Brilliance, A Legend of Mana Story

Chapter 12 ~Choices to Make~

Nunuzac said nothing, refusing to even see her. Pearl tried to see Kathinja next, a tribute to her desperation that, since she'd never really met the woman. But Kathinja was out with her students picking over the vacant nest in Gato. no one quite knew where Mephianse was, or what he might be doing, but all were quite certain that he was too busy to speak to her.

Pearl sat on the steps, mind and body exhausted. For once, the voice that was Blackpearl said nothing, but it really didn't make her feel that much better. Frowning, she rested her chin on her knees, arms wrapped around her legs tightly. Elazul would be furious when she went back.

But I can't go back. Not fractured. I have to fix myself, somehow. Without help, she thought bleakly.

A mass of student's passed her, rushing up the stairs as though a monster was on their heels.

She stood, peering down the steps, a hand over her eyes, trying to shield herself from the sun. A woman in bandages suddenly appeared next to her, causing her to jump.

Looking down the steps thoughtfully, Thesenis said nothing until Mephianse appeared, supporting Kathinja on one arm. The formerly unflappable teacher looked pale ... paler then any woman with scales should be. Pearl could only stare in astonishment as they passed. Kathinja gripped Thesenis by her arm, pulling her close, and whispering fiercely.

"They're after the children."

Then her momentary fierceness was gone, and she was like a rag doll again, being pulled along by a weary Mephianse. He carried her up the stairs, into the building, and out of sight. Thesenis waited, taking a silent head count before looking at Pearl.

The young Jumi opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came. The woman was intimidating, and Pearl felt the old instinct in her rising up, screaming at her to shrink away. Roll over and let the bigger cat win.

Thesenis reached forward, slowly but certainly, and flicked Pearl's core with a finger. It shook her to the - pardon the pun - core, and she flashed into Blackpearl and back again. Clutching her chest, she backed away from Thesenis, no longer arguing with the ball of terror in her head.

Thesenis regarded her, her thoughts and expression completely masked by her bandages. Then she lifted her hand again, and crooked a finger. Pearl flinched involuntarily. The teacher turned away, and proceeded up the stairs, not looking back.

Pearl watched, knowing the woman wanted her to go with her.

She's a witch of reincarnation, Blackpearl mused.

And she can't be as scary as she looks. Pearl thought, starting to cheer up. She's a professor at a school, after all.

Blackpearl didn't say anything, so Pearl put on the best smile she could manage - which was still shaky and nervous - and proceeded quickly up the steps.

*************

Cervantes looked around the yard cautiously, wincing every time Elleira took another breath to scream again. The grass was scorched, the house was gutted - as was the workshop and barn. All that was left was the corpse of the Trent in the orchard. From the battle scars on the ground and gouged into his trunk, Cervantes gathered that he had fought savagely in his final moments. He removed his hat, and bowed, honoring it as a warrior.

"They killed him," Elleira said again, "And ... and everything else is ... The children ..." She was too distraught to make a real sentence, and since there was no danger near, he allowed her to grieve.

He rubbed at his nose, though it wasn't the harsh smell of smoke that tickled it.

Cervantes had caught the stench of magic.

Fa'diel was not a land of magic, it was a land of Mana. Where he came from, the planet accepted magic. In a way, it could be said that magic was his world's lifeblood. But here ... Magic reeked of corruption, decay, and a terrible, terrible power. The world itself rejected it, and yet here it was.

Elleira was on her knees, roughly scrubbing at her eyes with her forearm. "I apologize for that, Cervantes."

He shook his head. "No apology necessary."

She sniffled, and got to her feet. Chewing on her lip, she strode back and forth across the lawn, peering carefully at everything. Finally, she looked up, and pointed. "Domina. We've gotta head to Domina."

Cervantes glanced down, trying to see where she had gleaned that particular bit of information. Seeing his gaze, she almost smiled.

"I don't see any tracks. We're going to speak with Meimei," she explained.


He arched an eyebrow, but didn't question. "Lead on."

She glanced back, touching her lips and holding that hand out in the direction of the orchard. "Goodbye Trent."

She left down the path, maybe for the last time.

*************

"Think very carefully my boy. Very carefully indeed." Saiga kicked the side of the woman, and she rolled over, dead eyes staring at Riven in an expression of frozen shock. His hand shook on the pommel of his sword as he debated whether he could defeat his old master. If the short display with the woman - who had obviously been well-trained - was any marker, he didn't feel his own chances were very good.

"You have no idea the trouble I've gone through," Saiga said, stepping over the body, "Trying to find you before Godhand."

"Is that right?" Riven asked, backing away at the same speed Saiga approached. "Well, I'm here. What do you want to talk about, pops? Killing nuns? Looks like you have a bit more experience with that."

"Smart ass," The old man smirked. "Since when did you become such a smart ass? Elleira was the one with the mouth on her."

"Well, y'know. Life teaches us all new things. Sarcasm, cuss words ... that our mentors are really in league with psychotic murderers."


Saiga sighed, and lowered his weapon. Confused, Riven let his sword tip drop as well. "I thought," his master said slowly, "that after raising you for all those years, that you would've learned to trust me. Do you really think I would align myself with someone monstrous for no good reason? Don't you know me better then that?"

Riven hesitated, wavering. Maybe he did. But he refused to let Godhand get away with trying to destroy the Jumi. And Saiga ... had just slain a woman who'd offered him food and shelter. He heart demanded something for her life. Riven lifted his eyes, and met his master's. They were cold. Deadly cold. Saiga was prepared to do whatever he felt necessary if Riven didn't ally himself to the cause, whatever that was. Decided, he raised his sword.

"I'll never let Godhand take the Jumi. I'll cut down every single Nanten, your Hokuten, Godhand, and you, Master. I have to do what I know is right."

Saiga nodded, for a second his face turned soft, and Riven felt a spark of hope that maybe there was a chance for him. Then the cane half of the swordcane came spinning though the air, and he barely deflected it, having raised his sword out of instinct alone. The thin blade of his master's weapon slashed quickly into his shirt, drawing blood.

No more words were exchanged between them after the first droplets hit the floor.