11.
Disclaimer: Standards Apply.
Date: 12004 B.C.
She roamed the halls. There was nothing else to do really, except wait for Schala and confront her. Perhaps, Lucca could get concrete answers, rather than the riddles and puzzles that had baffled even her brain for an entire week.
The princess had been extremely busy working with the council on something. Khadgar had told Lucca this two days after she had seen the myth, further enticing her impatience. Apparently, it was something very important, to the point that all council members had to be present to deliberate. Lucca had accepted this and replayed her inescapable conversation with Schala. The inventor would start off with random chit-chat to lay down the basic framework of her inquisitions. Silly things like how old Schala was, or how come she was so selfless. The princess would be modest, of course, and Lucca would take this vulnerability to slam her with incessant questions. Then you are the Phoenix of Light and perfection and goodness, aren't you? and 16 years old. Doesn't that number sound familiar! until her Highness cracked. That was the best case scenario, of course. Worst case was that Schala was as clueless as Lucca was.
The princess met with Lucca later that day. Lucca started the chit-chat, as expected. The question about selflessness came.
"Say, Schala." Lucca muttered. They were resting beside the waterfall a few kilometers from the bridge connecting the two islands of Zeal Kingdom. The girl acknowledge Lucca's statement with a slight hum.
"Why do you give so much to this place? I mean, you never spend any time to indulge. You just work, work, work, so others can take advantage and benefit." Lucca whispered, trying to sound as curious as possible. The moment of truth.
"By the way, Lucca, the council members were going to head to the surface to finalize the discussion on annexing a new island. I was thinking, maybe you want to come along? Since you've seemed so bored lately." Schala said, completely ignoring the question. Lucca narrowed her eyes. That was a bit too off-topic to be normal.
"Oh, I'm not bored. But see, this is exactly what I'm talking about. Instead of sleeping in or running around with your friends, you would go with a bunch of boring old people to talk about something that won't affect you very much. Why do you do that?" Lucca inquisitively. Schala sighed and stared upward at the clouds. She remained like this for minutes at a time, as if unsure of the answer herself. The silence was so imposing that Lucca considered changing the subject to simply avoid the response, but fought against it. This was necessary if Lucca was going to lay her trap. Sure, it would have been easier to ask directly, but that was no fun, and Lucca had stopped thinking logically a long time before.
"Because…because I care. Because if I don't work for my people, no one will, and they will live in mediocrity. Don't you see, Lucca? When selfless people like me spend all their time on their neighbors, everyone benefits. They're more important than I am, and their needs supersede mine. This is my way of showing I care about them." Schala said candidly. Lucca looked away, ashamed. She had kept telling herself that the question was just for the plan, but she knew she really meant it. Lucca had always had her self-interest in mind, even when she made new inventions, and had never realized it until now.
They both sat quietly, not looking at each other.
Silence.
"Sometimes, I wonder how we can stand each other." Lucca muttered. She knew Schala was paying attention.
"We're nothing alike. Our view of the world is entirely different. We don't even think alike. The only thing remotely similar is our ages." More proof that the myth is true, Lucca thought. Schala merely nodded.
"Nowhere is it written than people need to be identical to coexist." Schala said simply. She was right of course. It seems she and Lucca would be exceptions. Their conflict was imminent. The seeds were simply being sewn.
Lucca couldn't ask now. After their short conversation, she didn't think she could handle the answer.
"Meet me outside my room tonight if you're interested in coming," Schala said stoically, standing up. She seemed frustrated over something. Lucca could easily read the Princess' eyes, even though her Highness tried as hard as she could to not frown. Schala felt that negativity was no different than betrayal.
"Right."
Lucca had done as instructed. Schala told her the details of the forum. It was going to be held at Terra Cave three weeks from that day, and there would be a festival hosted by the Earthbounds before and after the meetings. Schala had no doubt the land would be annexed. Even if the Earthbounds refused, the majority of councilmen and women would clamor and force Queen Zeal to give the order to take it by force. Lucca noted that her Majesty was much more flexible here than she had been in 12000 B.C. Perhaps news of Lavos' power had corrupted the Queen by then.
The time flew by amazingly quickly. Before Lucca knew it, it was time to head down through the newly repaired Landbridge.
"They're leaving in 2 hours. I better start dressing." Lucca told herself. She was currently sleeping, but had set her internal clock to wake her up at 11 P.M. The times were awkward, but sensical. An Enlightened One wouldn't even contemplate sleeping in an Earthbound cave, and the talks were predicted to be frighteningly long. Therefore, it was necessary to head down early enough to provide the entire day for the debate. If it took longer than a day, the various ambassadors and councilmen would simply return to Zeal and come back to finish the discussion at a later date. It never took more than a day, however. Zeal Kingdom could always impose their power and pressure the Earthbound leaders into whatever they wanted.
"My best robes…I wouldn't want to look like trash." Lucca muttered in the darkness of her room. She found it rather easily. It was an elegant, formal gown with long sleeves that opened at the bottom. It was primarily purple and white, unlike Lucca's usual bluish clothing, and held the seal of Zeal Kingdom embroidered in gold on it's back. Considering almost all articles of clothing were custom-made, (Zealian mothers didn't have much to do during the day), it fit Lucca like a glove, bringing out her figure and complementing her dark eyes and hair.
Lucca strode over to the mirror to look at herself one last time before meeting the rest of the ambassadors at the city's gates. She clasped her hands together and closed her eyes, forming a ball of flame that hung in the air listlessly, and provided enough light to see clearly.
After looking over herself quickly, Lucca headed to the castle entrance. It was a good hour-long walk, though Lucca had done it many times before, so she needed to start off early. Besides, she had planned to meet Schala a little bit earlier to keep the girl company. An unspoken rule stated that the leader of the negotiatory group had to arrive first. It was oddly the opposite of a precedent in 1000 A.D. Important people were encouraged to be late. Marle had reassured her of that.
"Schala?" Lucca whispered impartially. She hadn't seen the girl as she headed through the doors, and the moon had provided more than enough light.
"I'm over here." The Princess answered. She was lying on the grass, staring at the moon. Lucca could see her expression, but she could expect it to be thoughtful or whimsical. "Isn't it beautiful?" She muttered. Lucca stared up. When there were no clouds to block the celestial satellite, the moon was even more stunning. It glowed so vibrantly that it could have passed as the sun on a rainy day.
"Are you ready to go?" Lucca asked, laying down next to her friend. It seems the pair had grown closer over the weeks since their discomfited conversation. They were inseparable, except when one of Schala's duties arose or Lucca had a lesson. Speaking of which, the lessons were becoming more and more infrequent. They were held once a week now, and even that was iffy. It wasn't uncommon for Queen Zeal to schedule a lesson every fortnight.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Schala said lethargically. Lucca knew something was wrong. The princess never spoke this way when nothing was the matter. Lucca grasped her friend's hand to get her attention, and stared at the Princess in the eyes.
"Tell me what's wrong." Lucca said stoically. Schala sighed deeply and stared at the ground.
"Anytime something like this is proposed, it ends in disaster. The councilmen don't know the meaning of compromise, and since the Earthbound are powerless, they have to settle for these ridiculously unfair deals." Schala said in frustration. Had that been what was nagging the princess for so long? In all honesty, Lucca didn't care. Perhaps she was like the Enlightened Ones in her lack of concern, but she sometimes forgot there were people no different than her suffering from the harsh conditions on the surface. Every time she remembered, however, an image of Hexia and her daughter appeared in Lucca's mind. She was curious to see as to how they were faring. It had been nearly a year since Lucca had last seen them. Lucca's thoughts returned to Schala when she felt a weight on her shoulder. Her Highness had fallen asleep, and had snuggled closer to Lucca as the inventor brooded. Lucca instinctively stroked the girl's silky blue hair and peered at her face. It was contorted in a type of suppressed pain that she had seen in Queen Zeal's eyes all those months ago. She was suffering from the same predicament; to work so hard for one's people, only to know, deep inside one's soul, that they would die off eventually. Lucca felt a twinge of sadness in her heart, and grew closer to the sister figure pressed against her in slumber.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I can't help. That I can't make you smile without forcing it…" Lucca spoke aloud. She knew Schala couldn't hear her, but felt it was necessary for the wind to catch her words. Just then, she heard the gates groan as they opened. The negotiatory part had been assembled at last.
"Schala." Lucca said softly into the girl's ear, shaking her. The princess blinked a number of times before waking up fully and yawning. Turning her head, her Highness could see the thirty-nine diplomats that would come with her to Terra cave streaming out of Kajar.
"Time to go already? But you're so soft…" Schala said with a weak grin. Lucca blushed and looked away, enticing a warm laugh from the Princess. Lucca smiled. Her Majesty's daughter hadn't laughed that whole-heartedly in a long time. Looks like that nap had rejuvenated her, despite its short length.
"Your Highness. It is time to go." A guardsman said to Schala. For some reason, over a hundred guards had been assigned to defend the group. Lucca saw this as unnecessary. What danger existed that forty refined magic-users couldn't fight off? Did they need an army squadron too? Lucca stared at the soldier, and immediately recognized him as Khadgara. How ironic.
"Hey there, Khadgara." She muttered. Lucca hadn't seen her for months either. She had a number of things to do nowadays, including training new members of the mitilary force. Khadgar also mentioned that she gave in to her parents' request to marry. Maybe Lucca could tease the older woman about it. Khadgara had always valued celibacy above all else.
"Lucca! Where have you been hiding yourself?" She responded, pulling Lucca into a hug. Lucca patted her on the back friendlily. Regardless of how much of a nuisance Lucca saw her as, it was glad to see her again. She was dressed in the usual military attire and held her pike in her right hand. She looked no different than she always had; she wore the same imposing smile, the same air of pride and turgidity, though there was a bit more humility in her expression.
"I hear from a reliable source that you are going to be we-ed!" Lucca said in a singsong voice, which brought another laughing fit out of Schala. The lieutenant blushed deeply and gave off a small smile.
"My brother never ceases to spread rumors. It annoys me." She said matter-of-factly. Lucca smiled. This trip might turn out to be good. She had accepted at first because she had nothing better to do and she didn't want to leave Schala by her lonesome, but it seems there was nothing but gaiety in store, especially since she wouldn't be participating in the grueling discussions, but enjoying the festival instead.
"So, who's the lucky man?" Schala asked. From her tone, Lucca could tell she had met Khadgara already. They must have undoubtedly acquainted themselves through Khadgar's guidance. Khadgara pointed at one of the councilmen who was convening with an older ambassador. Maybe he had noticed her pointing, but he turned his head to bow at the trio of women. Khadgara bowed back, beaming at him. He flashed her a smile as well. The boy had bluish hair like most of the population, but had green eyes. Lucca couldn't help but notice how handsome he was. He turned back to his conversation.
"What was that about?" Lucca asked. Khadgara leaned on her pike and yawned lazily.
"We always do that in public. Call it a habit, if you will," She answered. Lucca waited, as if expecting a continuation.
"Well? Spill it!" The purple-eyed girl said impatiently. Khadgara laughed.
"Ok, ok! Calm down. Alright then," she said, as if steadying herself for a long story. "My parents have been insisting that I marry him. I have avoided it for a few months now by changing the subject, but my mother forced me to do it after I tried to stall some more. Apparently, they had already made the arrangement with his mother and father before she obliged me to marry. So, I sullenly complied with my parents' demand to avoid being disowned, and went to meet him and his family. Turns out he was the most handsome, funniest, and smartest person I had ever met. So yes, I guess my parents win again."
"…that wasn't my question." Lucca said sarcastically. Khadgara scratched her head in confusion.
"What do you want then? If you're so anxious to know, he's great in bed. Very satisfying. We went for five hours two nights ago." She said absent-mindedly. Lucca groaned and slapped her forehead while Schala couldn't help but burst out laughing. Khadgara eyed the two with curiosity.
"What I meant was," Lucca said, "why is it a habit between you two to bow in public?" Lucca said slowly, as if talking to a four-year old child. Khadgara nodded in comprehension.
"Because it's ironic to act as if we have never met, even though we are so privately intimate." She answered.
"You scare me sometimes." Lucca said in earnest. Schala broke into a fit of laughter for the fourth time that morning, and being that laughter was infectious, all three of them found themselves giggling.
"We are ready to depart. Please stay with the group as we head to the plane." A man with a scrawny beard said, silencing the small crowd.
"Plane? What plane?" Lucca asked in confusion. Schala whispered the answer in her ear.
"You know Enlightened Ones and their lack of adaptation. What makes you think they can survive in the cold?"
Chapter 11 done.