Pika: Yayyaaaay! Pika feels so loved… thank you for all the reviews, guys! As for me getting more chapters up sooner, well, school's almost over for me. I've got exams very soon, so I should be able to update more when I'm actually on summer vacation, y'know?
… or, I'll at least try to update once a month, ehehehe…
Anyway, thank you very much for the reviews and the criticism up to this point. None of them were flames and all of them gave me a hand, like when I type the letter 'I'… see, the program I use doesn't have spell check so it couldn't edit that part, y'know? It was a grammar/spelling error on my side. Thanks so much for pointing that out, Uber Flare! I'll remember that for all my writing in the future. And the Celtic cross thing, ehehe, I didn't know that either…
Also, though, if you watch the third Liminality DVD, didn't it say 'a human and two half sprites, and along the way they met Bith the Black and Fili the White'? There was Bith the Black and Fili The White and Helba, Queen of Darkness, right? As separate characters. I'm pretty sure that's how it goes. It's just the fourth DVD didn't mention the sprites…
Ehh, I've watched the third DVD over twenty times…
Lycolis, the link didn't show… but Helba-san is going to be different than normal Helba. She's a queen, not a hacker, right? Maybe a few similarities, but not the same. Got me thinking a bit into the future a bit more on Helba, though! I had some preliminary ideas about her, but I'm really a last minute person who comes up with the final things at the moment they need to be there. Ahaha, Pika's just like that…
Argg. I hope I'm not introducing too many of the important characters in a short period of time… the story can't really 'start' until the group of six are together though, so…
Anyway, thanks for sticking with the fanfic or just joining in. Here we go again!
Those Who Quest For The Twilight Dragon
- A story version of the
Epitaph of Twilight -
ChapterThree : Clouds and Deceit
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"F-Fili-san! It's just like you said…it's so amazing…!"
The blue sky of the late afternoon hung above the town - and their destination. Dun Loireag was simply just as Fili had told it. It was a town enveloped in a thin mist; more like as if few, light clouds floated down from the sky and hovered just above the ground. It was quite easy to see through, so there wasn't any problem in getting lost in it. The grass was fresh and green, and it scattered the hills and cliff sides that made up the town. In fact, all of the buildings and shops were built on these cliffs, and single, wooden bridges without railings or sides - just the bare minimum, connected all the cliffs. It was quite obvious that if you fell off of one it would be a long fall, and not a lot of people probably survived through it.
Other than the buildings and the hills, people scattered the walkways and ran around. They did their daily things like work and such, nothing really out of the ordinary. They were dressed a little differently than the three travelers, but it wasn't too bad. Some of them watched the three for a minute or two, wondering what their business was. There were a few people that stuck out the most in the crowds. Dressed in metal and cloth underneath, they wore helmets and breastplates. Some of them carried weapons, and others shopped and picked up a few items. They weren't from the area, and were probably leaving soon.
Knights.
Saya, Ashi and Fili all stood at the entrance of the town after the long morning walk they had. Fili had been right about the directions all along, which was certainly a good thing. The half-sprite's face was brighter than ever as he saw the knights march their way through the town. Saya seemed to be trying to take everything in, and Fili was breathing in the fresh air as much as possible.
Ashi's eyes watched all the soldiers run about, and a strike of eagerness went through his body. "Saya, Saya! They're Rirurianu's Knights! I know it!" He started. He took of on one foot, starting in a bit of a leap and then a fast walk, and his hair bounced with him. His left hand drifted to the rim of his cap, holding it onto his head. A giggle escaped his lips involuntarily, and he started to go into the crowds a bit more. "Come on, Saya! Come ooonnn!"
Saya heard his friend call out to him just barely, and only had the time to turn around and watch him run into the crowds. "W-wait! Slow down! You're going to get lost if you go look for Ri... ririr... Rian by yourself!" He called back, starting off himself, but turning around to look at Fili. Even with all of this he hadn't budged and just continued to stand there and admire what he had seen before. "A-are you coming?" He asked, trying to urge the man forward so that Ashi wouldn't get too ahead of himself.
"Oh, ah, sorry." Fili replied, drifting back into the real world. He shook his head a little and smiled the same smile he had pulled all yesterday. "This is as far as I go. I've got some matters to attend to now." He gave a small, brief wave, and Saya nodded in reply. "It was nice to meet you, maybe we'll meet again. Send a good bye to Ashi for me, alright?"
"Yeah. Thanks for showing us the way." Saya said, ending the conversation. He turned around to try and spot his good friend, but he was already nowhere in sight.
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The young half sprite's running spree slowed down to a fast paced walk, and he breathed heavily as he went now. He kept going on, however, as if air didn't matter at all. He saw more knights as he continued and became more and more excited with each step.
"Saya-san, look at them a-" He started, turning around to try and see the friend that he expected to be walking right behind him, yet instead he got dead silence.
No one.
Ashi blinked and looked around a bit, expecting his eyes to be fooling him at first. But sure enough, he couldn't find the lilac-haired boy anywhere near. He felt a knot instantly start to build itself up and he became dreadfully nervous. A half-sprite walking around all on his own wasn't the best thing in the world…
"Saya-san?" He called out, continuing his walk. He was a little pulled back now in attitude and physical appearance, however. His head was somewhat drawn down into his shoulders and chest as he walked slowly, looking this way and that. "Saya-saaan?"
He stopped a few meters away from a shop as a kind old man was handing out goods to people who had money rather happily. He looked so kind, and Ashi extended a hand slightly and began to open his mouth to ask if he had seen Saya, but the thought instantly diminished in his head. Asking someone that didn't know him so well wouldn't be so good. Almost no one was as kind to half-sprites as Saya was, so he'd have to refrain from being social for the time being. Instead, he turned away from the shop and started to walk again, looking around desperately.
"Where could he have gone…?" He asked himself quietly, shaking his head at a rapid pace. He tried to shake off everything as if it had been nothing more than a thought or a bad dream, but nothing changed when he stopped his shaking and opened his eyes again. "I thought he followed me when I hurried ahead…"
He really stopped paying attention as he spoke quietly to himself, and luckily only got a few people staring at his small complaints. No one said anything and he just kept walking, eventually across one of the bridges that connected all the hills. He let out a small whimper-like sigh and turned his head to the side, looking off the bridge.
"Saya-s-"
Ashi thumped into a man, and both of them let out small yelps. A tangle of orange and lilac hair against their clothing formed as the two of them fell to the ground, luckily just at the end of the bridge and off onto the grass of one of the cliff's edges. Ashi struggled to force himself up with his arms and rubbed his face, slowly looking towards the person he had bumped into.
"Omigosh, I'm so sorry, I can't be---"
Saya.
Ashi stopped his rant midway in his sentence and stared for a moment. Saya lay on the ground, a confused expression through his eyes and his lips. He looked a little started and shook his head lightly snapping back into the world.
"Saya!" Ashi cried out unexpectedly. He jolted forward a little in his joy, grinning. "I found you! I thought I lost you, because I was alone and I couldn't find you and I had no idea what to do! And I couldn't ask someone for help because I was worried and I was calling out your name like a million times and I…"
"C-calm down!" Saya cut in, quickly waving his hands in the air towards his friend. Ashi paused and took in a deep breath from his long sentence, and he smiled weakly. Saya returned the weak smile and rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry, my fault. I got distracted." He replied after their moment's break. Ashi giggled and nodded.
The lilac-haired human pushed himself to his feet, and extended a hand out to Ashi, who was still kneeling on the ground. Ashi took his hand quickly and accepted Saya's help. After he rose to his feet, the half sprite pointed a finger out towards a hill several bridges away. There seemed to be a temporary camp set up there of some sort, and most of the knights were either there, leaving from there, or going there. But it was quite a distance away, and would take a little bit to make it there.
"He's got to be there." Ashi said in a happy tone. "White Knight Rirurianu..." Saya nodded in reply and took Ashi's hand, starting to tug him towards the bridges.
"I guess we have nothing to lose then! Come on, let's go meet this Rirurianu!"
Ashi's grin widened, glad that Saya was perkier than normal to meet the man he had wanted to meet for so long. Instead of Ashi being dragged, he broke out into a run and dragged Saya towards the camp.
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"Heeeyy... hello? Anyone home? Well, sort of..."
White hair peeked into one of the tents closer to the front, quickly followed by a head. He didn't want to intrude, and while he did have the patience to wait, he couldn't be bothered to right now. Matters were at hand. Important ones.
There was a bit of shuffling from the back of the tent. All the fabric walls were an orange colour, and there were a few dividers further back to make something close to rooms. It was the largest tent out of them all, and while no one was out in the open inside of it, there was certainly someone in the back.
"Fili, is that you?" A voice asked. It was a bit further back and male, sounding as if it came from someone in their mid or late twenties. It was deep yet kind and had the sound of a warrior, if that sort of thing could be described in a voice. "Give me one more moment, make yourself comfortable..."
"Will do." Fili repled, stepping fully in through the door-flap. His sword was strapped to his back by a couple of thick, black ropes, but it didn't stay there for long. He pulled it free and placed it down on the ground beside a table where it would be noticed, so no one would step on it. Then, while streaching and reaching as far as he could with his arms, he took the liberty to find somewhere comfortable to sit down.
The tent was well furnished for being in a temporary camp - there were some chairs, probably provided by the citizens, and a table where a few glasses were. One of them was half empty with some sort of drink, either alcohol or a sort of juice. The chairs surrounded the rectangular table, and were somewhat cushioned. Fili walked over and flopped into one lazily, instantly shuffling his body to make himself comfortable as much as he could. The other things that filled the place were some suits of armor and some weapons, and boxes full of supplies, whether they were food or other objects. There was a rather cofortable looking bed in the corner, though it did look like it was just put up for the time. It was probably full of some sort of down or feathers. The tent overall was well put together and felt cozy, even with the circumstances that there was. Fili stared at the bed for a little bit longer, and then finally decided that there was no harm in it. He got out of the chair and strolled over to the corner where it was, and turned his back to it. He let his feet fall out from under him and his back collided with the soft cushions. He just lay there for a moment, not moving, untill there was more sounds of movement.
Fili only had to lift his head slightly to see the man who had just walked out of the back area of the tent. His hair was a grey white, unlike Fili's pure white, and it was incredibly long and straight. It reached to mid-back, and what would have been his bangs folded from his forehead and gently behind his ear. His eyes were an emerald green, and his face was handsome, and looked practically perfect. Pointed ears peeked out from the strands of hair. Other than the cotton towel around his neck and down to his chest, he was dressed in a plain, tight, long grey shirt. It went over the top of his pants slightly, which were straight black. He was well built with muscles on his chest, and was fairly thin around his waist. He was barefoot at the time and a few strands of his hair fell out of place. A drop of water fell down his cheek and onto his shirt, but he didn't seem to notice. Instead, he just watched Fili and placed a hand on his hip, a small smile playing onto his lips.
"You told me to make myself comfortable..." Fili replied with a grin on his face as he turned his head to rub it against the soft feather bedding. The man let out a small laugh and walked over to where the chairs were. He grabbed one and pulled it away from the table, bringing it towards the bed that Fili lay on. After placing it down he took a seat himself and started to dry his hair off a bit more with the towel. Fili pulled himself up onto the bed and sat with his legs hanging off of the edge.
"I'm quite sorry for the delay, I was just washing up back there..." The man told him, finishing off the little bit of drying of he was doing. Fili shrugged slightly, not caring about the wait in the least.
"It's not like i'm impatient." He replied, and he started to rock his legs back and forth while hanging them off the side.
"I didn't know you were in the area. Weren't you on a trip?"
"I just came back," Fili stated, and his legs stopped in their movement. "From Lia Fail, to check up on Queen Helba. You really should come some time, Rirurianu. His highness would certainly allow it if you asked."
Rirurianu shook his head a little, resting the towel back on his shoulders and placing his fingers in the shape of a steeple on his knees. "I'm sorry. My place is with my knights - where they go, I go. If they were to go to Lia Fail, I would be the one leading the way. But other than that I stay with them through all. It's a certain loyalty i've developed for them during the years that i've been with and led them."
Fili smiled and nodded in reply. He rested his head sideways on his left shoulder, facing the white-haired man. "Of course, I understand. You've been their best since you were fifteen. Such a young age for the experienced warrior you were, but you're nothing except the best for his highness."
Rian, as Saya had already proclaimed to call him, just shook his head and smiled weakly. "I'm sure there were better." He stated. Fili raised his eyebrows skeptically, obviously not believing it was so. Rian just chuckled lightly. "By the way, how is Bith?"
"Still as stuck up as always." Fili commented, turning his head away from the knight. He watched the other end of the tent blow slightly in the wind. "And he still dotes on Queen Helba like there's no tommorow. It's funny to watch him try so hard, yet refuse it when you ask about it or make a comment." The two laughed for a moment in unison, remembering a couple of past memories. The laughing died down, and with it, the joy fell as well. Fili's face became calmer and more serious, his eyes shutting a bit so that he could focus on the wind comming in, bringing a small bit of fog to the layed-out bamboo mat floor. "But unfortunately, Bith nor my trip is what i've come to speak to you about..."
Rian raised an eyebrow at him and stopped his fingers from tapping against each other as they did. He held them pointed up and together and watched his friend, not moving his eyes for even a moment. "Is there something... the matter?"
"I was resting in the fields outside of here, between Mac Anu and Dun Loireag, and I came across two travellers - a human named Saya, and a half-sprite named Ashieyu... but seemed to stick with the name Ashi." He started, still not moving his gaze. His eyes were fixed on the light wind. "While they were wonderful company, they told me some interesting things while I travelled with them here. They said they were on their way to come and meet you, and then on to Carmina Gadelica to meet with his highness."
"While I completly welcome any half-sprite to speak with me at almost any time, what is the occasion? It's rare to catch travellers nowadays, with the creatures mutation and all." Rian questioned, focusing even more on the story that Fili had began to tell.
"They also told me while we walked that apparently, in Mac Anu, there was a monster attack. And it broke through the Chaos Gate. That's what they explained. They were on their way here to meet with you to see if you could take them to his highness. They wanted to tell him personally of the happenings." Fili sighed and shook his head, breaking his concentration on the spot he had been staring at for quite a while. Rian's face became serious and he frowned slightly. His gazed diverted to his hands as he thought for a few moments.
"It must have been a very strong monster," The knight said, working it all out. "Chaos Gates are meant to protect the cities and towns from the mutations that have been occuring, and they are all very, very strong. To break through it is an incredible feat, even for a monster..."
"But there's even more." He continued, bringing a hand to his chin. "They said there was a man there, weilding a staff as sharp as a blade. Part of his skin was almost grey as stone, or so they said, and he seemed to have a liking for... death. They said he called himself 'Skeith'. Are you familliar with the name?" His head turned towards Rian, waiting for his reply.
It took a moment for Rian to think everything through and recall some things, but in the end he shook his head. "I've never heard of that name in my life..."
There were moments of silence as the two thought over the stories. Fili glanced up at the ceiling, watching the light breeze tug at the draped cloth. He tapped his foot lightly as the time went by, recollecting ideas and such, before standing up and dusting himself off. Rian turned his head towards him, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I guess i'm off, then." Fili said, giving a small wave and heading towards the back of the tent with a sideways walk to keep Rian in view. "I can't stay much longer, those two should be comming to visit you soon and I told them I had other matters to attend to. So! I guess i'll be seeing you in Carmina Gadelica the next time you come by...?"
The white knight nodded as he watched his friend back out of the tent from behind, not wanting to be caught 'stretching the truth' to the two kids.
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"Ashien... Asheey... uh, Ashi!"
Lilac hair turned this way and that as the lone traveler walked the streets, trying to find his partner. Saya still had no luck finding him from the first time he lost him, and he was getting rather worried that the half-sprite might have gotten into trouble. His expression was serious and nervous as he walked around, one hand partially cupped by his mouth to shout louder than he normally could. His cape fluttered behind him with each step that he took in the light breeze, now and then tangling itself around his legs, but he didn't seem to care or want to stop.
The lilac-haired traveler let out a sigh of annoyance, finding it a bit to hard to track down his friend. He could be anywhere, anywhere, within Dun Loireag. Luckily, he was quite sure the sprite wouldn't be leaving any time soon without him. They seemed to have already grown a bond, so Ashi wouldn't be too easy to loose.
He continued to call out, not really watching his feet and keeping his head held high in the air as he tried to see over other's heads. There was still no sign of the boy, however. Maybe he was looking in the wrong places, or the wrong side of the city?
As he walked around, however, a conversation caused him to stop. He was never really the one to snoop, but the two men conversing were being rather loud, and the subject brought up his attention.
"Did you see those two?" One of them commented, a hand on his hip and looking rather upset. "It was a half-sprite, I tell ya, it had a shadow!"
The other raised an eyebrow, staring at his companion. "A half-sprite?" He asked, seeming skeptical that one would be around. "They don't come out often. Like to hide themselves, y'know. Was it alone?" The other man shook his head in reply.
"With a human. Some guy from Mac Anu, I think. Lilac hair…"
Saya instantly made a jump towards the two, placing a hand on the first man's shoulder in his rush. His idea of finding the sprite instantly drew him to doing this and startling the two men.
"Where did you see him?" He demanded, but it was a lot more of worry than of being strict. The second man had jumped back and let out a small yelp as he had jumped out from nowhere, and the first one instantly reeled back and glared towards Saya. He was obviously uncaring to someone who associated themselves with half-sprites willingly.
"You were the one with him, weren't you?" He replied in an annoyed tone, as he drew one of his hands up and rubbed his shoulder as if it was covered in dirt. Saya frowned and looked towards the man's friend, though quickly remembered he didn't know anything, and then turned back towards the man. "You find him yerself."
"I became separated from him about a half hour ago," Saya commented, crossing his arms. "You must have seen us at the gate when we were just separating. Where did you see him go?"
The man let out a snort of air from his nose, acting as if Saya didn't deserve his attention. His friend, however, had already backed up a few steps to stay out of the argument between the two trying to keep himself as safe as possible.
"I saw you two walking together just a couple minutes ago," he finally said, sneering towards Saya. "You two were heading towards the White Knight's quarters. Don't know how you could be so stupid," using much emphasis on the word, "and forget how long it's been until you've seen him last."
A couple minutes ago.
Saya just kind of watched the man for a moment, trying to think and piece together something. His friend peeked out a bit more, trying to seem friendlier than the aggressive man. "I... is something wrong?" He asked, turning his head to the side slightly. The man scoffed and turned away, mumbling something to himself.
"Which direction is the Knight's quarters in?"
"Oh," the friend started. He turned his head slightly towards the tents and pointed his arm out towards them. "Over there. White Knight Rirurianu is in the biggest one, right there close to the front, you see?"
"… Thank you."
Saya's reply was small and simple as he turned away and started to run towards the hills that connected them to the tents. The man's friend held out his hand towards him and shouted something asking what was going on, but Saya had no reply.
A couple minutes ago...
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"Saya-san, this has got to be it! We're really here!"
"You're right… there are a ton of knights here…"
The camp was on the widest hill that was in the town - covered in orange tents with billowing material, there was one tent that was noticeably larger than the rest. There were many men running about in armor, some only partially armored, some in completely clothing. But they were definatly all knights, walking around through the light mist of the clouds that came naturally for Dun Loireag.
Ashi and Saya stood in front of the large camp as they watched the knights bustle about. Only one or two stopped to stare at them or ask them questions, and they simply said that they were here to see Rirurianu.
"Lord Rirurianu?" One of them asked, looking back to some of the tents. "He's really not open to anyone…"
"I'm a half-sprite, though. Will he see me… now?" Ashi commented, a hopeful look in his eyes. "I promise we won't be long!" Saya nodded in agreement, and the knight turned his head back to confirm it. It was true - the pointed ears, yet a shadow of his own - and that seemed to alter his decision slightly.
"Well…" he began, thinking for a moment. "All right. Lord Rirurianu always likes to see half-sprites. Go on ahead and just let yourself in, but call out as you're going in. He's probably in the back."
Both of them let out an excited thank you, and the knight only smiled a little bit from the praise and kept going, feeling rather good about himself. The two gave each other a small glance just before they started to run towards the tent, Ashi taking up a fairly noticeable lead. The sprite's eagerness to meet the knight was at it's peak, and Saya was really only background. He just continued to smile and follow after his friend, not really saying much.
Their run slowed down to an excited walk as they went, side by side, just merely meters away from the tent. As they stepped away, however, it seemed the white mage wasn't fast enough to not be caught by the two. Fili had just been stepping outside of the tent from the back, laughing and talking to someone and waving his hand in a dismissing manner.
"F-Fili-san!" Ashi called out, quite curious as to why he had been there. Of course the sprite had no idea that Fili had other matters - it was Saya that he had told. Fili seemed to perk at the sound of his voice and turned towards them, only smiling weakly. He seemed to say something, but they couldn't really hear it from the distance. The light coloured man began to head over to them, not really in much of a rush to meet up with them. He raised his hand to call out to them…
… but was abruptly stopped as a dagger whizzed past Saya and slit the arm of his clothing.
Ashi let out a yelp as he pulled back away from him, his hands shooting to his mouth. The call out from Fili of Saya's name could be heard as the man instantly broke out into a run and withdrew the blade from his back, but suddenly stopped once more. Out from the tent, because of all the cries, Rirurianu stepped out. He pushed the flap open of the tent with an alarmed face, trying to see what was going on. Saya had made a rather impossible-looking jump like flip onto the top of a low standing poll, used for a clothesline for the knights. He stood, bangs over his eyes, and held where the dagger cut with one hand. The dagger had stuck itself into the poll and stood upright.
The same dagger of the pair that Saya owned.
On top of Saya standing on top of the poll, another Saya stood at the front of the hill, holding the second dagger ready to strike. Two Saya's - both looking exactly the same - stood in the same area. Ashi's hand somewhat dropped as he looked between the two, quite startled.
"Saya-san… and Saya-san?" He said, looking back and forth. That was the reason that Fili had stopped so suddenly, and his blade was lowered to a non-offensive state.
"Fili, what in the name of..." Rirurianu started, half glaring towards both of them. One of them had to be a trick, or someone had an identical twin that was intending on pretending to be the other. Fili just shook his head in response, clueless as to what was going on.
The one on the poll stood there, turning his head a little just so one eye could see the second Saya. He then gently turned his gaze towards the half-sprite and smiled.
"Weren't we going to see Rirurianu?"
Ashi stared, dumbfounded at both of the Saya's. The second one just gestured with his dagger as if he was ready to throw it any minute.
"Crap!" He shouted, waving the pointed weapon in the air and reffering to his last sentence. "It might have worked better if I wasn't here, and if you remembered that I can't pronounce sprite names."
It was true. Saya was unable to say neither Ashieyu or Rirurianu. The look alike just kept on grinning however has his head drifted to it's initial position, of bangs just over his eyes slightly. His lip was still curved into a smile - the smile of a child amused by a toy. There was an awkward silence as everyone just watched and waited for the next thing to happen or for a Saya to make it's move.
It's head twisted up in a happy bounce, lilac hair folding itself in the wind and blowing. The same childish grin remained, eyes closed and full of content.
Deceit.
The word rang through everyone's heads like an echo. It seemed to appear out of nowhere, but somehow it seemed to come from the Saya imitation at the same time.
"We had fun and that's all that matters though, right?" It said, opposite of the rest of the group in emotion. It's right cheek suddenly began to look shattered - as if the skin was broken up into shards, and underneath was the grey colour of stone. An aura of magic surrounded the being as he watched everyone below playfully. The cut in the sleeve of it's shirt even began to look broken, and his shoulders were gradually breaking up. In some places it was grey and others it was peach underneath the shell of Saya, and in others there were even different colours. "It didn't take me long to find you," It continued again, as some of the broken pieces of the image began to fall to the ground. "And your image was easy peasy!" It's voice was cracking into that of a boy's and no longer Saya's. He pointed his arm out as pieces of the shattered illusion fell right off with that force. "I could've done it if I wanted, but it was just too fun! You wouldn't have figured it out if your friend hadn't said so and realised there was more than one of him..."
"Who..." Saya started, getting a chill that was quite familliar to him. It had come to him before, and recently. And somehow, it reminded him of...
"Skeith-kun is just a grouch," The creature replied, as another few pieces fell to the ground and broke up even more so than they had already been.
"You're playing with fire now, kiddies! But I guess that's okay for you, eh, Saya-san?"
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Pika : That's it for now. Hopefully the summer will mean more chapters, but I dunno. Again, thanks for reading and reviewing and... stuff. Yeh.
By the way, reviews are loved. I live off of reviews.