Chapter 7 – Tina – Allegiance
I can't seem to get to sleep. Everything has been going so fast lately. It wasn't more than two days ago I felt completely helpless. I didn't know my name, my reason, anything at all. Now, I'm surrounded by people who want to help me and are trying to tell me that I'm not bad but the people I used to work for are bad. It's all so confusing, who's right? Am I truly righteous or was I a willing pawn in evil plans? Were the plans actually evil? Are these people trying to help me really the evil ones trying to gain my favor? I really don't know where to turn to for answers. I try turning to Lock or Edgar and they fail to assist me. They say they don't want to pressure me into choosing their side because then they'd be just as bad as the people who formally ruled over me. Unfortunately, I don't know how to make this decision. Up until now I've just being with the flow, knowing these men wouldn't bring harm to me. In fact, I hear that creepy man that was at the castle was one of the leaders of the Empire and they wanted to kidnap me. Does that mean Edgar saved my life? If he saved my life, what do I owe in return? He's a king, what could I possibly offer him? What of Lock? He saved me too, do I owe him something as well? I guess getting my confusion on paper has helped me out a little, I'm starting to fall into sleep…
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I feel very refreshed today. I must have fallen asleep before I could finish my entry. Everyone took me to meet Banon last night. He's the leader and mentor of the Returners. Their hideout is hidden in the mountains far from plain site, so at least I feel safe here. Banon was a little scary at first. He started talking about horrible things that he says I'd done. How could I have killed a large swarm of soldiers in three minutes! I know it's lie, it has to be a lie…I couldn't really kill someone…could I?
But he did his best to comfort me; he told me the story of Pandora's box. The story where there was a box that everyone was told never to open and then someone went and opened it anyway. All the evils of the world were released leaving nothing in the box except hope. He says that I was that ray of hope that they were desperately seeking. Does that mean I must help them? Before I could say anything he was overtaken by fatigue and so we all rested. But….if I'm that hope…who's to say hope is really good? I mean, could hope actually be an evil? Can hope just blind a person from truth and lead them into more downfalls? In that case, could hope be the greatest of all evils? I sure hope I'm not as bad as I think I am. Everything is still pretty blurry so I'm in no condition to make urgent decisions.
Later that afternoon we all had a meeting. Although I was still undecided, they invited me to sit in. They all discussed the current situation with me, Figaro, Mash's recent acceptance into the Returners, and the Empire's secret research. Banon thinks that the Magic-Based armors that the Empire uses in their military has the same magic powers linked to that 1000 year old War of the Magi. "War of the Magi?" I asked. They told me that long, long ago, there were three gods of Magic and Battle and they fought with each other over petty differences. Each of the three gathered considerable sized forces and fought for 100's of years with each other, reducing the planet to nothing but ruin. After all that time of fighting with each other, they all came into agreement and decided to encase themselves in stone, and stop the fighting before they could cause more damage to the world. The people used in the battle were transformed into Genju, which were like humans transformed by their own magical abilities. The three Gods, the Magi, knew that these Genju and normal humans couldn't live together or they'd recreate such a war as the war they fought. So they created a world just for the Genju and created a barrier preventing entrance or exit from either world. The three Magi, now turned to stone, were put beyond that barrier so that human hands couldn't touch them and become consumed by the same power that consumed the Gods themselves and forced war on the world.
I wondered how could there be a correlation between that time over 1000 years ago and today? No one knew, but Banon did feel there was at least some correlation to be discovered. Edgar mentioned that he and all of Figaro were to cut off all association with the Empire. If the Empire is really bad, does that mean Figaro will endure the same fate that came to the castle? Oh, that day was so frightening. I woke up and fire was everywhere. Luckily, Lock was nearby and we escaped before the fire made maneuvering impossible.
Oh, it was but such a delightful conversation we had, I learned much about the world's current events and how genuinely concerned these people were about life and people and freedom. With such a sincere concern on everyone's face, how could these people be evil? I've finally decided, I'm going to help them.
Before I could formally make my statement known by the group there came a distressing message. A Returner soldier stumbled into the hideout, severely wounded and barely able to speak. He had several wounds on his body, he himself was clutching the most cruel wound on his side. He muttered that the Empire was coming towards Figaro and onward to the Returners' hideout. Without a moment to lose, everyone assessed the situation and acted accordingly. Lock volunteered to rush back to South Figaro and attempt to infiltrate and slow down the Empire at any cost. I've been traveling with him since the very beginning, I sure hope he comes back ok, I'd hate to lose someone I haven't repaid yet. Edgar, Mash, and Banon decided to sneak out the back on a raft to reach Narche and hopefully reach some agreement with the people there, knowing that due to the frozen Genju that was found there the Empire would probably strike them next, even though Narche is a neutral town. They urged me to come along, boasting that I may learn more about my abilities, if nothing else. They don't realize that I've decided to help them at all costs as well, I suppose I'll have to tell them some time…
Author's Note: Ok, I'll just make this quick. Japanese names on the left, American names on the right.
Japanese/American
Tina/Terra
Lock/Locke
Genju/Esper
Mash/Sabin
Narche/Narshe