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Chapter 2 - Survivors

(Beta-Read by Sorceress Ash)

Cecil fell back in his chair and sighed. He knew that his newly appointed task of being king would be hard, but this constant flow of paperwork would drive him crazy. It seemed to Cecil that at the moment you think you've found peace, something happens. Cecil got up and went to the window, looking across the vast forests at mountain ranges.

Traveling was harsh, but it was so much better than this, at least I didn't have to sit on a desk for almost all day and sign these things…and what about Golbez? Why can't I stop thinking about him anyway?

"Cecil, you've been working too hard," a silky voice said from behind him. Cecil turned around to see Rosa, watching him, worriedly. Rosa walked up to him and gazed into his eyes. Her own eyes were innocent, yet wise, the same eyes Cecil had gotten lost in when she had first walked up to him in that way all those years ago. Rosa took his hand in hers and smiled. "You aren't alone; you don't have to exhaust yourself."

"I know…it's just-" he started.

"Golbez?" asked Rosa.

Cecil sighed. "It's hard to accept he's my brother after all he did, even after Zemus controlled him…I just can't look at him like a brother…he was going to kill me…my own brother…"

"Sometimes we have to give people second chances…just as I did for you."

He looked down from her gaze. The day Rosa almost broke his heart (though he knew he almost broke hers first) seemed like yesterday.

Cecil walked down the stairs of the castle. Rosa stood near the gates, looking at him hopefully.

"So, what have you been promoted to?" Rosa asked cheerfully, until she saw him look away from her.

"I've become a…Dark Knight…" Cecil stammered, almost as if he feared it.

Rosa gasped, surprised. "And you accepted?"

"Yes."

"You wouldn't do that. The Cecil I know wouldn't do that! The powers of the Dark Knight are derived from causing pain both to themselves and others. They become nothing but heartless murderers, controlled by the dark powers they thought they understood. I know you aren't evil!" Rosa cried, sobbing as she turned away.

Cecil tried to grab and comfort her but she slapped him from her and ran away. He rubbed his shoulder and looked forlornly at Rosa's quickly disappearing figure.

"I need to support myself…if only she would understand…"

"I accepted what you did in the end, because you had to do it."

Cecil looked back at Rosa. "I guess…but how am I supposed to give my brother a second chance if I'm never to see him again?"

"You'll always have a piece of him in your heart."

Cecil couldn't help but to smile.

Rosa blushed red. "What's so funny?"

Cecil let out a small laugh. "Where do you get all of this?"

"White Wizards are healers, primarily, but we also have a lot of insight. I know these things. I know what will make you happy."

Rosa pulled her husband into a passionate kiss, which lasted a few minutes at the most.

"Am I interrupting something?" a sly voice asked from the stairwell.

The lovebirds quickly released themselves from each other and blushed before turning to see their interrupter.

"Captain Cress, I hope this is important," Cecil muttered, forgetting for a moment in his embarrassment how he usually addressed her.

The twenty year old B.R.A.F. (Baronian Royal Air Force) commander, Arden, smirked, a very rare thing. Arden was usually known for her stiff and formal behavior, rarely laughing or smiling.

"It is indeed very important Your Majesty, Mysidia is in flames."

Cecil widened his eyes in shock at the sudden dark information. "Are the Mysidians OK!"

"I sent an airship to survey the damage earlier," Arden explained, "They reported many casualties, and a handful of survivors, just three or four."

Cecil quickly darted up the stairs towards his room

"Where are you going, Cecil?" Rosa called after him.

"For my armor and my sword," replied the Paladin King, "I must see Mysidia for myself. Rosa, take care of the kingdom while I'm gone…"

"Hold on Your Majesty, there is a group of people from Mysidia who want to see you. Two of the survivors I mentioned earlier" Arden said.

"Bring them into the conference room." Cecil replied, changing direction, "Rosa, may you come?"

Rosa simply nodded and followed Arden and Cecil to the stairway.

A few moments later, four people surrounded the conference table- Cecil, Rosa and the two Mysidians. One of the strangers was dressed as Cecil new a Court Sage of Mysidia to be. He had a bandaged shoulder from a wound he said to have received in Mysidia. The other one stood out more. She had snow white hair and emerald green eyes, the traits of a Lunarian. She was clad in the robes of a Court Sage trainee.

I didn't know that there were Lunarians on Earth other than Golbez and myself, or maybe… just maybe… this girl's appearance is a coincidence…

But it was all too suspicious to be deemed one.

"Both of you came from Mysidia, correct?" Cecil asked, worry lines clearly visible on his forehead.

"Yes," the man stated, "My name is Kevin, and I'm a Court Sage in the service of the High Sage.

"And I'm Emily, a Court Sage trainee," the girl said shyly, tapping her fingers on the table.

"What happened in Mysidia?" Rosa asked, "What caused the fire?"

"These 'things' attacked us," Kevin uttered, his eyes getting dark, "They had dragon wings and blood red eyes- seemingly with no soul behind them. They went on burning the town, and as much as we resisted, they killed many of us."

"I met...one...head on," Emily stammered, green eyes brimming with tears, "And…I saw him kill…the High Elder."

Rosa moved closer to the girl and reassured her that things would turn out for the best, as Emily burst into tears.

"I swear upon Baron's name that I will help Mysidia and find who did this," Cecil stated, "But first, other than yourselves, do you know of any survivors?"

"The children- Palom and Porom survived," Kevin replied, "I left them searching in the debris for survivors."

Rosa and Cecil both sighed in relief. After hearing of the attack on Mysidia, they both had worried about the mage twins who'd helped Cecil during the Crystal Wars, even though they knew Palom and Porom were capable of taking care of themselves.

Cecil stood. "I've heard enough, I'm going to see what happened in Mysidia with my own eyes.Thank you Emily and Kevin." He walked to the stairs of his chambers, only to be interrupted again, by Arden.

"Your Majesty, I'm sorry to intrude, but a man claiming he's Lunarian has come to visit the castle, and he's requesting an audience with you at once." Arden said, walking up the stairwell.

Cecil sighed. It seemed as if he would never get to rest. "Bring him down. Kevin, I suggest you go with Rosa to the infirmary. It looks as if you've had a hard time."

"What should I do?" inquired Emily.

"Stay here. I feel you ought to be here when I talk to the Lunarian visitor."

Those present gave Cecil a puzzled look, and headed off in the directions they were supposed to go.

Cecil sighed, looking up at the darkening sky.

What is the Higher Divine up to?

There's Chapter 2 for you! Please press the nice button on the bottom left hand corner of this page and review!