This isn't that much of an important chapter, really. Feel welcome to skip it if you are not in the mood to read a quick report on the events on this fanfic. Not to mention it's a bit of a spoiler for the fic.
So, if you want to read this, just scroll down.
By the way . . . this chapter is yuri oriented.
If you're a yaoi fan like someone I know . . . I REALLY recommend you skip this.
You literally won't miss a thing if you skip this chapter.
I mean, the summary part is just a very small part of this chapter and it's not that good, really.
Well, if you insist . . . just give me the same kind of warning if I'm going to read any of your yaoi fics . . . -
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RAGNAROK ONLINE FANFIC
Version 2
TRANSGRESSIONS OF FATEBy: RAGNAR (that really is my name)
Chapter 30: Hidden AgendasMae toyed with the memory cube for a moment before placing in it, her report to her Mistress. Her white eyes glinted in the light of her room in the Keeper's palace. In that moment, Mae pondered on what might happen if she and her Mistress were caught. What they were doing would warrant a scandal so great that even the Mistress herself fears to mention. In that moment, she wondered if she should just go to her Mistress and report to her personally.
No, that would be too suspicious . . . oh, very well.
Now, who does she have to use as focus for the report?
Ah, yes!
Focusing a minuscule amount of energy towards the cube, Mae inserted her thoughts into it, creating a close to coherent report of what had transpired this last half of a year.
Sodos Jairen, captain of Ancient Geffen's – now Glast Heim – tenth regiment after apprenticed by the then hero, Marus Shadow-Eyes, was banished to the Rift for being found guilty of leading an insurrection.
Upon his escape, he had accompanied himself with the true leader of the so-called "Rebellion", Degedos, captain of the then Council's bodyguard. They have then both struck a deal with the demon, Baphomet, in order to hunt down the Guardians. However, their hate for the Guardians were only reflections of the emotions of the one who created the Rift from which they were imprisoned for more than a thousand years – Sei'Gash. The true reason for Sodos' hate was the death of his wife and the betrayal of his brother, the High Wizard, Leish. His hate mingled with Sei'Gash's until it became one confusing mass of emotion. This has also applied as true for Degedos.
Sei'Gash was a demon of immense power and hate. However, in order to accomplish the Mistress's plans, he had to be released into the world. This posed a great threat to the Mistress and all her Keepers because it will warrant a punishment that even the Fateless will not envy. The Mistress' manipulation of fate and events has lead to the destruction of Alberta and Morroc, the loss of the Soul of Geffen, the Undead attack on Geffen, and the release of the Demon Keys.
Sodos and Degedos, after betraying Baphomet, found other means to carry out their plans. Sodos was able to track down Marus Shadow-Eyes, now revealed as the Norn's most loyal and trusted soldier, and was able to summon Sei'Gash from Marus' soul.
Fortunately however, the Keeper, Mae, who took over a young Mage's body was able to subdue and contain the demon and pacify the Fateless before they could cause more damage than was possible in that day. Not only that, she was able to conscript the Fateless and the Mage's friends to help her in her mission.
Since these occurrences were a perturbation from normal string of events – such as the event of the escape of the Fateless from the Rift – it has lead to much controversy here in the Keeper's castle. For one thing, it was because it had hinted on the Mistress's involvement for only she was able to accomplish such kind of manipulations on events.
As one event led to another, the Keeper was now reaching her limit within the Mage's body and had to leave. So, as per orders of the Mistress, the Keeper has charged the Fateless to protect Rune Midgard from the corrupt guardian, Mivere and then she must wait in the Keeper's castle for further orders.
Unfortunately, this is all this Keeper can report.
Cutting off her connection with the memory cube, Mae sighed to herself. Her Mistress was giving orders that even the other Keepers involved were confused when they tried to piece them together. Too many things left unanswered. Too many things left unsaid.
Mae's mind wandered for a moment.
How long has it been since she last saw Sodos? Seven months? Eight?
Mae simply lay down on her chair. The room had a spell in it that lets out the sounds of calling birds and a nearby stream, giving quite a soothing atmosphere. What if she just tell her Mistress that she can no longer do this?
No, that cannot be. Mae chose to be Keeper, and she will have to abide by that duty. Unfortunately for her though, it pains her deep inside that she had to use Sodos in all these chaotic manipulations.
Inwardly, she tried to curse the day her Mistress asked her to be her Keeper. But then, it was her choice and she had to live with that for a very, very long time.
She heard a few musical chimes from the orb that floated at the farther end of her small room. The Keeper's castle has no doors. Instead, they have these orbs that teleports you from one destination within the castle to another as long as you know your destination. That chime was someone's request to come into her room.
Leaving the memory cube on a small table, Mae walked towards the teleportation orb. She waved her hand once on top of the orb to see who it was outside her room. The face was familiar, but the hair seemed a little longer than when she last saw that person. Sea-blue eyes stared intently through the glass. Glossy black hair framed a perfectly oval face with a handsomely bold nose and full lips. "Well?" the woman outside said impatiently, "are you going to wait for me to dance the kandara or something? Because I'm doing no such thing."
Smiling and shaking her head, Mae stepped back. "Come in, Arande. You know you're always welcome to my room."
A portal opened next to the orb bringing in her fellow Keeper, Arande. The woman wasn't exactly that high in terms of position amongst the Keepers. Mae's friend was basically just some sort of spy for Mistress Beholder Munin's eyes and ears but she was a friend nonetheless.
Too bad that Mae had to leave Arande out of the Mistress's plans. Too bad . . .
Arande made herself comfortable by sitting down on the nearest cushioned couch. The other Keeper sighed and visibly relaxed all her muscles. "Have you heard the latest news from Prontera, Mae?"
Sitting down next to her friend, Mae replied, "No, actually."
Arande actually stretched before answering. Her arm was right behind Mae's shoulder when she finished stretching. The woman was obviously trying to make her feel awkward, which has become Arande's favorite pastime of late. "Well, I didn't think so, either, with you cooped up in this room all day for the last week. What do you do here anyway? Anything I might enjoy, myself? What if we just do it together?"
Despite herself, Mae laughed and blushed at the same time. If there was one person in the world of Keepers that she felt rather comfortable with, it was Arande. For all her sometimes crass and shockingly forward talk, she was, well, a very open woman. "Actually, the only rumor I have heard for the past week was that my Mistress plotting something disastrous – it sounded ridiculous really . . . I just wanted to be alone for the week Arande."
"Is it about – what was his name again? Oh yes! – Sodos?"
Mae smiled wryly and nodded. Well, she didn't lie at that, other than sending out her reports to her Mistress, part of the time she spent in her room was thinking of him. For some reason, Mae found herself twisting her marriage ring that she placed on a necklace on her neck.
"You miss him that much?"
"Yes."
"He must be very special to melt that cold heart of yours."
Mae stared at Arande incredulously. "What do you mean 'cold'?" she asked.
Arande gave a start when she probably realized she had been murmuring. "Oh! Nothing . . . Never mind I just said that." The smile the woman gave her seemed forced.
Mae realized that they were deviating from the subject. "By the way, what was that about Prontera again?"
Slapping her own forehead, Arande laughed at her own absentmindedness. "Sorry about that," she said, "the news was that one hell of a demon showed up in the city. Mistress Munin's other eyes and ears weren't exactly clear on the details but there was this Crusader that cast a Grand Cross spell so big that the Wizards in the city were nauseated for the rest of the day."
That has to be a very powerful spell. And Mae only knew of one Crusader with that sort of potential. "Tell me Arande," Mae cut in, "is there any chance that the Crusader was a half-orc?"
Arande's eyes widened in surprise. "Y-yes . . . how did you know?"
Mae smiled. "Just a theory."
The demon must have been Priega. Not much can be done for Kevin now. The man will have to fend for himself in the Afterlife. The Mistress's plans were going considerably well, indeed, despite the sacrifices the had to make.
"Hey, Mae." Arande suddenly spoke out.
"Yes?"
Arande stood up from the couch and paused for a minute in front of Mae. The other Keeper coughed uneasily before saying anything. "The sky is going to light up tomorrow . . . I was just wondering if . . . you and I could . . ." that last part was where Arande started to blush.
Mae gaped. It was no big secret that Arande had taken a liking to her. Mae just didn't think much about it . . . until now. That the other woman would ask her out tomorrow when the stars will start to fall was quite a new step for the both of them.
But regrettably, Mae didn't share Arande's feelings. "I would love to come with you, Arande."
Arande beamed and was about to come closer to her.
"But I'm afraid that I could only come as a friend." Mae cut in using a gentle tone of voice.
Mae felt guilty when the other woman displayed hurt on her face, but she spoke the full truth. She still considered herself Sodos' wife.
Arande visibly shook and clenched her fist. "I hate him," the woman said while looking away.
Mae half-stood from the couch in an attempt to comfort her friend. "Why?"
"Because I can never have a chance with you as long as he's there!" Arande snapped. "I hate him because he has the only thing I want!"
Mae took two quick steps and embraced her friend. She whispered into the other woman's ears, "I'm sorry, Arande."
The woman actually hugged her tight enough that Mae thought she was going to loose her breath any moment. "One day, Mae. One day you are going to forget him and I will be waiting for you."
In spite of the sadness in the atmosphere, Mae smiled. "Thank you, Arande."
Ending the embrace, Arande looked at her and wiped away tears. "I'm not kidding, Mae. I'll wait for you even if to the day I grow wrinkles."
Mae chuckled . . . Keepers never age.
"I'll fix you some tea." Mae said and walked to the cupboard. "How do you like it? Sweet?"
"Yes."
Humming, Mae poured the tea she was heating on the stove into the cups and added some honey into one of them.
When Mae turned around, she almost dropped the cups when she saw what was in Arande's hands. It was the memory cube she carelessly left unlocked. Mae cursed herself for being so stupid. The moment Arande dreams, whatever information was in that cube will be known.
"What's in this box? You're diary? Can I take a peek?" Arande asked, eyeing the memory box quizzically, not knowing that it was open.
Placing the teacups on the table, Mae took a few quick strides forward, seized Arande's hair and kissed the woman. Arande reacted with shock that was soon replaced by something else, something Mae thought was familiar.
The memory cube dropped on the carpet with a muffled thud while both their tongues intertwined. Arande's hand caressing her back brought back the memories Mae had with Sodos.
Arande pulled out and looked at her curiously. "Why just now?"
Mae suppressed tears and smiled. "Just shut up and kiss me."
And they resumed their rather controversial act. Their lips found each other as both of them found comfort in the other's arms. Their tongues touched and probed each other with furious hunger. What they were doing sparked a longing Mae had felt only with Sodos.
Forgive me, Arande.
Arande was stiff with shock when Mae suddenly broke off the kiss. Choking gasps escaped the other Keeper's throat while her wide-open eyes darted around in confusion.
Mae held Arande close by holding her waist with her left arm. Her right hand held a slim icicle that was jammed through the other woman's ribs. Blood gave the piece of ice the look of a ruby.
"Wh-why?" Arande sobbed. Her face was creased from the anguish of Mae's betrayal.
Twisting the icicle around to find her target, Mae suppressed a sob of her own when Arande gasped in pain. "Forgive me, Arande, but I have my duties to my Mistress."
"S-so it's t-true then . . . th-the rumors." Arande gasped.
Mae pulled the dying woman close and whispered into her ear. "For what it's all worth, the kiss was enjoyable." She found her target. Mae kissed Arande's lips one last time.
Arande's blue eyes were filled with pain and Mae was filled with guilt.
"Goodbye." And Mae pushed the icicle deeper and straight through Arande's heart.
Letting her best friend's body fall to the floor, Mae fell on both knees racking with sobs.
Forgive me . . .
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AUTHOR'S NOTE:
If you are going to flame me for the yuri, my response would be . . . "SCREW YOU!" didn't you read the warning labels on top!