Ink and Blood
By Asnee
Chapter 7 Awkward Conversations Galore
AN: Changed pen name because Tirawa is the sun god fusion from SH3, and it kicks ass. xD (Geek!)
Thus far, kind of a filler chapter but not really. Finally some real Ryx/Seda fluff. I'd say I&B is in the final arc after this. This sets the stage for the climax.
ONWARDS!
Thank you again Sal, for the crazy gorgeous art. XD; And thank you to everyone whose reading/reviewing. x3
Disclaimer: I R OWN RO.
Eremes: (MAIMS TOKI)
x.x...Guess not.
x X x
Coming back into reality was like out from under a dark pool, exploding pain and surface tension. The smell of sandalwood and stone filled her nostrils. Seda clutched her temple, breathing deeply as the throbbing subsided. Groaning lightly, she scanned the murkiness surrounding her, trying to reach out with her sense. Life, and a lot of it. But there was a heavy shroud over the place, like a curtain of black lace. She pushed herself up to a sitting position and realized she was on a bed. Off-white pillows against a standstone wall, and high windows with fingers of moonlight streaming through. She shook her hair out, jumping a bit when something small and sharp bounced against her breast.
The pendant.
It caught moonlight and glittered eerily in her hand. But how? She was asleep...or knocked out...or...in another dimension? But nono, her body was by the well in front of Dias's house when that had happened. Even then, she supposed it was dream influence. So what was this? The sage's brain began to process things, dragging math and science and weird theories until her mother's voice rang out clearly in her mind.
Magic has a way of just happening. As does life and love.
That would exlplain how I have the pendant, the sage pondered wearily. She adjusted the dusty rose slip, sitting on her knees and thinking. Her hair was clinging to her back in a heavy sheet, and she shook it restlessly, gathering it into a messy bun on top of her head. That done, she carefully made her way off the bed, touching her foot the floor. It was cool, and smooth. She gingerly made her way across the room, inspecting her prison. A rough wooden desk, a low bed, and a lamp. Nothing much. There was a heavy wooden door. She stepped towards it carefully, only to have it thrown open. She tripped backwards, her tailbone connecting painfully to the floor. "Shit, owwy," she cussed, tears threatening to spill. To have a bruised butt, on top of all of this.
She looked up to see a hand, and further up to see the owner of said limb. A girl with thick, dark brown hair that hung to about her shoulders and tawny eyes smiled brightly at her. Seddy took her hand, squinting as she was pulled up.
"Sorry about this, Seddy-pon," the stranger said, balancing a tray of food on one arm.
"I-it's no problem? M-miss...".
"Ludelle Tyrik. Call me Ludi."
Ryxam's sister! But she didn't look like a demon. Her eyes were an unusual honey color, but her ears were normal. "Pleasure to meet you, Ludi," Seda smiled, remembering her fathers words. The exact opposite of her brother...Yeah. She swallowed, remember what happened in the tower.
"How long have I been out?"
"Mmm," Ludi pondered, back to the sage while placing the tray on the desk. "About four hours. The sun will be rising soon." She tossed Seda a bun. "Eat, eat! It's not drugged"! She snorted, seeing the dark-haired girl's incredulous expression.
She nibbled it slowly, then realizing her hunger, downed it one go. Tears spilled down her cheeks as Ludi wordlessly passed her another wheat bun. "I-I'm sorry, Ludi. I've had a long past couple weeks."
Ludi sighed and settled down the floor, fixing her black silk pants. "Yeah, we all have, sagey. The St. Ludel brothers have been plotting this a while, but we've needed to wait for the right time to strike." Amber colored eyes met hers. "It may not seem it to you at the moment, but we ARE the good guys."
Seda finished it, noting it wasn't so bad. Grainy, but soft and easy to digest. "And what Ryxam did...".
Chocolate brown eyes focused intently on the assassin. The half-demon girl looked glum, but smiled a bit. "He did because it needed to be done. And if he had refused the job, someone else would have been called and he would be punished. Maybe even killed." Seda's heart tightened at the last phrase. Ludi continued. "And I very much doubt anyone else besides a select few would be so kind to Byran Alumani's sister. He's killed quite a few of us, now."
The sage took a deep breath. Killed. Of course, Byri's a knight...he would. Still, the image of her brother killing was almost unfathomable. Instead, her mind kept racing back to when he was six and cried whenever a bee came near him. He did so loathe insects.
"It was a mercy, Seddy. And I'm sure he feels awful--".
The white-haired monster himself stepped through the door. Seda pretended to find her toenails completely immersing, whilst Ludi looked up at her brother. "Hey, no barging in on girl-talk"!
She heard him grumble. "It's my room, and she's a hostage."
There was a brief series of shuffles. Hmmm, my right bigtoe is smaller than he left's...better have that trimmed. A lot of whining noises, a sigh, and the door slamming cued Ludelle had left. Swallowing another painful lump in her throat, she managed to choke out a "Hi."
The assassin said nothing, gliding soundlessly as usual to sit on the bed beside her. Their shoulders brushed, and she flinched from him, looking away. Clenching and unclenching his fists by his side, he spoke slowly.
"I won't try to talk around it, I guess. This all must seem like bullshit to you, I know. But...it was gonna happen anyway. And I'd rather it'd be me than---".
"It's not bullshit. There's something going on, obviously."
Ryxam took a deep breath, flinching slightly. He was still wounded. She couldn't see through the sleeveless top, but she could feel the obstruction in his lifeflow. "Yeah, it's serious. It's not just something around the guild, to. It's gonna concern everyone, if those things get out...".
Seda starred down at her chest, the red gem glinting in the faint light. She held it up to him, and she saw him pale. "Do you know what this is?"
His lips barely moved. "Dad." He shot up, pulling her to her feet by the straps of her nightgown. She struggled for footing, again knocked speechless by his strength. "WHERE? WHEN?"
The brunette flailed, trying to touch her big toe to the ground. She found slight footing at least, but realized she was standing on his bare feet. "I-I had a weird dream, and I saw-saw...Eremes." Ryxam's grip on her tightened, and he pulled her nose to nose with him. She could smell his hair, count his eyelashes, and all she could do was cry like a wimp, furious with herself. The assassin's grip slackened, and his hands moved from her straps to her shoulders. She swallowed once.
"S-sorry."
"It's oka-y. If someone had told me they had talked to my dead parent recently, I kinda woulda been freaking out, too."
Ryxam coughed, and Seda sweatdropped and got off his toes. He cuffed her wrist in his hand, holding her still. "W-what did he say?...Please."
Seda shook her hair out, then held the locket up for him to say. "He's in the labs, Ryxam."
Ryxam made an oddly strangled noise. "He's been there a while. He says our parents knew eachother, isn't that weird?" She continued on to the speechless assassin, who was squeezing her wrist tighter and tighter. "He said you're the exact opposite of your sister. I can tell he loves you guys. He's...very handsome, you look a lot like him, to. B-but he said "Reckenbecker won't get away with this for much longer" a-and "Beware the St. Ludel brothers." Do you know what that means?"
He shook his head no, slowly, releasing his hand from around her wrist. It was red. "Reckenbecker is the company that ran...runs, rather, the labs. And of course the St. Ludel brothers. Dias was one of the major scientists of the project. Young genius. And Fafnyn is just...," she saw a shudder ripple down his shoulders. "A freak." He said, and she giggled. It was refreshing to hear him talk like his age. There was an awkward silence. Which was interrupted, much to her own shock, when she wrapped her small hand around Ryxam's exposed wrist. The slap of skin on skin was highly pleasant, she noted. As did he, he realized later. She took his hand in both of hers and examined it carefully, running her fingers along the lines.
He made a face, wrinkling his nose. A fanged smile flashed nonetheless. "Witchy sage things."
"Nasty assassin trickery," she chirped back without looking up. She squinted at him, looking grave. He feigned disinterest for a second, then three...then broke.
"WHAT WHAT WHAT ?"
"You're gonna die young."
"..."
"Kidding. I'd say early eighties."
He sighed, slapping his forehead, then tilted his head at her. "It must be nice to know things that don't just kill people."
She shrugged. "My mom taught me that. I know a little healing, too."
He nodded, then blushed slightly. "Um. How's your...head." He coughed, and she poked her temple tentatively. Pain made her freeze, then relax again. "I believe 'ow' should be classified as an adjective."
"Sorry won't do much good, but uh...sorry."
She pointed to his chest. "What about you?"
"Your brother, actually."
Seda's breath caught in her throat. "Byri..?"
"A fight. They're all fine. I'm not," he grunted, ashamed. She smiled, giggling at him. She then punched him in the chest.
"OW"!
"Now we're even"! She smiled, clapping her hands and jumping once. "Alumani family beat down."
" I guess SO," he grumbled, moving to sit cross legged on his bed. She looked around uncertainly, turning to go for the chair by the desk. She was pulled back onto the bad, Ryxam using his free hand to shield her head from the wall. "Sit down."
"Yes ma'am," she pouted. He quirked an eyebrow, but said nothing, starring at the ceiling absentmindedly. He cleared his throat, a strange, innocent tone creeping into his voice.
"Did my "dad"...hit on you?"
"Um...a little?"
"Yep. Definitely dad." He let out a massive sigh of defeat,his eye closed, and the sage could only point and laugh.
x X x
Byri was drunk. There was very little left to question about the matter. Hiccuping once, he shifted his butt on the stool. He seemed to keep sliding off. Family trait of no ass, he supposed.
"I always knew the time would come, Faffeneimer."
"Fafnyn."
"Foofnon."
"...You were saying?"
"Your name is stupid and you remind me of eatting snow."
Fafnyn St. Ludel was not used to dealing with drunkards. Particularly lord knights that were angsting about their tiny sister. "So...the time?"
Byri's blue eyes stared into the bottom of the glass. "That Seda would seek a...," he took a deep, shuddery breath, "MALE COMPANION." Fafnyn quirked an eyebrow, saying nothing.
"All maidens to mothers, my friend."
"Mother is fine. Nieces and nephews, fine. But sex? No. I forbid it."
Fafnyn sipped his own drink carefully, his icy pale eyes trained on his blonde companion. The small tavern in Payon was overheated in the summer heat. Byran had stripped down to baggy leather pants and a loose cotton tank top. Sweat made the fabric cling to his chest and back. He took another swig, and Fafnyn watched his throat move quietly. He too had dropped his armor at his room, wearing casual wear. "She's a lovely girl. She's bound to attract attention."
"Mrf?"
Fafnyn sighed and continued. "Even if it is...unsavory."
Byran smashed the glass down, startling everyone in the bar. "Tryxam!"
"Ryxam."
"Tricksy Ryxam! Tryxam"!
"Right."
"Of all people she had to get involved with, it had to be RYXAM. I would have rather she ended up with...with...Ozi!"
Fafnyn put his nose in the air. "Ozias is--".
Byran promptly slapped Fafnyn's hand, who sweatdropped wide-eyed, looking indignant. Byri's eyes glittered for a moment, the booze burning under his veins only barely noticeable. "Ozi is one of the best people in the world. He'd die for me, and I'd die for him. And his parents loved my parents, and vice versa. You have no right...no right...". His ocean-blue eyes drilled into Fafnyn's for a second, before he took the last sip of his booze. "And the guy she finds is a Tyrik."
"You know the Tyrik clan?" The crusader said silkily, guarded. Byri seemed oblivious, his large hand tightening on the glass.
"Eremes Tyrik is his dad. That Ryxam kid looks like a little clone, no doubt. That girl looks like him, to." His grip tightened further on the glass, thin lines appearing on the surface. "Every time I see them, I think of...Eremes."
"Knew him"?
"Loved him," he said easily. "Like an Uncle--Nono, another father. He was awsome friends with mom and dad. They did everything together, even if they were a bit afraid of him at first. But he supposedly loved them, and they were there for him when his first wife died. He held me when I was a kid. I have a picture."
Fafnyn sat with his mouth slightly open, shock coursing through his veins. "He held Seddy to, but she was only a tot then. Maybe four. He was crazy about her, said he wanted her to play with his daughter someday. I guess that'd be Ludelle." He took a deep breath. "One day mom and dad went out to search for something...or so they told me. They said the usual Glast Heim routine. Eremes went, of course. I always remember the three of them...he's so tall and mom was such a midget...," he smiled faintly. "But they were going to the Biolabs."
The crusader studied the Alumani eldest carefully, waiting for him to continue.
"It was Ozi's dad, Elar, that found them. Ozi's mom wasn't far behind...But it was pretty bad. They barely escaped the labs alive themselves...the abominations there are so strong, even stronger now, because of their most recent addition."
"Which would be...".
"Eremes. He joined those freaks in the lab. When Elar found them, mom and dad were laying on the floor in a pool of their own blood, Dad was already dead. Mom was still breathing, just so faintly... Eremes starring down at them with this weird expression his face," the grip on his glass continued. "There was blood all over his katar. He killed them. Eremes Tyrik killed my parents." The glass shattered at last, and several others in the bar ducked and screeched. Fafnyn and Byri did not move. And then Ozias's voice rang out.
"So. All that...and um, would it be a bad time to tell you his kid scribbled all over my face and took off?"
x X x
"DIAS!" Riseen burst in through the door of the tiny Payon house. "I can't find Seda any--".
Er. There was a Lord Knight standing in the livingroom, looking a bit weird. Dias's cat, Luke, had stuffed himself up on a shelf and was mewling softly. She looked between the cat and the man. "H-hello?"
The smell of ozone enveloped the house. Blank gray eyes turned to her, then. "Hello."
She took a tentative step backwards, reaching her arms to the right for that cat. It leaped into her arms painfully, clawing to hang on to her chest. "U-uh...have you seen Dias?"
He flinched at the name, his hand moving for his sword. "A-at all? My friend, Seda, went missing. She's a little brunette sage with glasses? Have you seen her around here, she--".
He spoke slowly, his fair, youthful voice betraying his appearance. "The Alumani child is with Eremes's child. If all goes according plan, and I'm pretty sure it is." He looked around. "Which I think it is, if I'm here."
"O-oh," Riseen stammered. Her heart was rocketing away in her chest. The adrenaline rush was the most intense she had ever experienced.
"I would leave, if you're what I think you are. Are you Riseen?"
She blinked. "Y-yes."
"Leave. Now. You don't deserve what's coming."
His coal eyes caught hers. She starred blankly. "Two questions."
He nodded. "What's your name?"
"Seyren."
"P-pretty," she said honestly, then, "Um...can I take the cat?"
He snorted, turning and waving her off. She bowed quickly, tucking the little black animal in her arms, and had already teleported to Juno before her foot left the doorstep.
Seyren stared at the open door, his blonde hair falling in whisps around his face. "Go time."
x X x
AN: DUN DUN DUN. XD! Took me a bit again, but it's doonnneeee. Teehee. Sorry, kinda filler-y. And yaha, yet another labs person appears. Seyren, the lord knight ghost. He kills me in 6 hits, I love him. ;o
Reviews always appreciated.
