Disclaimer- See previous chapters.
MoonCannon- Why, thank you!
Capricorn was just tightening the girth of the saddle on a dragon's back when rapid footsteps came from behind her. She glanced up to see Chrisanthy running towards her.
"Lord Capricorn!" she said, out of breath but bowing nonetheless. Capricorn motioned for her to stand up straight.
"What is it?" she asked, earnestly curious as to how she had known she was leaving this early in the morning. Chrisanthy pulled a parcel out of her bag and handed it to her.
"This is for you," she started, "it explains everything inside. I was told not to reveal anything else about it, though. Capricorn nodded.
"But who…?" Chrisanthy smiled.
"That's what else I can't tell you. Have a nice trip, Lord Capricorn!" she bowed again and trotted off down a hallway. Capricorn looked at the package and shrugged before putting it into the saddlebag and swinging up onto the dragon's back. This dragon, however, was a smaller size, more like the Velocidragons that roamed the plains near Asgard, save for the fact that it had four legs and a pair of huge leathery wings. She nudged its side and it comfortably loped down the stable alleyway and out into the dewy morning light.
She pressed her heel slightly harder against the dragon, letting it break into a gallop before leaping off the cliff and taking flight. Capricorn had loved flying. A distant memory of her childhood reminded her that at one point in her life, she had enjoyed watching the winged reptiles around her home fly about during summer… but she could never remember where her hometown, or even home, was.
The people of Iselia were just starting to wake up as she looped around to fly past the upper tower of the Ranch. Tightening her grip on the reins, she leaned forward and whistled to the dragon. Its wings beat harder, and she was soon on her way to the desert town of Triet. Luckily for her, her home and her destination were on the same continent.
As Triet came into view about an hour later, she easily let the dragon land and trotted into the town. She had had to cover the lower half of her face earlier during a sandstorm, so now she looked very much like a bandit.
The townspeople looked on in fear as Capricorn quietly conversed with three of the whipmasters standing near a bulletin board, before she dismounted and handed one of them the reins. They took the dragon back towards the oasis as Capricorn continued to talk with the other two Desians.
"Lord Capricorn, the human that escaped us at Iselia was captured by the Renegades. He's currently being imprisoned in their base east of here." on said, saluting. Capricorn nodded.
"They'll let him go. It's not like them to keep a prisoner unless they have some significance to them." the two whipmasters nodded and saluted before running off after their comrade. Capricorn pulled the cloth over her face off and turned around, in the process walking straight into a tall man that had been behind her.
"Excuse me," she muttered, taking a step to the side to let him pass. She heard a chuckle and looked up, smiling as she realized who she had run into.
"I haven't seen you in a long time, Yuan." she started, nodding to the blue-haired Half-elf. He smiled as well.
"Not since the Great Kharlan War, I would presume, Capricorn."
"It's been that long?" she asked, scratching the back of her head. He nodded.
"So, how goes life in Iselia?" he replied instead, falling into step alongside her. She shrugged.
"Ah, the usual. Lord Yggdrasil sent me out here, but I've yet to figure out why…" Yuan paused his stride and glanced at her.
"Capricorn, you don't remember very much about your past, do you?" he asked quietly, folding his arms across his chest. She shook her head sadly and sighed.
"Much of what I remember is just the Kharlan War, Yuan. I can't even remember my own parents. Everything just seems to have… disappeared." Yuan placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Do you have reservations in the inn for your stay? If so, I can tell you what I remember of your past. Your childhood, your family… we were nearly inseparable at one time, remember." Capricorn smiled.
"How could I ever forget? Hell, we even fought side by side with Martel, Kratos, and Lord Yggdrasil in the Kharlan War." They walked into the inn and entered Capricorn's room, where much to her surprise, her saddlebag and a familiar face were waiting.
"Chrisanthy?" she asked, head tilted to the side. She smiled.
"Lord Forcystus wanted me to come and note the activities of the inhabitants of this area, since he believes that the troopers stationed here aren't doing the best job." She brandished her notebook and pencil, making Capricorn laugh. Yuan and Chrisanthy both looked at her strangely.
"What?" she asked, glancing at both of them. Yuan shook his head and then brushed his hair back out of his eyes.
"Anyway, have a seat… Miss Chrisanthy here may stay, yes?" he said, gesturing to the Desian Recorder. Capricorn nodded and flopped onto her bed. Yuan seated himself across the room, and after folding his arms, began to talk.
"Capricorn… you were born here in Triet.
At a young age, your parents abandoned you… that's when Martel and I found you on our way through here. A few years later, when the Kharlan War started, you fought alongside us, the Four Seraphim.
Once the war ended, however, you could no longer return to Triet… you were plagued by nightmares every night, and constantly had a fever. Kratos and I were beginning to resent letting you fight with us… you were too young to have had to deal with the reminder of slaughtering thousands of beings.
However, you finally regained your health, but you no longer remembered anything of your parents or homeland. Your could only remember the time you spent with us, so we gave you a position at the Iselia Ranch… as close as we could keep you to home.
Forcystus did not argue being given a second in command, and it looked like he needed the help anyways. You soon took root there and became pretty comfortable, and over time you've grown to know and love both the Ranch itself and the Cardinal that rules over it." Yuan stopped, and the only sound left in the room was Chrisanthy writing quickly in her notebook.
"Now, as I understand it, Miss Chrisanthy gave you a package early this morning?" he said, glancing at her. She nodded.
Capricorn picked the parcel out of her bag and carefully untied the string keeping it closed.