Ch. 2: Attack
Lacus was partially pleased with herself. Siegel and Cagalli were too. She was finally able to perform the spells she couldn't before; the only problem was that she didn't notice any difference in when she couldn't do it and when she could.
"It still doesn't make any sense, she told the other 2, why can I do it now, but not in classes?"
Siegel was also puzzled, as well as Cagalli. "I've never seen this happen before, the sage commented, it's quite a strange manner for magic to work in different times the same way."
"Well, why worry about it now, Cagalli asked, Lacus just passed the lower ranks in a matter of hours! I think we should celebrate!"
Siegel smiled. "Yes. I think we should. What say you?" He was looking at Lacus who smiled and nodded excitedly.
Cagalli grinned. "Alright then! I'll go buy a cake!" And she ran out the door without even closing it. Siegel laughed and closed it for her. He turned back to Lacus.
"I'm very proud of you Lacus," he said.
Lacus turned her head to the side and frowned. "Thank you father. But I think you were mistaken."
Siegel's face turned to surprise. "Mistaken about what my child?"
"About how you said you wouldn't see me like this. You just did!" She was smiling with her brightest face for her father. But he didn't return it.
"You misunderstood me Lacus. I said I wouldn't be alive to see you once you attain you greatest power level.
"There's something else as well, he continued, you won't be able to share this glory with you people here. You, as well as 2 others will betray our ideals and face many challenges that no one has ever dared to face."
Lacus grew shocked. "W-what are you talking about? I would never-"
"You will Lacus. And for good reason too. Why do you think I let you and the other 2 remain then?"
"It's not true! I'm loyal to our village! I won't betray our people!" Lacus was angry now. How could her father of all people accuse her of treachery? Siegel only sighed.
"It seems that only time will tell Lacus. Mark my words however that you and a handful of people will soon unleash a new era. Many will die for this, but don't lose hope. In the end, you will make this world a better place to live."
Lacus was confused. She wouldn't believe it. She couldn't do anything as she was.
Siegel changed the subject. "Well, let's stop this talk of ill and celebrate. Today's a good day Lacus. Let's not waste it."
He smiled towards his daughter, hoping she would comply. She did, smiling and nodding. Siegel could still sense the fear that clouded her mind, but he didn't do anything. He didn't plan to ruin this good time they would share together.
The door suddenly swung open and Cagalli stood in the doorway. "The cake has arrived," she said in a funny way.
Siegel chuckled, but Lacus could only smile weakly.
Outside the village, the lone robe waited for his companions to return. One by one, they finally reappear behind him.
"Is everything ready?" he asked coolly.
One of the other robes stepped forward. "Everything is set."
"Good. Then we will strike when the candle burns out. Until then, we wait." And they all sat and began to pray.
"MmMmMm, that was great!"
Cagalli had just finished her cake and was now slurping down her milk.
"Slow down Cagalli, or you'll-" Lacus didn't get to finish because Cagalli started choking and dropped her mug.
"-choke," she finished. Siegel chuckled and looked outside.
"Oh my, it's dark out. Ah, alright you 2, off to bed."
Cagalli finally stopped choking and argued back. "What? Why now? Can't we stay up a little longer? It is a celebration!"
"Even celebrations must come to an end Cagalli; you know that," Siegel said. Cagalli groaned. She had no chance against him. Lacus only giggled and got up.
"Well then, I'll go. Thank you father, Cagalli." She walked up the marble spiral stairs only to have Cagalli run after her. The entire household was made out of marble or stone, not like most others that were wood and mud. It was also larger than most others. It wasn't much of a surprise since Siegel was the most respected and most important man in the village. The only others who held similar ranks were Gilbert Durandal and George Allster, the chief of the village and the richest of the people in the village. Gilbert had adopted Meer Campbell, one of Flay's minions, and George Allster was Flay's true father. George had always competed with Siegel for the greatest amount of power in the village, but Siegel was too much loved by the people and George never could practice any true authority.
Siegel got up and decided to get some fresh air. Not only that, but he decided to leave the other 2 be for awhile.
Lacus had lied herself on the bed while Cagalli was still pulling out the spare pillow. Then she looked at Lacus.
"You really did a good job today. I told you that you would come through sometime didn't I?"
Lacus just stare up at the ceiling and grunted. Cagalli jumped on to the bed and positioned herself next to Lacus. "Well, soon you'll be joining the heads you know. I can't wait for that day!"
Lacus' sarcastic face turned to a frown. "I'm not very sure about that."
Cagalli turned. "And why is that?"
"Because...because my father had another vision." Her voice was sad, but strong. "He said one day, I would betray ourselves along with 2 others and we would change the world."
Cagalli's face bloomed as shock. "You? Betray us?"
"I don't want to believe him either Cagalli, but he's never been wrong before. And he also told me of his own death."
Lacus grew uneasy; she couldn't lie still and her head was growing cloudy. She had never felt like this before; she never felt so-depressed. Even the events of her lifetime couldn't match this feeling.
And I don't think it will end here either, she thought, as long as I live; if father is right, I will feel so much more regret than ever. I know it.
Cagalli put a hand on her shoulder. "Everything will work out in the end Lacus. Everything does. So don't worry. I'm sure your father made a mistake this time, that's all."
To hear that her father made a mistake was very cruel to her. Yet she wished it to be true, with all her heart. "I hope you're right Cagalli."
The sun had disappeared, and the light had faded. The lone robe was still up on the cliff while the others waited below. He finally teleported down to them.
"It's time." One of the other robes stepped forward and faced the village.
Meer Campbell was still up inside her house. She was walking up the stairs to bed as she finally got tired when she notices 4 men dressed in black robes outside the window.
Who are they, she thought. Peeking outside the window, she noticed one man step forward, staring down the alley. She turned to see many fire beads on the racks of the oil booth. She gasped, but had no time to scream, for the man had sent an energy wave straight at the beads and they burst into flame. Instantly, the oil started to light up as well.
"AAAAAHHH! BANDITS! BANDITS!" Meer was screaming out of control as another hood stepped forward and blasted more fire beads in the distance. Instantly, a full line of fire beads began to burn, crackle, and explode around the houses and booths. Meer's scream managed to wake up any nearby residents and they to shouted out or screamed at the sight of fire. The piercing yells were spreading just as fast as the fire was and in no time, the whole village was awake. People soon started running amok in the allies, avoid the fire, and each other. The unlucky ones fell and were crushed under the feet of the panicking villagers. Others were shoved into the fire accidentally and burned to ashes. While they ran, the 4 robed men started pillaging the fresh homes and booths for anything they could find. They even stopped people and knocked them unconscious before starting to carry them on their backs. The majority were women of younger age, but some were men that seemed to be powerful. One thing was in common between them. They were mages and magicians.
One then stopped another. "I'm going to retrieve something. So pull out as soon as you can." The other nodded and teleported back to their stash.
Lacus sat up instantly after hearing a large explosion. She looked out the window to see large fires outside the house. Immediately she began to panick. What happened? Why? Where is everyone? These, plus many more questions began to cloud her mind. Turning around, she saw that Cagalli had woken up to, scared. She looked down to see Lela still tied to the house, whining and trying to break free.
"Lela!" Lacus cried as she jumped out the window, dousing the flame below her with water. The window was low enough to drop safety; she had done it plenty of times in games.
Cagalli saw her jump and ran to the window. "No Lacus! It's too dangerous!" Her efforts were in vain as Lacus ran to Lela and attempted to break the rope. The rope was covered by enchantments so no one could break it, and Lacus couldn't either.
"Get back Lacus!" Siegel had arrived and blasted the rope. Lela pulled away and flew off in terror.
"No, Lela, Lacus called, come back!" She ran after the Pegasus, but Siegel grabbed her.
"Stop Lacus! We have to get out of here ourselves! Lela will be fine." He said those last words with sympathy, and Lacus barely calmed down. "Alright then. I'll stay behind and try to help people evacuate. You and Cagalli get out of here now!"
Lacus looked up to him in freight. "But father-"
"No excuse Lacus! We don't have time!" And he shoved Lacus away before looking back to Cagalli.
She nodded from the window and jumped out, landing unharmed like Lacus did. Then she ran to Lacus. "Come on Lacus. Sage Clyne will be fine; you know how strong he is."
Lacus turned to her and nodded. Then they both ran, trying to find a way out. Siegel watched them before his mind suddenly sparked. Someone was nearby. He swiftly turned, but he saw no one.
What was that? Something's not right. And he ran the other way, into the darkness.
Meer was running, trying to get away from the crowd and find another way. She panted as she ran and suddenly, her heart dropped. Standing in front of her was a man in a black robe, his face covered by the hood. Meer trying going the other way, but she saw another one behind her. She looked back and realized she was up against 2 of them. Fire blocked her other escape routes. She was trapped. One blew her back and she couldn't react under her fear. The other took advantage of that and kneed her hard in the back. She fell unconscious and one of them picked her up.
"I'll take this one, he said, you go look for some others."
The other turned and vanished. The robe then took Meer back to where they piled their spoils.
Lacus was running fast with Cagalli in front. She looked around to see that most people couldn't find a way out, and it worried her greatly. Suddenly, she tripped over a body and fell face-first into the head of a man who had been crushed earlier. She drew back and called for Cagalli, but the blond haired girl was already gone. She was alone. It scared her. She couldn't move, couldn't speak or scream. She need her best friend now, more than ever. And she lost her.
Then footsteps made there way to her from behind. She turned, dreading who it could be. "Cagalli?"
But it wasn't Cagalli. She shrieked in fear as she stared at the black robed man in front of her. He walked closer to her. "So, we meet again my child."
Lacus turned from frightened to terrified. It was the same man she saw earlier in the day. She crawled backwards, trying to get away. Then she saw him hold out his hand from his robe.
"Come with me, and I can erase the sorrow you once felt."
Lacus looked up surprised. How did he know about how she felt? It doesn't matter! He's evil! Don't go with him! She repeated the phrase in her head and got up to run. Then the man sped in front of her before she could get away. He walked closer and Lacus fell back again. "No! No please! Go away!"
But he inched his hand closer. Lacus didn't get up, and he finally made it to her cheek. He caressed it gently and Lacus stopped moving. She didn't even scream. She was completely paralyzed and the man descended down to her level; his hand still felling her face. "Come, come be with us. I can help you erase this world of pain."
Lacus looked at him, and her fear lessened. "What do you mean?"
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" The man looked up to see Siegel fire a bolt at him that knocked him back. Siegel ran to his daughter. "Are you alright Lacus?" Lacus didn't do anything and the man got up. His hood fell to expose a brunette with dark violet eyes, who looked like he was only in his teens. Siegel looked at him.
"What did you do to her! He yelled, Answer me!"
The teen only glared back. Then he spoke. "I did nothing to her. I have no reason to."
Siegel raced at him, sword drawn. "YOU LIE!"
The teen smirked and pulled out his ponytail from behind.
Yeah, that's right. I gave Kira a ponytail. WHADDYA THINK? Well anyway, I'm not exposing anything about the next chapter, but I can tell you that ponytail will come in real handy for Kira in the story, and you'll see why. Read and review please, and flames will always be accepted. They help to build infernos which I love to put in stories! By the way, I plan to hold back a little on Undying Semesters for a little while. Partly because of the few reviews, and partly because I want both stories around the same amount of chapters to balance things out. Well, have a good day!