Author's Note: I'm back! No, I didn't die. Well, not permanently, anyway. I've been up to my eyeballs in schoolwork (that's what I get for going to a college prep school), chores, and the few doctors' appointments I must attend. Sorry if I kept you waiting.
Here's the second chapter! I hope you enjoy.
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Disclaimer: sigh Why do I have to do this every chapter??
-clears throat- I do not own Alice 19th or anything associated with Alice 19th. I do, however, own any characters I use that are not presented in said manga, and you must have permission to use them.
Thank you.
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Chapter II: Duty Calls
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Clem stared at Frey, slender eyebrow cocked, looking as if she had just witnessed a third eye growing out of his forehead.
"What?" he asked, amusement sparkling in his eyes. "Like something you see?"
Clementine quickly shook her head—blushing—and scowled. "No, not that!" Pausing, she sighed. "It's just that... well... everything you're saying is just going straight over my head. Lotis words... Lotsunan League of Sacred Guides... "Buimuku"... it just doesn't make sense."
Frey nodded—his blonde braid sliding over his shoulder. "I expected as much. Don't worry about grasping everything you hear. It will take a while to fully understand."
"I don't like doing things I don't understand."
Frey's lips twisted upwards in a sort of smirk. "It's understandable, Miss Clementine. None of us enjoy doing things we don't understand. We can't determine the outcome." He leaned forward; his mirthful countenance being replaced by a steely look. "However, you did see the Mara in your own heart. Understand this: if you do not overcome it, it will devour you whole."
Clem diverted her hazel eyes to the carpet silently. "I..." Feeling a hand placed gently on her shoulder, she looked up to meet Frey's eyes.
"Clementine... I know you're suspicious. You're telling yourself that this is some kind of ploy—that I'm some kind of con-artist. But believe me when I say this: I am as sincere as I could ever be. Everything I have said is true. Deep down, you know this. Deep down, you know what you have to do."
Looking away, Clementine slowly let out a deep breath. "I... I need to join the Sacred Guides... I need to become stronger..." She looked back at him a bit confusedly. "But why? So I can fight myself?"
Frey smiled. "No, Clementine. You must grow stronger so you can overcome your darkness, and then you must help overcome the darkness of others. There's darkness in every heart, and the average human cannot overcome the Mara on their own. It's the duty of us Lotis Masters to use the Lotis words in order to eradicate the Mara from the hearts of mankind. To use a cliché phrase, 'we fight for the greater good.'"
A slight smile graced Clementine's lips. "It all sounds so simple when you put it that way."
"Simple, it is most certainly not," Frey stated in a laughing tone. "It's one of the most complicated things you could ever do. But," he added, eyes twinkling. "It becomes easier as you go."
Clem raised her eyes to the wall—staring blankly for quite a while. Finally, she turned back to Frey—resolution flashing in her eyes. "I'll do it."
"A wise choice."
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"Um, Clem, dear... who is this?"
Clementine turned to her mother. "Eh..." She looked up at Frey. "He's a friend. From a school in Northern Europe."
Mrs. Greensley still looked incredulous—eyeing Frey a bit warily.
"Mom... don't worry! We're not... 'involved.'" Clem couldn't help but smile a bit at the idea. Frey did happen to be extremely handsome and chivalrous, if not a little enigmatic.
Frey turned to her mother, smiling broadly. "It's so very nice to meet you, Mrs. Greensley. I've heard much about you." Lifting Mrs. Greensley's hand, he pressed his lips to it in a gentlemanly gesture—yet one quite alien to Clem and her mother. Blushing deeply in response, Mrs. Greensley seemed at a loss for words. Grinning, Frey went on.
"Are you sure you're Clementine's mother? You seem too beautiful—too young!"
At this point, Mrs. Greensley was at a complete loss—blushing and stuttering in response to Frey's incessant flattery.
Clem sweat-dropped, watching the humorously uncomfortable scene unfold. "Is this guy for real?"
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Clementine, Frey, and Mrs. Greensley were seated at the kitchen table. Mrs. Greensley was surveying Clementine was a scrupulous gaze—a slight blush still tinting her cheeks. "You want to study abroad?
"Well, yes," Clem stated with as cute a smile as she could muster. "There's this one school in Northern Europe that's supposed to be exceptional—Frey says so, at least, and he's one of the head members there—and being an exchange student is something I've wanted to do for a long time."
It wasn't a lie. She had wanted to study abroad for quite a while. "Still... lying to mom doesn't feel right for some reason..."
"I can surely attest to this, Mrs. Greensley," Frey added, flashing a brilliant smile. "I've attended this school for a few years, and look how I turned out!"
Complete silence reigned.
"Um..." Clementine cleared her throat to break the uncomfortable hush. "Anyways, what do you say, mom?"
"Well..." Mrs. Greensley looked a bit torn. "It might be a good experience... but it will be very different. You do understand that, right, Clem?"
"Of course, mom. I know that I'll have to change a lot of things, but I'm hoping it's worth it." She inwardly sighed. "I'm praying that it's worth it..."
Mrs. Greensley shifted her eyes from Clementine, to Frey, then back to Clem. Closing them, she sighed deeply. "Alright... if you think this will be helpful to your education..."
Smiling, Clem stood up and hugged her mother. "It will be, mom. I promise."
Mrs. Greensley hugged Clementine—a forced smile on her lips. She leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Don't let this young man take advantage of you."
Blushing deeply, Clementine vigorously shook her head. "Don't worry, I most certainly will not."
"I love you, sweetie."
Clem closed her eyes—barring the flood-gate of tears. "This... this could be the last time I ever see mom... Frey told me that what I'm about to do is dangerous... I could die... what would happen if I die? What would mom do? I'm the only thing she has left..." Suddenly, she felt like she was torn in two. "I know what I need to do, and I know how to do it... yet... where's the line between the duty of a savior and the duty of a daughter?" A tear freed itself from underneath her eyelid and slid down her cheek. "I love you too, mom." Pulling back, she smiled tearily. "I should probably go pack. We need to leave tomorrow. I have everything cleared up at school."
"Alright, honey. Will you be visiting back here for Christmas?"
Clementine bit her lip, and then forced a bright smile. "Of course!" Her forced smile was replaced by a genuine one. "Or maybe you could come visit me for Christmas! I know you've always wanted to visit Europe."
"That's a good idea, Clementine," Frey voiced, exposing his ever-cheerful smile. "We would love to have you visit, Mrs. Greensley. There's always room for visitors at our school."
Mrs. Greensley smiled—the sadness in her eyes dissipating. "It sounds like a plan."
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Sighing, Clementine leaned back against the airplane seat. It had been a long day. Packing, planning, saying goodbye... "Everything's just gone by in a blur..."
"Are you alright, Clementine?"
Lazily opening an eye, Clem glanced at Frey. "I'm fine. Just a little overwhelmed."
"Completely understandable. Actually, you've dealt with this much better than I had anticipated."
"What did you think I would do? Freak out?"
"Well, quite frankly, yes. That's how most people respond."
Clem grinned slightly—slowly opening both green-brown eyes. "Well, that was my initial reaction, wasn't it?"
Laughing a bit, Frey nodded. "True, true."
Yawning quietly, Clementine closed her eyes again and soon fell asleep. Time flew by, and when she re-opened her eyes, it was dark. Blinking to clear the sleepy haze, she saw that a few lights were on. She tilted her head and saw that Frey was staring blankly at a picture. She strained to get a good view of the picture, but only could make out a young woman with blonde hair.
"Who is that?"
Frey jumped—snapping out of his reverie. "Wha...? Oh, it's no one." He quickly hid the picture.
Usually, Clementine would have pestered Frey until he answered, but she was stopped by the look of remorse and anguish she read in his deep-green eyes. Knowing that she shouldn't push any further, she shrugged a little and let it go.
After a while of staring at the seat in front of him, Frey shifted his back to Clementine and laid his head on his stiff white airplane pillow. "Good night, Clementine."
"Good night, Frey."
Sighing, she looked out the window at the passing clouds. "This is going to be one interesting experience..."
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Author's Note: Sorry this chapter is so short. It's just basically a filler. The next one should be longer. I hope. -sweatdrop-
I'm trying sooo hard to keep Frey in character... I don't know how well I'm succeeding... -sigh-
Thanks to all who reviewed!!
Review Responses:
mary: Thanks very much. No, no, I'm most definitely NOT in college. I am merely a lowly high-school freshman. And I'm not kidding. Haha, nooo, you can't have Frey. He's so totally mine.
essenceofdreams: Um... -blush- Th-thank you... I'm glad you like this fic so much... I wasn't expecting anyone to like it very much... but... thank you. I'm elated to know that someone is actually looking forward to more chapters, instead of groaning and praying for it to be over.
June Antilles: It's ABOUT TIME you read this!! Well, I basically had to force you to read it. lol, anyways, thanks for the review.