comes in chanting Chapter 8, chapter 8, chapter 8! Yay! Umm...please review after you have read this...PLEASE! (you'll know why soon enough) Read on, mon amie! God! Show me maaaaaaagic! (Superfurry Animals, dudes)
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Fayt assumed his training position, sitting down cross legged on the damp grass. Setting his sword to the side, the young boy closed his eyes, reaching inside of himself to find those two forever present forces. Once he found the glowing weave of his soul and powers, he sat back and sighed. The blue haired boy still hadn't found out how to control his power, and it was starting to frustrate him.
Fayt reached up to his forehead and wiped the sweat that had gathered there away from his eyes, smoothing some stray pieces of hair back. Setting his jaw in determination, the teenager put his arm forward, attempting once more to grab the snake-like energy in front of him. He winced in pain when the energy shocked him once again and rubbed his arm, looking back at the twisting forces. What was he supposed to do?
A few minutes later, the young boy felt a strange sensation slithering its way up his arm. Staring down, Fayt realized that it felt as if his arm was slowly freezing, a biting cold making its way to his shoulder. The blue haired boy began to panic as he felt it seep up his shoulder and make its way through his chest, and, without thinking, plunged his hand into the net of his soul and power. Fayt gritted his teeth as pain coursed through his body, his mind flashing in brilliant bursts of light. Snapping his gaze back to the mass of energy in front of him, the teenager realized that his hand was moving in a circular motion, almost like it was mixing his power and soul together…
Suddenly, the pain that had run through his body only a moment ago ceased, and Fayt was sitting still, staring in amazement at what used to be the individual weaves of energy. Now, instead of being able to pick out his soul from his power, there was a bright mass of light that seemed as one energy source. Breathing in deeply, Fayt stood up and walked towards it, his brow furrowing in confusion. What had happened only a moment ago? It seemed almost as if someone else was thinking for him, telling him what to do, controlling him. Opening his eyes to the outside world, Fayt checked to make sure that no one had been around. Glancing to his left and right, the teenager saw the small forest just as he had left it. He was still sitting on a large boulder that was half buried into the ground, and the tall redwood trees were still swaying soothingly in the warm breeze. Standing up, the blue haired boy stared at his hands as he opened and closed them, wondering if anything had changed.
Closing his eyes once more, Fayt focused on the large boulder that now lay in front of him, trying to remember back to the time when he had destroyed the Vendeeni ship with his power. The teenager remembered feeling angry at being so utterly helpless to prevent what had been happening around him, the chaos and death that the Vendeeni wrought upon the medieval planet with their advanced technology. He also remembered feeling guilty that he had brought about the death of so many, him being the one that the Vendeeni had been after.
Slipping back into those feelings, Fayt broke out into a cold sweat, the emotions washing over him. Still concentrating on the boulder, the teenager felt a small tug at his soul, then more pain as the tugging didn't stop. Doubling over, the blue haired boy looked up just in time to see the boulder start to glow in a bright, white light, before it disappeared all together without a sound. Fayt's vision blurred and he fell to the ground, the world turning black for a moment before his sight returned to him. Sitting up slowly as he placed a hand to his head, the teenager looked straight ahead of him in amazement. He had finally figured it out. Smiling faintly to himself, Fayt stared at the large hole in the ground and listened as the forest surrounding him grew eerily silent.
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Albel tossed a stray lock of hair out of his face as he walked slowly through the large stone gateway that led him out of Aquios. The older man had left early that morning, taking tender care so that he wouldn't wake his foolish companion. He couldn't afford to make that mistake again.
Staring ahead, Albel watched in satisfaction as two guards stumbled out of his way, no doubt having heard the rumors that Albel the Wicked was in their fair city. Grinning lopsidedly, the swordsman narrowed his eyes as he passed the frightened guards.
"Stupid maggots…" he thought, stepping out from underneath the arch. Looking up into the sky, Albel noted that it was hardly past sunrise, as the colors in the sky still had a purple tint to them, night not yet willing to give way to the bright, blue sky of day.
The swordsman had decided to leave Aquios that morning when he had woken up, and the impulsive man had acted upon his whims. It revolted him to be around Woltar in a way that Albel couldn't explain, much less understand. His long time father figure had sickened him last night, creating in the swordsman a sort of panic, and a feeling that he needed to escape. Albel had also decided not to tell Fayt, since the boy would only pester him with questions on why they were leaving. No, the stubborn kid would probably have demanded that Albel stay, telling him that he wasn't better yet and that they still hadn't visited the Queen. Well, damn the Queen and damn Woltar. They both disgusted him with their trivial matters. And as for his blue haired companion, no doubt Albel was still curious as to what had happened after the fight with the Creator, but not that curious.
Albel started walking down the trodden path that led to Peterny, as he had decided to stop by the trading town to gather supplies. His own supplies had grown appallingly low over the course of his journeys with Fayt.
After a few minutes of walking, the swordsman stopped and raised an eyebrow as he stared down at his arm. It was throbbing once again and Albel saw to his annoyance red blood seeping through the bandages. He must have torn his stitches out while he was shifting his sack. Grabbing the last of his own bandages out of his bag, Albel removed the other white cloth. Sure enough, a few of his stitches were torn, his skin opening to reveal raw flesh underneath. Angrily wrapping his arm once more, Albel made a mental note that he would also have to see another doctor once he got to Peterny, because he definitely wasn't heading back to Aquios.
The swordsman started walking once more, only to be stopped by a shout.
"Wait! Albel, please wait!" Fayt yelled from the gateway that lead back to Aquios, starting to run. The older man swore under his breath and turned his back on the approaching figure in disgust. Why was it that every damned time Albel left, the boy always seemed to know? The swordsman heard the younger boy's rapidly approaching footsteps slow as he stopped to catch his breath. They were only a few feet apart now, the younger man quickly catching up with Albel, who was feeling slightly dizzy from his reopened wound.
"Albel, what…? Ah, your arm…" Fayt said, pointing to the blood soaked cloth that was still lying on the ground.
"Go back, Leingod." The swordsman sneered, dropping his sack back to the ground and crossing his arms over his chest.
"What are you doing? Where are you going? We have to go and meet with the Queen. The meeting has already been arranged…" Fayt continued, reaching over and grabbing Albel on his left arm.
"I'm not going back to that damned city," the older man hissed, pulling his arm sharply from the boy's hand.
"Why not? Albel, what's wrong?" Fayt said, staring confusedly into the swordsman's face.
"It doesn't concern you, fool." Albel muttered, staring at the dirt path. Fayt sighed and put his hands on his hips.
"We have to go back, Albel. You're wounded. Now, let's go back and get the doctor, you're looking pale again…" the blue haired boy said, with a sense of finality to his voice.
"Heh…I'd like to see you try and force me to go back to that cursed city." Albel hissed, his voice reflecting his thoughts of a battle between the two companions.
"Fine. Either you come peaceably with me now or I drag you back to Aquios, you choose." Fayt said, his temper quickly running thin.
"Oh? And how do you propose on doing that, worm?" the swordsman said, his eyebrow arching in amusement.
Fayt glared at Albel before taking a step towards the older man. Albel's voice, however, stopped the blue haired boy's footsteps.
"Why do you care what happens to me, maggot? Why are you always so damned concerned with my affairs?" the swordsman growled, his voice showing nothing but contempt as he pressed forward, "or perhaps it is because you can't stand being parted from me for more than five minutes. Perhaps it is because you have 'feelings' for me. If this is true, fool, then you have fallen in love with the wrong person."
Albel watched in mild amusement as Fayt stared at the ground, clenching and unclenching his fists. The older man had expected the teenager to fall silent at his last remark, but what he hadn't expected was that Fayt would suddenly snap his head up and glare at him. The blue haired boy narrowed his eyes and quickly reached out with his hand, grabbing the short chain attached to the metal collar that was around the swordsman's long neck.
Pulling Albel's face close to his, Fayt said in a hushed, barely audible whisper, "We're going back to Aquios whether you like it or not, Albel." Then turned and yanked heavily on the chain that was still in his grasp, making the swordsman stumble and almost fall. The older man regained his balance, however, and when he did, roughly pulled the chain that was attached at his throat from the teenager's strong grasp. Fayt turned around in astonishment, only to be pushed violently up against a tree.
Albel stood closely in front of the blue haired boy, leaning an arm on the bark above Fayt's head, as he was dizzy from his quick movements.
"Nice try, Leingod." Albel whispered, looking down into the younger man's face. Bright green eyes glared up into blood red ones, meeting for a breathless moment before Albel leaned in closer, gently pressing his lips to Fayt's.
The teenager's eyes widened in surprise as the swordsman kissed him, not knowing that the cruel man was even capable of such gentle acts. Albel had only meant to tease the younger boy, but when he heard Fayt's small gasp of surprise, he leant in closer, the predator in him awakening. Raising his free arm, the swordsman wrapped his long fingers around Fayt's delicate neck and squeezed ever so slightly, pulling his fingers back and running his nails across the nape of the teenager's neck. Fayt gasped again, and this time the older man took the opportunity to slide his tongue across the young man's silky lips and into his mouth, feeling Fayt shudder beneath him.
Fayt groaned when he felt the combined heat of Albel's warm tongue slowly slipping into his mouth and the older man's yielding body pressed closely to his own. The teenager closed his eyes and lifted his arms up, wrapping them around Albel's neck and digging one of his hands into the swordsman's thick mane of hair, gently pushing so that their lips were pressed closer together as Fayt returned Albel's heated kiss.
Albel's and Fayt's warm breath mingled together as the swordsman pulled away, the two young men panting as they tried to regain the oxygen that had been stolen from their lungs. The older man straightened, finally realizing what had happened. Looking back down into Fayt's flushed face, the swordsman smirked, trying to reclaim his composure.
"Hmph." The swordsman said, turning around and walking back onto the path, bending to grab the sack that he had left discarded on the ground. "Well, are you coming or not, fool?" Albel asked slyly, starting back in the direction he had come. Fayt smiled gratefully and jogged until he was even with his companion, finding a sudden fascination with his fingernails as he tried to distract himself.
"Bah." Albel thought to himself as he glanced over at the blue haired boy, "I thought that I had better control over such base emotions…" Shaking his head slightly, the older man started back to Aquios, not admitting to himself that whatever awaited him there would probably be easier with his young, blue haired companion at his side.
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"Ah, Fayt, Albel, thank you for meeting with me." The Queen of Aquios said as she watched the two men enter the room. The travelers stopped at the beginning of the stairs that led to the dais upon which Romera's throne sat, Albel looking annoyed and Fayt agitated. "Is something the matter, Fayt?" the red eyed woman said, noticing how the younger man was shuffling his feet nervously.
"N…no, your majesty." The blue haired boy answered, snapping his head up to make eye contact with the Queen. "I'm just embarrassed that we had to make you reschedule our meeting once again, as we were late yesterday." Fayt closed his eyes, trying to calm himself. Albel, it seemed, had already forgotten about the incident that had happened yesterday, but with Fayt, it was a different story. The teenager couldn't forget the feeling of the older man's body pressed intimately against his own, how Albel's tongue had snaked in between the younger man's lips and had caressed Fayt's tongue with heated passion. When the swordsman had finally broken the kiss, he had pulled away only slightly so that he was still only a few inches from Fayt's head. The look in Albel's heavily lidded eyes seemed to be that of desire mixed with shock, as if he didn't know whether to stop with just the kiss or to press onward...
Fayt blushed deeply and bowed his head to further conceal the color that was rising in his cheeks. He glanced to Albel, who was regarding him with an eyebrow raised, and looked back to the Queen.
"Well, don't feel too distressed, as it didn't prove to be much of a problem. I had Nel rearrange my meetings and it all worked out quite nicely, to tell the truth. However, as it is we are already wasting precious time. Please, listen to what I have to say before you press me with questions…"
Romera stretched out her hand to receive a few sheets of parchment, handed to her by Lasselle. Clearing her throat softly, the Queen continued, "I received this letter a week ago, and have been waiting anxiously until I could tell you of its contents. So, I ask you again, please listen and don't interrupt, as it is a long winded letter…"
Fayt stood with his mouth agape as Romera finished her letter, staring pointedly at Albel. The Dead? What was the Queen talking about? Surely the swordsman wouldn't be daft enough as to try and open the gates of Hell, as the letter suggested. The former Captain of the Black Brigade stood stock-still, staring with disgust at the fragile Queen.
"A…Albel?" Fayt whispered, watching as the older man glared once more, then turned about and began to walk away. "Albel!" the blue haired boy yelled, reaching out to grab his arm. The swordsman's head snapped about and red eyes glared into the teenager's face.
"If you'll permit this interruption…" Romera said softly from her throne as she stood up, her voice echoing off of the marble walls, "Albel, it is true that I cannot pass judgment upon you since you are not of my country, but are the contents of this letter correct? Are you really intending to open the gates to Hell?" Albel wrenched his arm free of Fayt's grasp and narrowed his eyes as he turned back around to face the commanding woman.
"Hmph. Why should I tell you worms?" he said, his eyes flashing threateningly.
"Please, Albel. Just tell us." The teenager at his side said quietly, looking from the Queen to Albel.
"Bah. You're all maggots. It doesn't matter if I am, though, is it? There's nothing really that you and your pathetic soldiers can do to stop me, Romera, since I am not of your country, as you said." The arrogant swordsman said, emphasizing the Queen of Aquios' name as he said it informally.
"Now I see where you earned the name 'Albel the Wicked'." Romera mused, tapping a thin finger against her chin in contemplation. "Very well, Albel. I can't be the one to stop you from this mad errand, but I have already informed your King of Airyglyph. I shall leave it in his hands to pass verdict upon you. Let me try to warn you away from this path, as my informant has. Don't get involved with this. There is nothing to be gained. I'm sure that your parents would be weeping if they were to see you getting mixed up with the King of the Dead. That is all." The Queen dismissed them with a knowing glance towards Albel before turning her back upon the seething swordsman. Fayt followed the older man as he walked quickly towards the tall doors that led out to the long hallway.
"That maggot! She has no right to tell me what I can and cannot do! And she speaks of my parents as if she knows them…" Albel fumed once he pushed the doors open roughly, not waiting for the guards to slowly open the doors for them. Fayt sighed and closed his eyes as he leaned up against the wall outside of the audience chamber, waiting for the swordsman's rant to be over with.
"Hey, kid! I didn't expect to find you here!" Fayt heard a familiar voice say, and snapped open his eyes to see Cliff standing a few feet away from him, the Klausian's arms crossed loosely.
"Cliff? What are you doing here?" the blue haired boy asked incredulously, walking over and clapping his old friend on the shoulder.
"Eh, just thought I'd stop by and give good ol' Queen Romera a visit. Everyone's been worried about you, though, kid. Where have you been? What have you been doing?" the Klausian asked, returning Fayt's greeting.
"Um, not much." The teenager said, glancing over to see Albel stop his tirade long enough to glare at the blue haired boy, as Fayt had used his expression. "I've just been wandering around with Albel, is all. Not a lot has happened, to tell you the truth." Fayt said, deciding to stay away from the subject of which they had just gotten out of discussion about. Cliff nodded and smiled warmly, then looked over to the pacing swordsman behind him.
"Uh, hey Albel. How's it goin'?" the blonde asked with a nod of his head, trying his hardest to keep the peace between him and the younger man. Albel looked to Fayt and smiled widely, his eyes narrowed with amusement.
"It's been…interesting." He said, coming to a stop and resting his wrist on the hilt of his katana. Cliff shrugged and turned back to Fayt, who fidgeting uneasily once again.
"So…I was wondering…are you done here? Do you want to come back to Earth with me to see Mirage, Maria and Sophia? They've all been really worried about you, kid. You've caused quite a scare on our usually peaceful world." Cliff said, his eyebrows creasing at his friend's sudden nervousness. Fayt flinched when the Klausian mentioned Sophia, and lowered his eyes to the carpeted floor.
"Yeah…listen, about that…I'm not quite ready to leave Elicoor, yet." The teenager said sternly, lifting his eyes once again to meet Cliff's blue ones, "I still have some things I want to do here. But I promise that once I'm done that I'll come and find you guys on Earth." The boy finished, turning to look over his shoulder at Albel, who was smirking and obviously waiting for the blonde haired ox to leave. "So…it was really nice seeing you again, Cliff. I hope that the next time we meet I'll be able to talk longer, but right now, I've got to go." He said, turning and walking quickly to Albel.
"Hey, wait up, Fayt! What's the hurry, kid?" Cliff reached out and grabbed Fayt's shoulder, making the young boy turn back to face him. "I'm worried about you. You haven't even bothered to call me on the communicator. Is something the matter, kid? We all told you that you don't need to be so hard on yourself about Soph…" Cliff was cut off by the teenager's sudden outburst, Fayt quickly covering the older Klausian's mouth with his hand.
"Uh…uh yeah! Listen, Cliff, let's go talk over here…" the blue haired boy said, leading the confused man away from the even more confused Albel.
The two men rounded the corner of the hallway before Fayt turned around, his eyes falling heavily upon Cliff's.
"I'm not avoiding you, Cliff, if that's what you think. I have to sort some things out, so I would appreciate it if you would leave me to it." The teenager said, feeling awful that he would have to tell his best friend that he didn't want his company.
"Okay, kid, I can leave you alone…but I can't leave you here with…that guy!" Cliff said, jerking his thumb in the direction of Albel, who was still standing in the hallway that they had just come from. "I don't trust him. He's too unpredictable." The Klausian said, crossing his arms and sighing raggedly.
"I can't leave him just yet, Cliff. I'm glad that you're worried for me, but I can take care of myself. You've been a good friend, Cliff, don't make me explain my reasoning to you. I'm not entirely sure I understand it myself. Please, just leave. I'm sorry that I can't clarify any of this for you, but I just can't. I'll keep my promise from before. Now, please leave." The teenager said, turning and leaving the Klausian to mull over these words by himself.
Once Fayt had left, Cliff growled and punched his hand into a cupped fist. He wouldn't give up just yet.
Walking sharply back down the hallway, the angry man threw the doors to the audience chamber open, walking stiffly towards the dais that the surprised Queen was sitting upon. Like hell he would give up that easily.
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Albel and Fayt trudged up the stairs that led to the tavern's entrance, the younger of the two walking with his head bowed. When the swordsman got to the room he had been staying in, the teenager was surprised to see the older man gesture for him to follow. Fayt swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat when he heard the ominous 'click' of the door closing as Albel gently shut it behind him. Albel turned slowly, regarding the younger man with a strange glare.
"What are you doing here, Leingod?" the swordsman asked, his voice sounding somewhat subdued, though from what, Fayt couldn't tell.
"What do you mean? You gestured for me to…" the blue haired boy was broken off by a loud sigh from Albel.
"No, fool. I know why you are here in my room. What I want to know is why you are here on Elicoor II." Albel watched in amusement as the younger man shuffled his feet nervously. Crossing his arms, the swordsman stared at Fayt, waiting for an answer. The teenager sighed deeply before answering the older man's question, looking up to meet Albel's stony gaze with his sea green eyes.
"Does it really matter? If it does, then don't expect to get an answer from me, Albel, because you won't." the blue haired boy said, watching for the swordsman's reaction.
"Heh. I knew you would say something like that, Leingod. Always trying to avoid the questions that I put to you. I hate worms who aren't even bold enough to admit a fault of theirs. Do you want to know your errors, Fayt? You're too preoccupied with everyone else around you. I've seen how you always tend to others wounds before yours, even if the injury you carry is far worse than theirs. You try to get wrapped up in others lives so that you don't have to face your own. You don't want to admit to yourself that you're the embodiment of destruction, something despised and reviled by most. You're afraid that once you realize what you are that you will have nobody else in the universe to become preoccupied with. You're weak, pathetic and above all else a coward. You revolt me." Albel sneered, staring with scorn at the teenager, who had stayed silent throughout the older man's torment. Fayt looked up at the swordsman in confusion. Hadn't Albel just been kissing him yesterday? And now the swordsman is saying that Fayt revolts him… The older man snorted when he figured out why the younger man was confused. "Don't let one little kiss go to your head, fool. I was feverish and didn't think about what I was doing. Or did you actually think that I would fall in love with you and stay with you forever?" Albel said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Fayt's eyes widened as he stared at the malicious man, then lowered his head and clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.
"You're contradicting yourself, Albel." The young boy said quietly, staring calmly at the swordsman, "When you say that you hate those who aren't brave enough to admit their faults, I think that you are the one who is avoiding their past mistakes. Don't blame others for the same blunder you yourself have. I'm leaving, so don't try to stop me. You've gone too far this time, Albel." Fayt finished, turning his back slowly to the surprised man.
"Me trying to stop you? I believe it was the other way around…" the older man didn't get to finish his sentence, however, before the soft 'click' of the door marked Fayt's leaving. Albel stood for a few minutes, trying to gather his wits about him. When he did, he realized that his young companion really wasn't coming back this time.
"Finally." Albel thought, smirking to himself, "I was wondering when the maggot would leave…" the swordsman glanced around at his room that suddenly seemed cold and bare without the presence of Fayt. Bowing his head, the older man put an arm around his stomach, trying vainly to stop the sickening feeling that had begun to rise in his stomach.
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Ugh...sooo sleeeepppyyyy...PLEASE REVIEW! I LOVE YOU ALL! MUAH!