Chapter 10: Escape

Later that night Setsuna went back to her room and took a long relaxing bath. It had been a while since she last pampered herself. She let the hot water sooth all her aches and pains. While she sat in the tub relaxing, she thought back to her last fight. Who am I to believe? She wondered.

She could still remember Van's words clearly, "it was when Ziabach tried to take over all of Gaea by using a the Fate Alteration Engine which caused so much suffering to innocent people!". Am I on the right side? Lord Folken told me that we were battling invading countries but the Dragon said that we were the ones invading. What am I to do? She let out a sigh knowing that it would be near impossible for her to find the right answer.

After her bath she changed back into her armor and decided to go for a late night stroll around the Vione. It allowed her to clear her mind and think. Everyone was usually fast asleep so there was little to distract her.

Setsuna walked through the maze of corridors thinking about whom she should believe. As she walked pass one of the meeting rooms she heard voices. Huh? Who would be having a meeting this late at night? She wondered. Her curiosity got the best of her. She pressed her ear up against the metallic door so she could listen in.

"...Folken, I want you to make sure the girl, Setsuna, does not leave. She is vital to the future of Zaibach. The Dragon has revealed the truth of the Destiny War." An old, forceful voice spoke.

"Yes Emperor Dornkirk-" Setsuna heard Folken reply and quickly backed away from the door horrified. They're-they're using me! She thought to herself shocked and angered. Unsure of what to do, she ran.

She didn't pay close attention to where she was going. She had to get away. When she came to a stop, she found herself in the guymelef loading bay. One thought came to mind, escape.

Setsuna got into the cockpit of her guymelef and prepared for her escape. She flew off into the distance without looking back. Her brows knitted together as their words echoed though her mind. She had developed a trust and respect for Folken, but that trust was shattered.

As she was flying, something had hit her from the ground. Her guymelef began to malfunction and plummet to the ground. She began to panic and tired with all her might to regain control. After trying to control her guymelef without success she landed hard on the ground.

She jumped out of her guymelef quickly before flames engulfed it. What the hell hit me? Setsuna wondered as she watched her guymelef burn. She ran a hand through her tangled hair. There goes my quick escape… Her eyes darted around her surroundings. She couldn't sense or see anyone. She looked at the heap of twisted metal and sighed heavily. She turned away from it and wandered into the forest.

Setsuna walked all night trying to get as far away as she could. As the sun began to rise she was dead tired but continually forced herself to keep walking. She stumbled over rocks and tree roots. Her eyes were half open but she still continued to walk.

Finally she gave up when she had fallen over an up grown tree root. She laid there on the forest floor half awake and half asleep. She debated with herself whether if she should get up or just stay on the ground. Laying there felt so good. She could almost fall asleep, even in that uncomfortable position.

She decided that she needed to continue, she had to get as far away from Zaibach territory as she could. As Setsuna rose to her feet, she noticed she was not alone. She was surrounded by a group of men. One of the men she recognized to be a knight of Cali from his blue uniform. She quickly realized that this group was from Asturia, the very country that Ziabach was fighting against.

She struggled to keep balance but her body was too weak. She hadn't eating anything since…she couldn't even recall when she last ate. Her eyes lids felt so heavy. She knew she wouldn't be able to fight them off.

Setsuna knew she was going to die. A single tear fell from each of her eyes as she fell to her knees. Her legs throbbed with pain. She tried with all her might to over come the pain her legs felt but she couldn't. The men surrounding her stood on their guard waiting for her to attack.

Again, she tried to stand but failed. She welcomed in the darkness and fell unconscious.