Hi! Thanks for the review, they really make me happy. I hope you're liking this story, 'cause I'm enjoying writing it. It's
dark, but hey, that will just make the romantic part more interesting.
Disclaimers: I don't own Escaflowne
And now… my great story just for you…
The pain of loving you
Past of a mercenary
(Inside a Dream)
A boy of about five years suddenly found himself trapped in a room. Anywhere he looked was blocked by fire or wood. There was no
way out. Suddenly, he heard a crack and the roof started to collapse. Just as it was about to hit him, someone pushed him out of the way.
"Van, are you alright? Come on, we have no time. We must get out of here." Folken, Van's brother, told his as he dragged him to a little
hole in one of the walls.
"Get in, fast. Don't let anyone see you" he told Van.
Van, not able to think straight, did as told. He didn't understand what was happening. Only moments ago, he had been playing hide and
seek with his brother, and now… why was there fire everywhere? Why weren't their parents there? He suddenly realized that there
were soldiers everywhere. Funny, they didn't look like Fanelian soldiers. He was about to yell to them for help when his brother covered
his mouth.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"I was going to ask for help, Folken. They're soldiers. They'll help us." Folken looked at him and shook his head sadly.
"They are not going to help us" he whispered to him "No one is. We are on our own."
"But… why? Where are mother and papa? I don't understand."
"Listen to me, Van. Mom and dad are dead. The soldiers got to them first and killed them. Then they started to burn everything down
and kill everyone. I don't know why they're doing this. We've never done anything to anyone, but the fact is that… there's no one left to
help us. Please don't cry, Van. We have to be strong for now. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you. Come on, we have to get
out of here."
Van nodded his head, swallowing his tears. He got up and followed Folken. His childish mind didn't completely understand what was
happening, but he new he was in danger. It felt weird to have to hide from soldiers. It felt weird to be so alone and scared. He had
always been surrounded by friends and family, by laughs and smiles. They were almost out of Fanelia when they saw a group of soldiers
heading their way. For a moment, it seemed like they had seen them, but they past them without a second glance. Folken signaled for
Van to keep walking, and Van was about to follow him when something stopped him.
"And what do we have here?" a horrible voice said "Ahhh, Fanelian trash"
"Folken!" Van yelled, full of fear, "Folken!" His brother was by his side immediately.
"Leave him alone" Folken grabbed Van and tried to free him from the soldiers grasp. When he realized that he wouldn't be able to do it,
he grabbed his knife and stabbed the soldier on the leg. The soldier let out a cry and let go of Van, but caught Folken by the throat, the
knife falling from his hand. A smile appeared on his face as he drew his sword.
"You'll pay for this, brat."
'Folken' Van thought, already on his way to help his brother when he looked at him and shook his head.
"Run, Van, I'll be alright. Go." Folken told him, barely letting out any sound.
"But…"
"Run, run, Van, I'll always take care of you. Go, go" Folken yelled at him. Those were his last words as the stabbed him. He turned to
Van and was about to kill him when he went still and fell to the ground. Behind him, a strong, tall man appeared. He was the captain of
the Fanelian army, Vargas. He carried Van and started to run.
"No, Vargas, my brother, we have to safe him. We must help him" Van struggled with all his force, but he didn't pay attention and did
not stop running till they were deep into the woods outside of Fanelia. He then put Van down and forced him to look at him.
"You are the only member of the royal family that is left, and Fanelia has been destroyed. I am the only one you have left, and I want you
to know that I'll protect you, master Van. I'll help you get through this. My loyalties are now with you. Do you understand what I'm
saying?" Van didn't, really. It was just too soon. It had all happened way to fast, but he still nodded his head. He closed his eyes and his
hand went into fists. He went to his knees and started crying. Everyone was dead. His country had been destroyed. Vargas was the only
thing he had left.
"Who did this?' he whispered fiercely.
"I don't know, master Van, but when I find I'll revenge everyone"
Van turned to look at Vargas through his tears. His childish face suddenly looked older; the shining in his eyes had disappeared. He
wiped his tears out.
"You will train me, and I'll help you revenge them"
Van swore, under his brother's death, that he would make however had done this suffer. They would regret the day they had set food on
Fanelia.
(End Dream)
Van opened his eyes slowly. He sat and took the glass of water that was on his night table.
'Another nightmare of that day, when will they stop?' Soon after that day, Van had started to train with Vargas. He only thought about
his revenge, and day by day, he became colder. Vargas had notices and had tried to help him, but Van had too much hatred and pain
locked inside of him. He was slowly becoming emotionless. He never laughed or smiles. He never stopped to admire the beauty around
him or the good things of life. The only thing that kept him from falling was Vargas, but after five years he fell sick and died, leaving Van
alone. He suddenly went nuts with the pain. He was only ten, for God's sake, and he had already been through so much. Just when
everything seemed lost, Dornkirk entered his life. He was Zaibach's leader, and he took Van under his wing. He got his best fighters to
train him. Most importantly, though, he gave him the name of the kingdom that had been responsible for the massacre of Fanelia. Asturia.
That one country had been the one that had took his childhood, family, and kingdom away from him. As soon as he knew, he began his
revenge. Zaibach was preparing for a war against the rest of Gaia, and Van gladly accepted to serve as a distraction. Dornkirk ordered
him to destroy this town or that town, and he did it. He was only 12 when he destroyed his first town. He could remember it clearly. All
the pain and despair he had caused had made him feel alive. Some guilt came, but he ignored it. He was doing the right thing. Soon, he
didn't care whether it was an Asturian town or any other town. He became obsessed with his revenge. No one had come to help Fanelia,
so all of Gaia except Zaibach was responsible for what had happened. They all deserved to die. A legend soon formed around him. He
was the devil, an invincible creature that brought fear upon all of Gaia. He became the Dragon.
A knock on the door brought Van out of his thoughts.
"Come in"
The door opened and a boy of about 18 came in. He was thin and tall, with white hair and red eyes. Van despised him.
"What do you want, Dilandu?"
"Don't think I'm glad to have to come see you, Dragon king" He pulled his hair out of his face "Lord Dornkirk wants to see you, and he
told me to get you. He has another job for you"
"Fine, now go. You make me sick"
Dilandu made a face at him and closed the door loudly. Van heard his steps all the way through the hall. If Dilandu hadn't been one of
Dornkirk's favorites, he would have killed him gladly. Maybe one day an opportunity would arrive. For now, though, he had to get ready
for his meeting. As much as he hated to admit it, Dilandu was right in one thing. Dornkirk did not like to wait, especially if it was
something important.
Dornkirk looked through the window at Gaia. It truly was a beautiful country. From where he was, he could see its rivers and mountains.
The big, amazing cities that had been build with sweat and hard work. He knew every single thing that formed Gaia like it was the palm of
his hand. He knew all its secrets, except for one, the biggest of all. For many years he had traveled through Gaia, slowly discovering and
learning from her. But it hadn't been enough. He wanted to be its master, but he couldn't do it without knowing its most important part.
Long ago, before anyone could remember, Gaia had almost been destroyed. No one knew why, and no one knew what had saved her
from seizing to exist. It became a legend to the new world. Everyone after that moment just didn't saw it as a reality. It had simply been
an old story told at parties to entertain. He had been about to give up hope when he heard the rumor of an old city and a race close to
extinction. Atlantis and the draconians. But he wasn't able to find the city, and only found one draconian alive. Her name was Vari, and
she lived in Fanelia; she was queen of Fanelia, so Dornkirk had gone paid a little visit to her. She had spilled all she knew because she
wanted to safe her family and kingdom. Foolish girl, they had all died, except for one. Dornkirk, been a logical person, had thought it
convenient to keep one of her flesh alive. They were, after all, the most powerful race on Gaia, but something had gone wrong, and for
many years he had thought the draconians had finally extinguished. And then, luck smiled at him again. He found the little boy alone and
scared. Lost and full of hatred, he was perfect for his plans. Yes, indeed Van had been very helpful to him. Dornkirk let out a small laugh.
If only he knew the truth, he was sure his little instrument would be devastated. He didn't care. He was very close to finding the last piece
of the great puzzle that Gaia was. He just had to have her and the object. She was the key to it all, and she had to know where the Heart
of the Dragon was. He had looked anywhere for someone who could help him understand what Vari had told him.
Flashback
"Tell me all you know, and I won't hurt your husband anymore", Dornkirk told a crying Vari.
"D…don't do it, Vari, I don't matter. Don't give him what…" Gaou, Vari's wife, was cut short when pain shot through every part of his
body.
"I'll tell you all I know" Vari whispered to him "But don't anyone, please"
"I swear I won't hurt anyone"
"I… I only know that it was because of the Heart of the Dragon. That's all I know. I swear."
"That can't be everything. You have to be lying. Hurt him" Dornkirk ordered, Gaou let out a cry of pain.
"I swear, please stop, I swear that's all I know"
End Flashback
She has almost told him nothing, but it had been more that enough.
"You called me, Lord?" Van asked. Ah, yes, he would be useful to him again.
"Yes, I need you to bring me someone"
"You mean kidnap, sir?"
"Exactly, bring me Hitomi Kansaki, of the Kansaki kingdom. I do believe she is in Asturia."
"Is that all?"
"Yes, and do bring her alive."
"I'll leave as soon as I have everything ready"
"Good, now go"
Yes, he was much closer to finally ruling Gaia. All creatures would bow before him, subdued to his very wish. The name Dornkirk would
be known everywhere, and they would fear Zaibach, and then, he would become immortal and invincible.
I know this chapter was very dark too, and I'm warning you, there are more dark chapters coming, but happy ones too. It's
just that Van has to have a good reason for been so cold, and I think putting him under Dornkirk's is very interesting and
original. I've never read any story in which this happens. Anyway, I hope you like it, and I'm sorry I didn't put Hitomi on this
one. I promise she will be on the next one, maybe she'll get to meet Van ;)
Well, go and review, it makes me happy and makes me want to continue with the story. I promise I'll update a lot faster if
you review