled with sorrow. ". . . this battle I hid like a coward. I was safe on the wall while others died, while my soldiers . . . while they risked their lives I was safe. What kind of commander am I?"
"One that stays alive." A voice interrupted. All three looked up at the door to find Chster. The Hume sighed.
"Look. I told you to stay alive because without you, the Adventurers will fall apart. They will lose hope, then people will try to take your position, and war will break out, our forces will be split. We don't need to fight each other, we need to fight the Beastmen. That is why I told you to take your Ranger job and attack from the wall, that is why we need you to stay safe."
"Try to see it from his point of view Chster. How would you feel if I told you to stay at home while I risked my life to fight?" Vexed asked softly, she stood by the door, not having come into the room, knowing she'd be shooed out in a moment.
"I'd tell you to go put a sock in it and screw off." The Hume said automatically without thinking.
Silence.
"Okay, okay, go away already." Chster grumbled. Vexed grinned broadly.
"Just trying to help my commander." She said playfully with a bow, then she swept out of the room, tail swishing behind her as Chster took a seat.
"Annoying that girl . . ." Zig chuckled.
"You've been upstaged by Vex? Hmm . . . maybe I should think about switching my hierarchy around."
"Not. Funny. Zig." Chster grumbled slouching in his seat.
"If it isn't, why am I laughing?" Draish asked smiling. Scwol was hiding chuckles in his hand.
"You aren't. You're smiling. Scwol is the one who is laughing, and I'm about to whack him upside the head with my sword in two seconds." Scwol finally managed to smother his laughter and looked at Chster with a straight face, as hard as it was.
"Sorry sir." He said, his voice cracked slightly. Chster growled.
"OUT! Get back to your fiancee sir! And you-!" He said glaring at Draish. "Don't you have reports to write!" He demanded.
"Yes sir." Both men said instantly and stood smiling. With a mock bow to Chster, and a salute to Zig, they were out the door. But before the door could even swing close, two more figures walked through and took the suddenly vacated chairs.
"Angel." Zig nodded to the Mithra, then turned. "And Kierra." He nodded to the Hume. They smiled at him.
"Good to see you're both still alive . . . I guess." Chster said dryly. Angel reached across the table and smacked his head.
"What do you mean 'you guess'?" She demanded smiling.
"Well it could be worse." Kierra said dully as he glanced around. "Where's Kiary and Amand?"
"Present and accounted for." Amand broke in as he and the said Mithra walked through the door, Kiary shut it firmly, locked it, then took her seat.
"Why the formalities?" Chster asked as he straightened, usually they never locked the door on conferences.
"Yes. And may I just ask- not that I'm not glad mind you, why aren't you all . . . well . . . fitting into the set of aftermath?" Ziggeraut asked calmly, his hands folded on the table. They all shared looks. It was true, none of them seemed weary, none of them seemed tired, in fact they all looked as if they had been hit with a Cure IV with its power of healing multiplied by ten fold. Specifically, that was impossible. Kiary took in a breath. Slowly, from the beginning, she explained how she had been about to die, when a white light had come from the heavens, and healed her entire being, soul and body alike, then proceeded to cure her entire side.
"It was almost like a massive benediction." She said softly. "Only doubled, tripled, then quadrupled and then increased in size, power and ability by 100 times." Amand stared at the table, his hands clenched into fists.
"That is exactly what happened to me. I swear, it felt like I had just been healed by the goddess herself, if that's what it's supposed to feel like." He said awed. Angel, Kierra and Chster agreed upon this story. Ziggeraut frowned, his eyes narrowed with thought as he brought his enlaced fingers up to his mouth.
"There is something I need to tell you all. Something that happened here in Sandoria last night. And I think . . . I think we really need to be wary of her."
"Her?" Chster quipped.
"Elvaan Chster. Sorry." Zig replied smiling at him. He snapped his fingers smiling.
"Damn."
"How can you think about your Mithra fetish at a time like this?" Kiary grumbled.
"I feel so sorry for Vex." Angel said looking skyward. Chster winked.
"It's all love between us." He said smugly. Kiary glared at him and immediately threw the first thing that came to hand. Fortunately for Chster, her water glass was empty. It went sailing past him as he ducked and headed for a smashing end on the wall. That is, until Kierra casted a gravity spell on it, slowing it down, and making it settle on the floor with a dull thunk. Zig shook his head as Angel frowned, slightly disappointed, it appeared she had wanted the glass to hit him. Kierra simply rolled his eyes. And another argument might have broken out if Zig had not began to talk again.
"Ginryu. That is her name, she has no last. She came to Sandoria roughly 4 years ago by information from the man who now cares for her, Cahaurme. . ."
"-ACHOO!-" Cahaurme sneezed, then rubbed his nose frowning.
"Someone's talking about you." Curilla teased. Cahaurme frowned at her.
"I'm sure." The two of them currently stood outside the Chateau, enjoying some fresh air. Elvaans were out and about, carrying wood, carrying messages, holding building supplies, and were basically making repairs to the damaged parts of the city. Cahaurme and Curilla were discussing possible theories of the light, when a group of children came through the Southern gate.
"I can't believe they won't let us see Gin." Mabs grumbled. Laz nodded his head in agreement.
"It's stupid. Just because of that light . . ." He hissed. Lilli and Bagel sighed in unison, Hal and Opeth, who had recovered at an amazingly accelerated rate, shared a glance. They had made it to the fountain when . . .
"Uh oh . . . run." Lilli whispered.
"Why?" Bagel wanted to know.
"Because Gin's dad just finished his reports and he's coming this way . . . and I don't think that's his happy face."
"Meep." Bagel squeaked.
"Scatter!" Mabs yelped and they all began to run in different directions, that is until-
"Graviga."
"Not again!" Lilli moaned. Draish laughed as he came through the Chateau's front entrance, Scwol behind him. Curilla turned on him.
"Is it really safe to be using black magic on children?" She asked dryly. Draish smirked in reply.
"Depends what kind."
"You are so insolent. How did you ever become an adventurer?"
"I cheated my way in. And you're so stiff, how come they haven't painted a coat of arms on you and turned you into a shield?"
"Why that's obvious, I'm the weapon." Curilla teased.
"Altana save me. Are you two cousins going at it again?"
"Certainly not." Draish replied. "And she's my twice removed cousin."
"Yeah well, what can you do. Our aunt and uncle just can't seem to decide if they love each other or hate each other. Eventually they decided just to stay married so that it would cut out the paperwork."
"Lord knows how they hate paperwork."
"So do you. So do I. That's why we became warriors."
"Tut, tut little cousin of mine. You shame me, you may be a warrior, but I'm a Redmage." Draish said proudly. Curilla laughed. So while those three were chatting away . . .
"I am going to ask this once, and only once." Cahaurme said calmly to the children who were now stuck where they were, running was useless, Cahaurme would catch them all in seconds. The children prepared themselves for the worst, and they weren't disappointed. "WHY IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY AND RIGHT WERE YOU CHILDREN ON THE BATTLEFIELD?" Bagel squeaked and hid behind Lilli, who hid behind Opeth, who put Hal in front, who put Laz in front, who quickly stepped behind, well guess whose left.
Pooooor Mabs.
People around them suddenly came to a stop to watch the argument, and poor Mabs, poor abandoned, defenseless Mabs felt sweat running down his temple as Cahaurme glared at him.
"Eh . . . er . . ."
"We're behind you Mabs!" Hal said nervously.
"Yeah, literally!" Lilli said giggling.
"Gee, thanks guys." Mabs hissed, then looked back at Cahaurme.
"We . . . ah . . . . er . . . . we just . . ." Suddenly an idea dawned his mind. (AN: This is your cue to scream and run away) "We just wanted to fight some Orcs! . . . Sir!" Mabs yelled saluting adding the 'sir' in, in case he thought he wasn't being polite. Cahaurme blinked.
"You just-?" He repeated in disbelief as people all around started giggling or chuckling. "You just wanted to fight some Orcs?" He asked, his eyes narrowing. Mabs gulped.
"Er . . . yes? I mean, yes sir." He laughed nervously. Cahaurme glared.
"Well then, I shall have to tell that to- well speak of the devil." Cahaurme said smiling. Mabs blinked in confusion.
"The devil sir-?"
"MADON!" A female voice suddenly yelled. Mabs winced, turned slowly in fear, then yelped and ran off.
"Good afternoon Tya." Cahaurme said pleasantly as the Elvaan ran by.
"I have my ninja job on with my thief as a sub, and my thief has flee, so don't even THINK about running away mister!" She yelled as she chased after Mabs who high-tailed it out of there. A distant curse sounded in the distance.
"Oh dear. Raging Tya on the loose." Scwol said dimly as he came up.
"I swear, that girl could out run chocobos." Draish muttered as he stopped besides the others.
"Oh my." Curilla said half heartedly as Tya proceeded to chase Mabs around the grounds. Cahaurme followed them easily, like a tennis match almost. Suddenly he blinked.
"I do hope Mabs sees that-"
SLAM!
"Brick wall." Everyone finished dully.
"Draish?"
"Don't look at me I'm all cured out."
"Scwol."
"Hey! I'm a paladin, paladins aren't supposed to heal anyone but themselves!"
". . ."
"EEYIPE! OKAY! QUIT IT WITH THE GODDAMN DEATH GLARE CAHAURME! I'M GOIN I'M GOIN!"
"Hmm . . . on a scientific level . . ." Curilla began as she used her hand to block out the sun as she peered at Mabs. "I'd say he lost roughly 18hp running into the wall."
"He must have hit it pretty hard." Draish commented.
"Well you'd be running pretty fast if you're mother was mad and chasing you too." Lilli said defensively looking up at them.
"Speaking of which . . ." Cahaurme began.
"LILLIANNA YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE YOUNG GIRL!"
"BAGEL!"
"Lazarus, may we have a word with you?"
"Halloween we have a bone to pick with you."
"OPETH WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE AT HOME RESTING!"
The children all looked at each other and sighed, then they looked at Draish pleadingly. Draish raised an eyebrow, then heaved a sigh while rolling his eyes.
"Okay, okay. On my honor as an Elvaan I won't cast Gravity." That was enough for them, off they shot like startled rabbits. Curilla watched as they ran, then held out her glove covered hand.
"5. 4." A finger went down. "3." Then another. "2." Followed by another . . . "1."
"BIND!" Draish yelled.
"ACK! DRAISH!"
"HEY YOU PROMISED!"
"I said I wouldn't cast Gravity . . ." Draish said, with a little bit of melody to his voice. The reply came from all of them at once.
"SAME THING!"
"Faros pick me up!" Faros chuckled and obeyed, kneeling to pick up the tiny child. Settling her onto his shoulders he smiled.
"How is the view from up there?" He asked smiling. Ginryu smiled, her tiny arms wrapped around his forehead.
"Prickly." She replied. Faros furrowed his brows in surprise.
"Prickly?"
"Yes, prickly, why is your hair so poky?" She muttered playing with it a little. Finally getting it the way she wanted she smiled. "Okay, it's better now."
"Is it." Faros said smiling. "Well I'm glad I could be of assistance." He commented chuckling.
"Good lord, Lady Ginryu has grown several inches." A voice said humorously.
"Oh ha, ha Wii." Gin grumbled playfully sticking her tongue out.
"I do believe she has Madam Wii." Edwan said playfully as he observed the two.
"Where is my mother and father?" Faros asked cheerfully.
"Preparing for the festival of course."
"I see. I must speak to them of the decorations the people set up on the ground. They're quite hazardous."
"Are they sire?" Edwan asked blinking.
"Yes, several people to my knowledge have erm . . . well, let us just say had difficulties with them." the prince said hesitantly flushing. Ginryu giggled.
"The big stupid people of Tanair tripped over them." She said bubbly.
"Ginryu!" Faros scolded bringing her off his shoulders so he could look her in the eye. "You must never say that again okay? It is a very bad thing to say."
"But it's true!" She grumbled. Faros sighed.
"Regardless, the truth can sometimes hurt people, and even offend them. It would be best if you did not say such things." He said sternly. "Promise me you won't say things like that again." She did not look at him for a moment, before sighing.
"Okay, okay, I promise." She muttered. Faros smiled and set her down.
"Good girl, come. Why don't we get dressed for the festival?" He asked taking her hand, she smiled and skipped to keep up with him.
"Madam Wii, Edwan, I will see you tonight." Faros said smiling and walked off with her. The two nobles of Necronia's court watched them go, when they were certain the pair was out of eyesight, they turned to look at each other.
"Well?" Edwan asked urgently.
"They have already gathered a substantial army, I don't know how but they have. Now all they need is a reason to attack. Once they do . . . I fear no one, not even innocent civilians will make it out alive. We must secure an emergency escape route. We should try and set it around the family's normal positions in the night, it seems the logical time they would attack."
"Very well, I shall speak it over with Neg." Edwan replied easily.
"And I will discuss my end with Past."
"Done." And the two separated.
"I'm sorry that we can't agree." Tilaphiopa said with a polite bow. The woman snapped her fan shut impudently.
"That's the problem with the royal family, when push comes to shove you'll back down like startled rabbits. Necronia needs someone strong, powerful, and aggressive to take the throne! And you claim that powder-puff of a son is right to take the throne!"
"I am sorry you think of me that way." Faros said calmly, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his other hand was clenched with anger, but his face and voice remained neutral.
"Our point exactly." A man to the left said softly.
"And again, I apologize if we do not meet your specifications." Tilaphiopa said softly, her eyes glittered fiercely with anger. "Please do forgive us Sir Cane, and I hope you accept my apologies Lady Celan."
"You're apologies are not accepted." Celan snapped. A sigh from the right sounded, and a man stood, his chair scraping against the hall, in his hand he carried a glass of wine.
"Allow us to summarize this for you." He said calmly walking over. Smiling charmingly, he took a small breath, then sneered at the royal family.
"Necronia is run by a group of spineless, weak, and cowardly people that would flea like deer before a fire, I would be surprised if such another group existed."
Silence.
"I'm sorry you see it that way Master Cliff." Faros said tight lipped. King Persenion hand signaled for the guards to back down, all of the knights in the courtroom were gripping their sword hilts tightly, their faces ready to kill.
"Oh, I could go on." Cliff said sneering. "You're like chicks in a nest, the people are represented by the parents, they work and slave for the chicks in the nest for days on end until they have no more use for them, then the chicks abandon the parents. But as chicks, when faced with danger, they flee in terror, leaving others to fend off the beast. Weak, cowardly, and treacherous."
"I do beg to differ. Phoenixes are just as deadly when born as they are old. And I can assure you they would never flee in terror, and deer, although they would flee before a fire, they are wise enough to save their young if they have them." King Persenion said calmly. Celan finally lost all her patience.
"WHY WON'T YOU JUST GIVE ME THE THRONE YOU ARROGANT SON OF A BITCH!" She screamed at him.
"Because you're a stupid old dirty hag who doesn't understand anything!" A voice suddenly screamed.
Silence.
Wii and Edwan who stood near the door slapped hands to their faces. Faros glanced in surprise at the speaker. His sister.
"Why you little harlot-!"
"That! Will do." Persenion intervened as he stood. "Ginryu you know better then to speak like that in front of honored guests."
"But they AREN'T honored! Every time they're alone . . . they speak of things like death, and war, and killing!" She protested. "And every time they talk like that, our names are in their talks! They keep saying bad things like they're going to kill us and slit your throat, and hurt mommy and me, and sell Faros and Edwan into slavery!" She cried.
Instant silence.
Every pair of eyes suddenly turned cold on the three traitors. Celan fluttered her fan nervously.
"T-the child is obviously delusional. Us, speaking of treason? Absolutely preposterous." She stammered. Cliff sighed and Cane shook his head.
"Give it up Celan." Cliff said dully walking over, swishing the wine in his glass.
"I suggest we leave, we are not welcome here anymore." Cane said softly. Cliff nodded, then held his glass up to the royal family as if he were toasting them. He smirked, gave a quick wink and murmured;
"Long live the king." Then he let the glass fall. Slowly it dropped to the floor, liquid spilled from its sides, and when the crystal crashed to the marble ground, the three conspirators were already gone.
Sunlight streamed through the window as morning came. Sitting up, Gin rubbed her eyes blearily and glanced around. It appeared she was back in her room, her arm was heavily padded, thickly wrapped in bandages and throbbed slightly, and she felt . . . empty. Tired, as if she had used all her strength. But what had happened? Suddenly the door opened quietly and she turned to look.
"Oh! I'm glad you're finally awake." Lillith exclaimed upon seeing Gin sitting up. She walked into the room, a bowl of water and a folded cloth in her hands. She set the bowl down on the bedside table before closing the door.
"Umph . . ." Gin muttered rubbing her eyes again. "Mom? What happened?" She murmured.
"Well you gave your father and I quite the shock when we discovered you had run off to battle. Your father was quite ready to put you in shackles, then chain those three adventurers up on the walls in the dungeons beneath the Chateau. He was quite upset you know."
"Draish, Scwol and Miaah?" Gin asked surprised. "Why?"
"Well because they asked you to be in the battle in the first place."
"B-but-! That was my own decision!" She protested rising from the bed.
"Ginrie calm down, I doubt Cahaurme will truly do that, and besides, you're far too injured to worry about anyone else but yourself at this moment." Lillith said calmly as she rinsed the cloth in the warm water before dabbing her daughter's face.
"What are you doing?" Gin grumbled as she tried to fend off her mother's cleaning.
"Wiping off the sweat and blood from your face." She said frowning. Gin stopped bleakly.
"Blood?" She asked surprised.
"Yes, every so often you've been coughing up blood in your sleep, Master Draish says it's a remnant of the poison. But after this he says you'll have a great immunity to poison." . . . which will help greatly if she wants to join the Adventurers army. Lillith left that part unsaid. She did not want to put the idea of adventuring into Gin's head, she had enough crazy ideas as it was, and a job as an Adventurer was not an acceptable standard of living. People all over Vana'diel called it a useless occupation, no better then thieves or pirates. Some even went so far as to call them monsters and plagues of the world.
No, adventuring was certainly not a possibility for her daughter.
"Lillith." A voice came through the door. The Elvaan stopped mopping with the rag at her daughter and looked at the door in which Gin took the opportunity to jump from the bed.
"Ginrie!" She exclaimed in exasperation. The door suddenly opened and revealed Cahaurme, his face was covered with fear, then upon seeing everything was fine, turned his expression over to a frown. Gin gulped.
Not. A. Good. Sign.
"I just came to check up on our daughter, though she is clearly fine." He said distastefully. Gin swallowed nervously.
"Er . . . are you, uhm . . . mad . . . at me?" She squeaked. Cahaurme blinked in surprise.
"Mad at you?" Suddenly he regained composure and walked across the room, his boots clomping against the floor. Gin winced in fear as she braced herself for a slap, that never came. Suddenly she found herself in a bone crushing hug.
"For goddess's sake Ginrie! Of course not! Why in the name of Altana would you think that?" He asked pulling away a little bit to look at her. She saw the worry that had mixed with relief in his eyes. Gin looked at him forlornly.
"I dunno . . . you seemed kind of . . . mad." She said feebly. Cahaurme's eyes suddenly narrowed.
"Of course I'm mad! You deliberately disobeyed me!" He snapped, Gin's gaze became downcast. Suddenly he sighed and stood. "But it's not that. I'm not angry about that. You did what you felt you had to, if I had been paying more attention I would have realized neither I, nor Lillith could have stopped you. Next time I will agree, so at least I can keep an eye on you." He said dully. Gin snapped her head up to look at him, then she smiled with glee.
"Okay! Next time those Beastmen try to attack Sandoria, they'll have something coming to them!" She cheered. Cahaurme smiled, then sighed.
"Unfortunately there is bad news."
"What is it?" Lillith asked getting to her feet and glancing at her husband worriedly.
"We have been summoned to the Chateau." Lillith blinked.
"We? As in you and I?" Cahaurme was already shaking his head.
"No. We as in you, I, and . . ." He trailed off glancing at Gin, who blinked at them.
"How may we be of service my lords?" Cahaurme asked with a deep bow. Behind him, his wife and daughter curtsied. Trion and Pieuje shared a glance.
"Please, do not be so formal." Pieuje began. "Although, I thought our letters requested you come prepared for a sparring match." Cahaurme stared confused.
"My lord . . . I am." He finished lamely, it was true, he was garbed in leather armor, a longsword clipped to his belt.
"I knew the letters weren't clear enough." Trion muttered shaking his head, smiling at Cahaurme he said;
"Forgive us, the letters were not specific. We meant for Lady Ginryu to come prepared for sparring."
"WHAT?" Lillith couldn't hold herself back from exclaiming. She flushed and clapped a hand to her mouth, casting her gaze down. Gin was gaping herself, Cahaurme was in shock.
"G-Ginrie . . . my lord?" He asked gaping. Trion and Pieuje nodded.
"I'm sorry if that is such a shock. Curilla!" He called. The knight came up.
"Could you please fetch some suitable armor and a sword for Lady Ginryu?" Curilla nodded and walked off towards the tailors and armory.
"She should be with us shortly, please come join us in the courtyard." Trion offered as he began walking towards the door. Cahaurme shared a worried glance with Lillith as they followed.
5 minutes later after they had been seated in the courtyard and Gin had been called away for armor fitting, she came back out, clothed in plain brown breeches, a leather vest and leather boots, she also wore simple gloves of the same material and a bronze sword by her side. Lillith blinked.
'She looks . . . I can never get a dress to settle properly on her, or even simple female clothes to fit right! But . . . in that battle armor she seems so . . . right.' She thought troubled.
"GIIIIIN!" A voice suddenly yelled, the Elvaan had 0.3 seconds to turn before she got bowled over by a 3 foot high Taru. Crashing to the floor she winced.
"B-Bagel?"
"Yeah! I'm glad you're okay!" He exclaimed happily.
"Gin!" Lilli cried running up. She leaped onto the Elvaan who squeaked at the new weight.
"I'm so glad you got better!" She cried, close to purring, her tail swished back and forth merrily as she grinned broadly. Suddenly a new voice cried out.
"WHOO DOG PILE!"
"AUGH! NO HAL NO!" Gin, Bagel and Lilli yelped. The Galka chuckled.
"Just kidding." He said giving the three of them a hand up. "Glad to see you up and about again kiddo." He said cheerfully messing up Gin's hair. "I was actually starting to worry." Gin smirked.
"Awwww, is the big bad Galka getting soft?"
"Is that even technically possible?" A soft voice commented.
"Lassie!" Lilli cried fondly.
"I am not a friggin dog!" Laz growled as he came down the steps. Gin noticed then that A) all of her friends' parents were here, and B) just like her, they were all wearing armor.
"For heaven's sake mother, I am perfectly capable of walking!" A voice cried out irritated.
"That sounds like a certain Hume we all know and . . . tolerate." Bagel said cheerfully, Lilli had suddenly gone shy. Sure enough, down the steps came Opeth with his mother who watched him worriedly. The healer's eyes suddenly brightened when he saw Gin.
"Hey! You're okay!"
"Well of course I'm okay!" Gin said incredulously, hands on hips. "In fact, I'm as happy as a clam."
"You know, why do they say that? I mean, how do they know if a clam is happy?" Hal asked dimly scratching his head.
"Beats me." Bagel pronounced calmly.
"Heeey . . ." Hal suddenly started. "We're missing a certain lanky, clumsy and brick loving Elvaan."
"I do not love bricks, for the last. Freaken. Time." A moody voice grumbled. As the last of their group came in, he looked especially red and had a bandage taped across his nose.
"Bloody wall." He muttered to himself.
"You okay?" Gin asked walking up to him. He glanced up startled.
"Gin!" He cried, voice aching with relief. He suddenly threw his arms around her, surprising the hell out of the other Elvaan. "God I was so worried . . ." He whispered holding her tight. The others shared a glance.
"Aboooouuuuuuut face!" Bagel suddenly cried and they all turned the other way. That is, except for Laz who frowned at the two of them.
"I . . .I'm sorry?" Gin said feebly.
"No, you're not sorry." He suddenly said. Pulling away, hands still on her shoulders he laughed and put on his game face. "Cause I'm gonna make you sorry!" Gin grinned at him.
"I'd like to see you try you pansy!"
"Oh ho! Pansy am I? Well then little powder-puff-princess, I shall just have to prove you wrong!"
"Go ahead and try!" Gin replied smiling.
"A-hem." A small voice commented. Instantly the two turned and flushed.
"Sorry." They both said immediately to Trion and Pieuje who were smiling.
"That's alright." Trion began. "And we're still waiting for three more people. Well, four actually."
"Depends on how many the last person brings." Pieuje said dully.
"I feel so unloved." A comical voice said easily. Zig came down the steps, Chster and an Elvaan followed him. He bowed to the assembly.
"This is Chster, my second in command on the field." He said gesturing to the Hume who saluted. "And Byuu, my second in command tactitioner. But whenever we need extra warriors, he can be found leading our Dragoon masses." The Elvaan nodded to the group with a smile. And before Pieuje or Trion could continue, a chorus of voice came from the stairwell.
"Scwol I am bloody fine."
"No you aren't."
"YES, I am."
"Draish when you fall down stairs, it's a sign something's wrong with you."
"Can it Miaah."
"Come on, almost there." The three adventurers suddenly came into view. Draish was being forced to lean on Scwol for support as Miaah giggled behind one hand. It was obvious his wound from the battlefield had not entirely healed yet.
"Wow, you got yourself totaled Draish." Mabs said laughing.
"Can it squirt." The Elvaan grumbled as he was set down on a chair. Then the three adventurers looked at Gin.
"Are you okay child-?" Miaah began when Mabs glared, 'AHEM!'ed loudly and stomped his foot.
"Why do you people keep calling her child!" He demanded.
"I warned you . . ." Draish sang softly to Miaah who cuffed him upside the head.
"Quiet you. Sorry, are you alright Ginryu?" Gin nodded and smiled.
"Yes, now that we are all assembled, ch-"
"Do not make me 'Ahem' you again your highness." Mabs said testily. Trion quickly surpressed a snicker as his brother sighed.
"Yes Madon, very good." He muttered. "Ginryu . . . can you tell us what you recall of the battle night?" Pieuje asked simply. For such an innocent sounding question, it made all noises in the yard suddenly quiet, not a person breathed as all eyes became direction on Ginryu who shivered slightly under the intensity of the stares.
"A-after . . . after Scwol and Draish came for me and Opeth at the tree, I remember getting to the base of the tree . . . and the last thing I can remember, is seeing this strange woman, before passing out." She gulped. Scwol and Draish shared a glance. Right when that light appeared . . .
"I see." Zig commented. With a glance at Byuu, who nodded, the commander walked up to Gin and put his hand on her forehead, then her cheeks, and finally on the back of her neck. Gin blinked, she found his hand to be rough and callused, the sign of someone who worked hard, but the hand was somehow oddly reassuring. Removing his hand he looked at Byuu.
"No abnormal temperatures." He declared, Byuu nodded and pulled a quill and paper from his pocket, he began to write something down.
"What is this?" Cahaurme asked worriedly.
"Just a health check sir." Chster replied calmly.
"Alright Ginryu, would you please turn around?" Zig asked, grinning cheerfully. Scwol blinked as Ginryu obeyed.
"Sir-! You're not possibly thinking that-!"
"It's probably unlikely, but I'm not going to take any chances." Zig whispered as he placed his hands in between her shoulder blades. Gin shivered at the strange feeling.
"What are you doing to her?" Mabs demanded. Opeth shushed him, and looked on as Zig continued. Suddenly he winced and Gin gave an involuntary giggle, he had brushed something that tickled on her back. Zig looked up, face ashen.
"Sir?" Draish and Miaah asked, their faces showed concern.
". . . . two straight swells next to her shoulder blades." He finally murmured. Scwol, Draish, Chster, Miaah and Byuu all shared startled glances. Trion and Pieuje regarded each other grimly, before looking back at Zig.
"There is still the second trial." Trion reminded the commander softly. Zig nodded.
"Let us hope it shows a brighter future." He said grimly. All 7 children exchanged glances.
"Would you like to sit down? We are about start the exercise." Pieuje asked of the parents.
"Exercise?" Tya repeated in disbelief.
"Yes, do not be concerned, no one will be harmed." Pieuje assured them. 'I hope . . .'
"Mabs and Lazarus, would you two step up?" Draish requested. Both Elvaans came forward, both looking wary and suspicious. "Alright. I want you two to fight each other." Both Elvaans started.
"What?" They both asked in surprise.
"We want you to duel each other." Trion explained calmly. The parents all exchanged tense glances. Mabs and Lazarus blinked at each other.
"With . . . real swords my lord?" Mabs asked, unsure of himself.
"Yes, with real swords." Scwol said quietly.
"I don't like this idea Draish . . ." Miaah whispered to the redmage.
"Neither do I. But . . . . we have to follow orders." He hissed back.
"Sir . . . I'm not sure if this is a sound idea. They are children!" Chster hissed to Zig, who had taken back his spot next to them.
"Commander . . . I have to agree with Chster, as rare as that may be." Byuu commented in a low whisper. "This is not a good idea." Zig shook his head.
"I agree with you both, but we have to know if she is a threat." He said softly. Both Byuu and Chster exchanged an uneasy glance. Lillianna's mother, a black magic wielding Mithra was glaring ominously at Trion and Pieuje. Cahaurme and Lillith were glancing at each other nervously, while Tya was cracking her knuckles at her princes. The other parents weren't looking too cheerful either. Especially Hal's father who was glaring ominously at Zig, Chster, Byuu, Draish, Miaah and Scwol.
"We are going down in flames." Scwol moaned. "Horrible burning, flesh eating, incinerating flames."
"Thank you for that ever so colorful picture Scwol." Draish muttered dully. Miaah rolled her eyes.
"My brave and shining knight." She said sarcastically.
"The wrath of a parent is always an ugly thing." He retorted.
"So is the wrath of an irritated wife."
"Fiancee Miaah, fiancee."
"Even worse."
". . . she's got a point Scwol."
"Quiet you, are you trying to ruin my marriage before it even starts?"
"You're doing enough damage without my help." There was a rare pause in the talking . . .
". . . . Scwol." Miaah said warningly. "Get that hand away from that sword hilt or I'll smack it."
"Dammit." The Paladin grumbled and let his hand drop. Draish chuckled behind his hand. Mabs and Lazarus faced each other, both of them gripping their swords.
"Ready?" Mabs called tauntingly.
"More then you I bet." Lazarus replied just as mockingly. In truth, both were covering up fear, yes they had dueled before, but that was with wooden swords, the worst you could get from those were bruises and the occasional splinter in your finger. These were swords, sharpened to kill, and they had never practiced on each other with these. Worse yet, none of them had really practiced defending themselves. They each took a deep breath and-
"Wait."
"ACK!" Mabs nearly tripped, he had been prepared to dash forward. Turning to glare at Zig he glowered.
"Yes?" He muttered. Lazarus glanced at the commander coolly. Zig held his hand up, and with his middle and index finger, made a 'come forward' motion. Instantly Miaah, Scwol and Draish moved forward. With a glance at Chster, Zig also nodded to his second in command, who also moved forward. Behind Mabs, Miaah and Draish placed themselves. Chster and Scwol placed themselves behind Lazarus, and with a final nod to Byuu who flipped to a new page in his book, set to scribbling away furiously. Zig, seeing that all was now in order, nodded to Mabs and Lazarus.
"Sorry, now you may proceed." Blinking at each other, the two young Elvaans shrugged it off, and assumed the fighting positions. There was a small pause, before with incredible speed, they flung themselves at the other.
'That kind of speed at their age . . .' Zig noted. 'Incredible.' Mabs swung at Lazarus lightly, his friend parried the blow with ease and swung instead at Mabs's leg, just as gently. Mabs jumped over the blade and instead swirled his blade around to attack Lazarus's arm, which Lazarus blocked, and instead spiraled his blade around the other's, putting them into a dead-lock.
"Boring?" Mabs asked dully.
"Way too much." Lazarus grumbled. Their friends looked at each other dully with understanding. The adults in the courtyard were clueless.
"What on earth are they talking about?" Zig muttered to Byuu who looked just as lost as his commander was.
"Hey." Lazarus called to the mages on the sidelines. All four of them started.
"What?" Scwol called back.
"You're there to heal us and make sure we don't kill each other right?" Chster blinked in shock as Scwol chuckled.
"Told you they were sharp." He murmured to the Redmage who blinked again. Scwol unlocked his crossed arms and nodded. "Yes."
"Good. We'll make you earn your paycheck today." Mabs called gleefully. "All out?" He asked Lazarus who nodded in agreement.
"All out." Suddenly they jumped apart, their blades free and ready to strike. Lazarus braced himself, and shot off his front foot, propelling himself at Mabs who instantly changed his stance to block position. Lazarus aimed a strike, full strength, at Mabs's throat. A killing blow. The Elvaan sidestepped the attack and swung his blade up at the other's chest.
"My god . . ." Cahaurme breathed in shock as Curilla stepped out from the building to join them. She herself was awed by the spectacle.
"Those are killing blows." She noted quietly.
"Not just that, their fighting skills . . . they're nearly equal to a grown Elvaan's!"
"The only disadvantage is their height at this point really." Tya commented quietly. Lillith stared in shock.
"How can they be this strong?" All the other adults in that area, were wondering the exact same thing. Back to the fight, Lazarus pivoted off his left foot, then swung with his leg at Mabs who hastily blocked it with his arm.
"Now they're adding martial arts into this!" Chster squeaked. Miaah gaped, even Draish was openly staring. Only Gin, Bagel, Lilli, Hal and Opeth didn't look surprised. Mabs swung at an angle at Lazarus, who quickly ducked under the assault and swung his sword up, Mabs rapidly stepped back and the sword brushed the tip of his armor, leaving a thin cut. But as Lazarus tried to stand, Mabs didn't give him any time to do so as he swooped in, his sword a shining blur. Lazarus quickly swung his foot down, hooking Mabs's ankle as he did so and tripping the other Elvaan. Mabs stepped back, trying to regain his balance, but Lazarus gave him no time to recover as he yelled;
"FAST BLADE!" And dove in to strike, his sword shining with raw energy. Mabs evaded the sword by a mere hair's width, the heat singing the tips of his hair. Quickly he swung his sword at Lazarus's exposed side yelling;
"RED LOTUS BLADE!" Zig gaped.
"The red lotus!" Lazarus barely managed to deflect the blow in time, and was sent skidding several feet, his hand stinging with the shock, and his blade glowing red with the heat.
"Cure 2." Draish murmured calmly as he raised his hand.
"Regen." Chster said calmly as he too cast a spell. Mabs and Lazarus smiled at each other, refreshed by the healing spells, they set themselves to attack each other again, both started forward, and-
"Stop."
"ACK!" Mabs nearly tripped again. Glaring at Zig he made a face. "NOW what!" He demanded.
"It's obvious. You two are at a stalemate." Byuu commented calmly as he continued to scribble down on his notebook. "That will do." Zig rolled his eyes.
"Thanks, you'll get to battle again another day." Mabs and Lazarus sighed in unison, then walked off the battling field.
"Nice moves there man." Mabs said cheerfully.
"You too, when were you going to tell me you had mastered sword skills?" Lazarus asked wryly with a crooked smile.
"Uhm . . . well . . . it was sort of during the battle with the Orcs that I did."
"You had to have mastered fast blade first." He said grinning. "When?"
". . . . hehe, the day after you showed yours to the group."
"I seeeee." Lazarus commented grinning. Zig glanced at Byuu.
"So how closely were those two in skills?"
"Dead match."
"Pardon?"
"Their skills are dead even."
"So why did only one of them do the red lotus?" Zig asked blinking.
". . . he was holding back."
"Pardon?"
"It was that boy's trump card, he was going to save it till Madon had exhausted his strength."
"Ah, and our mages interfered with that didn't they?" Zig commented with sudden understanding. It seemed that Lazarus had been waiting until Mabs had exhausted his strength to attack him with the higher sword skill, in hopes of a victory.
"It would seem so." Byuu commented as he flipped to a new page.
"Opeth and Lillianna!" He called. Opeth did a double take.
"HUH? ME?" Lilli was different.
"WHOO! ALRIGHT!" She hopped down from where she had been perched -on Hal's shoulder- and ran onto the field while drawing her staff, charged and ready to go. Opeth walked hesitantly onto the field, his staff in hand and he was biting his lip.
"Obvious difference here. The Mithra has confidence in her fighting ability, the Hume does not." Byuu commented. "Not to mention, the Mithra has more speed. I think it's a given who will win this battle."
"That is also the Hume who did the 2 hour." Zig commented softly. The scratching of the quill suddenly stopped. Without looking at Zig, Byuu asked;
"He is the one?"
"Yes."
"So . . . the first Hume to ever do a whitemage 2 hour, without officially being an adventurer. How do you suppose he did it?" Zig raised his gaze to the sky and smiled.
"Oh, probably the same way I did it. Our goddess has a fickle nature." Byuu chuckled.
"Proceed!" He called to the field. Lilli bounced up and down grinning.
"Okay, here I come!" And she rushed forward.
"Odd." Chster muttered.
"She didn't use a spell." Scwol agreed. Opeth frowned as Lilli attempted to bash him over with her staff, he blocked it with ease. Lilli skipped back, danced from foot to foot, before jumping at him again, again she gave him a light tap with her staff, and again Opeth blocked it easily, his frown grew. Lilli then attempted to forced the Hume back with little strength. Opeth glared, then with a sudden rush of strength, threw all his weight into forcing her back, she flew backwards, before flipping over to land on her feet, her eyes were wide with surprise. Opeth straightened, then, with a scowl and a glare, he thrust the bottom end of his staff into the ground.
"Stop babying me!" He snapped. Lilli stopped cold.
"Opeth?" She blinked, surprised.
"Stop going easy on me!" He snarled, his face a mask of fury. "You didn't use an enfeeble spell, nor did you try to attack me with attack spells and the attacks you just used on me were weak and easy to block. Stop trying to protect me, because a Beastmen sure as hell WON'T!" Opeth snapped. Then he glanced down. "Everyone always has to save me. Everyone always has to protect me. And dammit, I chose this job because I wanted to save OTHERS!" He sighed heavily. "I nearly got someone killed because of my weakness." He muttered with a glance at Gin who blinked in surprise.
"Opeth- you didn't-!" She began to protest.
"Stop it Gin. You know as well as I do, that if I had been stronger, you would never have had to come out and save me, you would have been safely behind castle walls."
"Wow, that's scarily hitting close to home on you isn't it Zig?" A voice whispered behind the Elvaan commander. He jumped and spun around.
"Ugh . . . goddamn Lai!" He snapped. "Don't do that!" He ordered glaring at a young female Elvaan warrior with long brown hair.
"Sorry Zig." She said cheerfully while laughing.
"Welcome back Laiata." Byuu murmured cheerfully.
"Good to be so." She commented. "Just stopped by to tell you that Norg and Kazham are as ugly, humid and a train wrecking zone as ever."
"In other words, just fine."
"Pretty much." She said dully. "Nearly got killed three times when some idiot trained gobs to the zone, but besides that, I'm covered in sweat and bug bites, see you later sir." And with a mock salute, walked off. Zig glanced after her forlorn.
". . . . dude, just tell her already." Byuu muttered pausing in his writing to glance at the sky in exasperation.
"It's not that easy!"
"Sure it is." He said, then suddenly, he clasped his hands over his heart and put an innocent look on his face. "Laiata, my dear sweet Elvaan, I am madly in love with you! Will you-?"
KER-SMACK!
"Owwwww . . . ." Byuu grumbled as Zig, with a vein throbbing in his forehead, lowered his hand. "Denial is an ugly thing sir." He muttered.
"So are sarcastic and annoying subordinates."
"You don't pay me enough for this job."
"Then quit."
"Then you'll have to do all the paperwork."
". . . . shit." While this was going on, Lilli looked at Opeth, a little lost for words.
"Opeth . . ."
"Don't. Unless you're going to start fighting me seriously. Then don't even say a word." He grumbled. Lilli blinked, then stuck her staff back onto her back. Opeth's face fell. "So you won't fight me." Lilli closed her eyes, there was a quiet pause, before suddenly she opened her eyes and raised her arms.
"FIRE!" Opeth's eyes widened in shock as flames engulfed him. With a panicked thought he yelled;
"SHELL!" To block the attack. As the flames fell to embers, he had been singed, but was alive, and smiling. Looking at her, he paused, then laughed. "Now that's what I want." He said grinning. Lilli smiled brightly at him.
"If it's a fight you want, then it's a fight you'll get." And drawing back her staff, flew at him with deadly speed. Opeth smiled softly.
"Thank you."
Disclaimer: I own plot and OC characters, nothing else. Lillianna, Mabs, Bagel, Opeth, Draish, Miaah, Trion, Pieuje, Curilla, Ziggeraut, Chster, Laiata and Byuu do not belong to me.
Author's concluding notes: Ooooo, these are special cause it says; Author's concluding notes! Wooooo. . . . anyways, enough of that. In this chappie we have a bit of Opeth's character revealed, and startling enough, it's incredibly similar close to Zig, hmmm, foreshadowing? Maybe, maybe not. (Zig, you're going to have to be extra nice to me. :) Or I'll boot you from command. XD Just playing lol.) Our princes have been startlingly quiet neh? Perhaps they are plotting something!
Jocose: Land sakes woman, why don't you just give it all away?
Akkiko: Ah hah hah hah, shut up.
Jocose: -.-;;
And damn, longest chapter I think I've ever written for anything. 13 whole goddamn pages! XD
P.S: To a reviewer, yes Draish could have cast cure, but he was currently occupied with Celan, and by the time he realized Gin was in the critical zone of HP (AKA the red numbers), it was a little late. ;;
