空とロマンス
Sola to Romansu (Sky and Romance)
Important side-stories
Book 1: The House of Memories / Part 2
Darven Islands, Savarin Orphanage, Chocolat´s Pov:
As I walked through the halls of my old home, I got quite the nostalgic feeling, I looked around here and there spotting things which I remembered, there was for example a podium on which a broken vase stands, which had been fixed with superglue.
Instead of buying a new one it stood there as a reminiscent.
One day, as the Director had to go towards Pharaoh to buy supplies, Red had once again a few of his rowdy minutes, while playing with the other kids, he accidently bumped into the podium knocking the same over and so broke the vase on top of it.
Not only was the vase expensive but also one of the favorites of the Director.
Red, not only fearing the anger of the Director but also her disappointment spent three entire hours searching for every single piece of the Broken vase and in order to hide things, he glued all the pieces of the vase back together.
Surprisingly he managed to get the whole thing back together, more or less, at least it still looked like a vase.
The Director, although frustrated due to the broken vase saw Red´s dedication with which he had put the puzzle, as best as able to him, back together, even sacrificing an entire day of freedom for it.
In the end he even saved his pocket money to buy a new vase and apologized to the Director for it, who had acted as though she saw no difference in the vase before and after.
Of course, she forgave him if he promises to be a little more careful around valuable object from then on...
Yeah, we had some good but also some bad times here, but overall, I would not want to miss the time I had spent here with everyone.
"Is this you, Chocolat?" Anastasia asked as she looked at a photography hanging on the wall.
"Yes, the third from the right, Red next to me, then come the twins Millie and Vincent, then Thea and then comes Maxwell, quite an obnoxious brat if you ask me, far worse than Red could ever be.
He was quite materialistic, always searching for praise and always looked down on the other kids who had not much, especially on me and Red as we were the only ones with no recollection of our past.
I haven´t seen him in ages, not that I really care, I always despised his nasty character..., I heard a rich family had taken him in, much to his delight.
To be honest we hadn´t much contact with anyone of the other orphans after we went to live our own lives, so I cannot tell you anything about them than the things I still know from our mutual past.
I had been a cute and shy little girl, not at all as headstrong and stubborn as I am now, at least so the Director always said, there were even a time as I was terribly shy, maybe it was after I arrived here.
But meeting Red must have changed me, to the better, at least I am a lot braver than before." I explained and White nodded.
"Indeed, you are more daring than I had ever imagined myself in the past, of how you would end up after you have grown, but all I can see is that whatever happened to you, it was a good thing.
You have grown to someone which I and I am sure others as well, can absolutely count on, no wonder that Red has become such a strong and famous hunter, with you as his sister on his side." He explained and I blushed deep red.
"Yeah I saw that too in those missions I had for you, he might be a goofball and a loudmouth at times, but he at least sooner or later gets all the things, which he has promised, done..., somehow." Anastasia explained blushing as well.
"Not to mention that he does look good, if you ignore his attitude most of the time." I heard her mumbling as she looked aside.
I was not quite sure but if I wouldn´t know it any better I would say that Anastasia had developed a crush on Red..., should I tell her that it was hopeless, that Red had Elh?
I guess for now I better keep quiet maybe it only stays as a crush, who knows.
"Yeah, Red is amazing, but I too can say that I am famous, even I have a fanclub, even if small, at least there are a lot of people who appreciate what I am doing and some girls who wish to become like me when they grow, it makes me blushing all the time when I hear it.
It tells me that despite my past and my own personal problems, there are some people counting on me and even going as far as to idolize me.
Mr. Quebec for example always says that the sight of me is like the rising sun after a dark night." I replied with a smile.
"Wait Quebec..., tall, Tiger-Felidion, white haired, one eyed and is so bad on foot he has to use a cane?" Father asked dumbfounded.
"Yeah..., sounds like him..., what´s up with that, do you know him?" I asked.
"Indeed, he is an old friend of mine, we once had been in a Hunter team as he was still working freely, before her entered the Kurvaz and even became an Air-Chief-Marshall.
I had met him over a decade ago, shortly after we arrived here and had to get us a living, I was to earn money while Tereza searched for clues to your whereabouts.
As I was foreign to these places, I needed a job in which I would get to know their terrain better, I went to the Harbor of Pharaoh to get a job somewhere, but as it was hard for me to even communicate with the people, was that of course easier said than done.
That's when I met Quebec and his team consisting of three Caninu, Bruno, Nago and Cacao and with whom I worked for a while to earn money for the family after they literally found me there, slumped on the pier, succumbing to my sorrow and worthlessness.
One each of them was a unique character, Quebec was the one who got things done as the leader of the Group, stubborn, headstrong, muscular and always ready a Brawl.
Back then he still had his 2 legs and two eyes in good shape, he also wasn´t that melancholic but rather loved to look to the future of things.
Nago was calmer than the others and more on the composed side, he was a mysterious Character, with an unknown and most likely tragic backstory, as not even Quebec knew exactly who he was, nevertheless that old Tiger trusted him and his calm and analytic abilities, the strange thing on him was most likely the fact that he always wore a strangely shaped sword with a certain crest on it.
Nago never explained it, but I think he must have been a member of an old Warrior-clan from somewhere around the Republic, most likely from Andalusia.
I heard that 20 years ago there had been many civil wars down there and that many Clans literally died out with their remaining members spread out throughout the Republic, thinking they might be the only one left, who knows, maybe Nago was the only one left of his Clan.
Cacao on the other hand was the direct opposite of Nago, obnoxious, cheerful, a little stupid and unmannered to a fault, but by god he was one of the best pilots I knew.
There was no dogfight he hasn´t won or at least ended in a draw, if nothing else then he was at least on par with the top pilots of Pharaoh, I heard that he once had been an Air-Robo GP Champion, with a wife and a Daughter, but ever since a colossal accident at one of the Races, as his Machine caught fire and he had to crash-land on a nearby island, he wasn´t the same.
He quit racing as he always believes that his machine had been manipulated by his race-stall due to his Team leaders' shady businesses and bets.
As he had no real evidence to prove his claim he was shunned by his team and lost his contract and succumbed to alcohol, which ended up In near coma and his wife and daughter leaving him.
Quebec found him in a bar as he was on the search for a skilled pilot and promised him to find evidences for the Racing team´s scheme.
In the end they never did but the both of them grew close together.
Bruno was just a unique character as all the others, he could go from calm, analytic and composed to cold-hearted and irascible in less than 10 seconds, he always had big goals which I thought was but only achievable by barely legal means.
In the end, not long after I joined, the Group disbanded several years ago, I entered to the end-phase of them, still, the last few jobs we had made together were quite lucrative, so I could not really complain.
I have no clue what happened to Nago, but Cacao has left to live in Bassett, his old home.
Quebec and Bruno became part of the Kurvaz and quickly rose in their Ranks there.
I went back to my Family in the Korat Archipelago, with the Money I had earned, not for the last as I heard about an Attack at an Airedale Orphanage in the night before, on a New-Moon night.
I feared for the worst and so I got dropped off by Quebec near the old Farmhouse, which my family and friends had renovated.
Still until today, Quebec was the only one of the Shepherd Republic, who knew about my secret as being a Kumear, nowadays he only works as a Hunter for jobs he can use his Mecha for, as his leg hasn´t yet healed from an injury from several years ago, during his previous Job at the Kurvaz.
No idea what exactly happened back then, I can plainly see that the memories of that time is hurting him.
I heard he was a high rank member, even going as far as to command an Airship of them himself." Father explained and this information sure came new to me.
Of course, I knew that Mr. Quebec had a past with the Kurvaz and Bruno Dondurma personally, but I didn´t know nor realized, that he was that important back then..., no wonder that Opera often consults him, if she needs any advice, and asks us if we have seen him somewhere, when we visit Merveille.
"I described you to him..., does this mean he maybe has known all the time where you had been..., if yes why didn´t he ever told me?" Father exclaimed, his anger rising.
"Well for the most people in the Republic I was but a simple Caninu, and I wasn´t the only one with an unusual Hair-color, so it was not as if he must have done it on purpose.
Prior to a few days ago, even I had no idea I was a Kumear, I too have always believed to be a Caninu, so he is not really to blame for that.
I also only know him through Red as he tried to find work as a hunter-trainee but everybody just turned their back on him, all but Quebec who took him in as apprentice, as he apparently saw potential of a great Hunter in Red.
Even though I liked him for that hadn´t I that much contact with him.
Maybe he just not realized that the missing daughter of his friend was sitting infront of his nose all the time..., I mean men are like this, even Red sometimes misses important but obvious details, which are right before his nose, far too often even." I explained and White and Father sweatdropped at my claim about men in general.
"Ah, I remember, this used to be my and Red´s room." I explained as we walked past a door.
"Wait what, you guys slept in one room?" Father asked, instantly back on being enraged.
"Well we were kids and Red was the one Chocolat trusted most from all of us, I´m though not sure how that came." Thea explained as she walked inside and looked around, before remembering something as she looked at a photo that hang on the wall not far from the door.
I almost burst in tears, overwhelmed with nostalgia, as we entered the room, it was almost identically to the time I lived here, hardly anything had changed, it was as the Director said, if there ever comes a time in which we do not know any further, we were always welcome to come back, that there was always an open door for us.
"Maybe it was because of that time as Chocolat went missing and Red brought her back, alongside this red-clad Hunter and that Girl with the silver and rose hair and the bandages all over her body.
She sure looked strange, she didn´t even had a visible tail..., was she perhaps one of these fr..." Thea asked unsure, but I instantly knew from whom and about what she spoke and I would not let her said it.
My fist hit the door faster than I could stop it, most likely startling everybody, Rose was a nice person, I knew her only briefly, prior to today, since she and Red´s `Master´ helped us finding our way to go for the future, still I can barely remember that.
I met her again during the events on Airedale a few hours ago and after she traveled with us here and I got to see that she was a wonderful and kind person, who worried a lot about the people she cared for, and her daughter Alexia was nice as well.
"Rose is no Freak, she is a really kind young woman..., don´t you dare mock her just because she is a hybrid!
All this prejudice..., it´s not like she wanted to be like this, none of them wanted to be like this!" I stated loudly and enraged, taking Thea aback.
"I´m sorry, I shouldn´t have said that." The same exclaimed.
"Damn right, you should have not, how dare you judge over other people, if you don´t even know them first hand?" I asked still fuming as White and Anastasia tried to calm me down, as well as held me back from doing anything to Thea.
"I sure don´t know how she has changed in the last few years, but the Rose I knew has been shy, friendly, a bit childish at times, but always concerned of others, trying to be as helpful as she can while having to struggle with her own problems, such a good soul deserves nothing but respect!" I spat in disgust to her unspoken words.
I knew for a fact that there were a lot of people still opposing to Hybrids, Cassandra and Reito at first weren´t all too happy about Red being a Hybrid as well, mostly because of their Granddaughter Elh dating him, but eventually they came around to like him as well as they understood that Red was different from Blank and Nero.
That he only wanted to help and protect.
The fact that only a small number of people even knew that Red was one of them, wasn´t helping the situation at all..., Nero and Blank, as well as Baion, really helped to taint the image of Hybrids, in such a way that it is hard to fix it again.
But I hope that there really is a way to make our society coexist with them, mostly for the ones who come after Red, Rose, Carmine and Alexia, Carmine has a good point there.
Ever since I know that Red is a Hybrid, I asked myself one single thing almost every night, if I had decided to keep the baby back then, would it have grown to become a Hybrid as well.
Not only would I have been too young to take care of a child as I was still one myself, no, if it had become a hybrid, it might have been ostracized by others, mobbed and tortured mentally maybe even physically.
When do Hybrid abilities show themselves, at what age, are there some ways to contain these powers from accidently emerging prematurely?
If I would have known the answer, would I have kept the child?
I don´t know, if giving the Hybrids an Island to live upon, would be so good..., it would seem to them that they are outcast by our society, shipped off to a secluded island where they shall remain.
Like the ones sick with the Pestilence, during the ancient wars..., instead of helping them some way, they were brought away to a place, flocked together and left to tend for themselves..., no one cared if they survived.
In my Eyes a secluded Island where the Hybrids live, wouldn´t look much different to that example.
I think it is far easier to somehow include them in our society as equal beings to us, just like back then, as all races lived in harmony.
But maybe, thanks to Baion's dark plans, hybrids might be seen as supporters of Lycan.
"What if they are going to be persecuted someday?" I thought in shock, as I looked at the Photo of Rose and Carmine together with me and Red, while we remained in an awkward silence after my outburst.
The others looked around uncomfortably, while I was bound to the photo here in the room, of a time which was so damn easy and carefree to me and Red, compared to nowadays.
Rose had such a friendly smile on her bandaged face, and although Carmine had hide himself behind a mask and a large hat for a long time due to his own feelings and also to avoid being picked on for it, they seemed to be happy, at least during that moment.
Rose told me, during our flight as I asked her about the Seal, which she had made for my Memories, and Hybrids in general, that neither she nor Carmine had any clear memories of the past, no clear recollection of how old they even were.
In Carmines case, the only thing he knew with certainty about his past, was where he was from and that he had an older Brother, maybe because the same had been kidnapped together with him, according to what he said and what Elh told me earlier, as he mentioned it to her.
However had he no idea how long that has been in the past or when he even was born, as he was often set to sleep by Baion for maybe quite a long time, as he had no recollection if the technical innovations nowadays had been present to the time of his childhood.
He could not even say when, precisely at what age, he had been kidnapped.
If anything, he could be as old as Rose, although not physically.
I cannot imagine how he must have feel, if he was but a small child, either way I was sure that he must have been in so much pain and agony, unable to break free from it.
Every glance in a mirror reminds him of what has been done to him, same as Rose.
Rose only has snippets of her Memories left to her, she knows that she can use magic and that she had something to do with Abyssinia but she was not clear what.
However, there was something strange which I had witnessed earlier on Airedale, back then as Rose, Elh and Beluga met for the first time.
It looked as though the two of them recognized Rose, but were unsure about it, sure, after all she looks much like Yulungur, like a human, so fully without fur, but something just tells me that they most likely have some though in the back of their head, which made them think that they might know her from somewhere.
As old as both are wouldn´t I be surprised about that fact and back then before Baion Kidnapped her, Rose must have looked like a Felineko, as she said.
She didn´t show it to us nor during the battle, but apparently, she suffers a so-called Reverse Trance, similar to Red´s trance just in the opposite way, as Rose is in a permanent human form, her trance form looks the way she had looked as a Felineko.
Apparently, Carmine was able to do the same but he rarely does trance, he mainly uses his skills in dual-sword-wielding and his Mechas consisting of the Red Dragon Mecha and his old Mecha Main Gauche (ZAHAK-AZ107).
Even Alexia is able to trance, but Rose had forbidden her to do so.
Most likely to not give other people any chances nor reasons to ostracize her for it.
At least her best Friend Maka, was indifferent to her being a hybrid, for the young Felineko girl, her Hybrid-friend was just that, a close friend, nothing more nothing less.
As I investigated the photo for any kind of reluctance in the eyes or gesture of my former self, I didn´t came around thinking about the things Rose had explained to me.
As she and her husband were the only other Hybrid I met, who did not tried to kill us all, it was only normal that I would ask her about Hybrids in general, maybe so that I too could get a better understanding about them.
Even though both were older than Red, in terms of physical appearance, was Rose Number 4 and Carmine Number 7.
Back then I was confused and asked what she meant with these numbers.
She explained it so that Baion, according to the grade of their adaptability to the trance-power and other emerged abilities, called them in a numerical row.
Blank and Nero, who could use their Hybrid-Forces better than the others and so pilot Lares and Lemures, but were unable to trance, either willingly or unwillingly, were Number 1 and 2.
Red, although initially called a failure by Baion, was Number 3, even though he was unable to trance willingly and only while feeling great anger or during a Crisis, as a means of Survival.
He had a perfect disguise, if used on the outside to investigate, with his Caninu form no one would suspect a thing, at least so Carmine explained it.
Rose as being a Paladin on top of a Hybrid was number four, she too could use some forces but as side-effect, her own memories were severed more and more, the more often she used her Trance-form.
Maybe she feared the same for Alexia, that's why she forbids her to use them in the first place, as she might forget that Rose and Carmine were her parents or that she belonged to the good side..., a thought unbearable for Rose, who often had the feeling not to belong anywhere but at the side of Carmine and Alexia.
There were apparently 2 other Hybrids called Rouge and Vermillion, Number 5 and 6, who were called spares by Baion.
Carmine, the one with the least hybrid forces but with the ability of Predictive Dreams bordering on Clairvoyance, was Number 7 despite the fact that he may be as old as Rose.
He looked same as Rose and Red during trance, like a male middle-aged Human, according to Baion's files which Merveille had stolen as she fled the facility, the experimentation on him was incomplete and he should have been discarded along Rose sooner of later.
Carmines older Brother, Crimson Canelé, was Number 0, according to the files, he managed to flee somehow, as Baion just began to experiment with him, through unknown means.
It was unclear why he didn´t took Carmine along on his breakout, but looking at the Memory loss of both Rose and Carmine, it was very likely that Crimson just could not remember that he even had a brother in the first place and that he just wanted to safe his own life, due to that fact Carmine never held a grudge against his brother, even if he suffered for all the years after that.
Still, Crimson´s escape forced Baion to abandon his laboratory and move his facility for the first time, to the facility Merveille later on worked as well, until she found out what exactly she even did there the whole time, escaped while simultaneously burning the facility down, forcing Baion to move a second time.
While Red was often on Mission, I had time to speak with Merveille and get myself some informations about her and Red´s Past, so I did knew a few things Red didn´t really cared to know.
She even slipped the detail, that despite destroying the Facility, she kept the files and data of Baion as she found the mere science of creating artificial life still fascinating.
I told her, that as long as she would not use her knowledge to create something evil again, I would keep shut about that fact to Red.
She replied with saying that everything she had created was initally not evil, that the further course of environment and involvement was shaping her creations, or Children as she called them.
Back then due to Baion manipulating Blank and Nero with his words and actions, they became evil, while Red became good as Merveille helped him to escape.
Rose and Carmine stayed good because they outmost despised Baion and his experiments and everything which was created after Baion was gone and which would get an appropriate treatment, could prove to become a valuable asset to our Society, so her words.
This claim unnerved me a little as it sounded like she was willing to experiment further in that area, even wishing to get working results, or that she maybe had already created something which had no real relation to Baion but more to her.
Could she have gone as far as to create another Hybrid..., maybe even more than one?
Merveille was quite secretive if it was related to her researches, occasionally she slips details before brushing them off as nonsense, like back then as she said, although meant as a joke, that she was Red´s mother, which in reality was the truth, as Red had found out now, through some of his hidden memories resurfacing by his father opening the seal partially.
Still the thing with King Maranell Wolvenra´s involvement in Red birth as he is now, she never mentioned, maybe because she was forced to, out of safety measures or simply because she deemed it as unnecessary, as Red had no memory about that time anyways.
3 of 8 known Test-subjects, or better said, Victims, were known to us and still alive, 2 were dead and the whereabout of the other 3 were unknown, whether Crimson survived out here or not.
But from what I heard from Rose was the absence of Rouge and Vermillion in the Battle 2 years ago quite an unnerving fact as it might mean that they roam around somewhere freely and unrestrained.
They once had attacked both Rose and Carmine here in the Shepherd Republic, back then as they lived with us in the Orphanage, as the same was still in Airedale, before being partially destroyed in another attack by unknown attackers and then rebuild and transported to the Darven Islands, on a secluded and hidden Island, for safety measures, by King Maranell.
Maybe that was that attack Father spoke of, in the Night of a New Moon..., after being persecuted by Lycanians it was only right to assume that they must have found us, either themselves or this New Moon Society.
2 years after I arrived here in the Republic, with that guardian of mine, so that must have been the moment she died, protecting us all..., may her soul rest in peace.
The Attack of Vermillion and Rouge was of a similar nature, as it was to bring the escapees back to Baion and kill every bystander, to show him their both worth and loyalty, as they constantly feared to be disposed off, if they could not somehow gain Baion´s trust in them.
That Attack was a memory which Red and I had lost, or better said which was taken from us by Rose.
It wasn´t though the first attack, as Baion once tried it alongside Blank and Nero, not long after Red managed to flee by the hands of Merveille, Rose and Carmine, over a decade ago.
Back then Baion himself invaded Shangri-La with many of his Drones and Blank and Nero, but failed to kill the three, as Red´s other Father, King Maranell Wolvenra, defeated him and Rose and Carmine defeated Nero and Blank.
I still cannot really believe that fact, that both Red and I, orphans as we had always thought to be, were in reality members of two Royal families.
Red held the Blood of one of the oldest family in history and I was apparently a Kumear in disguise, still, unless I get my memories back, I can barely believe that claim, even if I wish it to become true, for then I would be able to get back together with my long-lost family.
But even with Maranell as father was the circumstances around Red just too complicated, as both Baion and Maranell technically seen were Red´s biological fathers.
Their Battle all these years ago, was like a fight of two parents over their child, only that one of them wanted to kill the child and the other tried to safe it and let it live a normal life.
Personally, I think Red has far more from Maranell than from Baion in him, but then again, Human-Red, as Red calls that trance-form himself, had not only the physiology but also a slightly more violent streak, in quite a minor way similar to Baion, to him.
But different to the same, is this violence only directed to his enemies, still, back then as he fell victim to the Order and hurted Elh, I was afraid that this was the part of Baion that was within him and seeing, that it only needed a signal to be activated, I was a little afraid of Red, even afterwards, what if this signal somehow reappeared and once again let Red lose his mind and go berserk.
What if someone manages to find a way to reproduce that Signal and tries to use Red as a willingness slave for their evil deeds.
I asked Merveille that question before and she said that there was maybe a way to keep that from happening, but it would require another Gene-modification, something she didn´t wanted Red to go through again, unless he himself asks for it.
"In the end we never had a dull moment in our life, even if we have forgotten most of it, wherever we went there was bound to be trouble along the way." I mumbled as I followed the others, as Thea urged us on towards the outside to the Garden.
The same had not really changed that much from when I last saw it, the arrangement was still the same, the only thing that had changed were the flowers that meanwhile bloomed.
"I really missed the view." I stated to White as I looked to the wide horizon over the wooden fence.
"I loved it to look out of the window on sunny days in summer, letting the sun shine on me, while I spent hours in blissful tranquility, just watching the clouds fly by.
Back then the world was still fair, it always calmed me down even if I had a fight with Red or anyone else hours before, it helped me assorting my own feelings and to get a clear head once in a while." I explained as we walked after the others.
"It is a nice place indeed, I can really imagine it to me, to sit on the porch and sleep in one of these Rocking chairs all day long from morning to evening, I love tranquil days, guess it´s kinda a Felidion thing to just lie down and sleep without a care in the world." White replied and I snickered.
I could really imagine him lying on a thick branch of a tree in the summer sun, happily sleeping the day away.
I had to giggle at that thought, which was making him blush.
"The Grave is over here, near the cliff, back then as Miss Banmori had been here for two years, she always said that she loved the view, at least that's what I still remember from her, she often sit there with you in her arms, sleeping.
I was only 7 years old at that time, but even I managed to understand that she was beyond sorrowful while looking into the vast sky.
Now that I know what she had lost, it was only natural that she did so, most likely thinking of her parents, her family and her home.
As you might know am I from the Shepherd Republic, so I never knew that there were other places and Regions beside the few I know, it was the first time I saw a Kumear from close up.
But after I decided to become Lady Cherrypie´s successor for this Orphanage she explained everything to me, she took me with her towards Shangri-la and I even got to meet the King once.
The Aura which this man emits is incredible, gentle and strong most of the time, but I bet when he is angry the aura must be simply overwhelming.
It is hard to believe that the Red I always knew and loathed for his recklessness as a child, was actually a Prince and the tiny friend I had in you was a Princess, back then as I heard about it, I really felt myself quite insignificant compared to you two." Thea explained as she gestured over to a large white Marble Plate with a still visible Gravure inside.
"Here lies Banmori Gongmeng
1475-1500
Valkyrie of the Orion Order and Panda-Kumear-citizen of Valhalla.
Protector of Princess Choco-Vanil Gelatorias Garontrias, 2nd princess of Valhalla.
Died in action on 15th December 1500, in order to protect the Orphanage and all of its inhabitants on Airedale."
Underneath these informations, stood a speech and reading it made me feel that whoever had written it truly knew from what he talked.
"`A broken home can always be rebuilt, but a lost life is never to be restored, only to be remembered.
May your soul rest in peace, knowing that your mission succeeded!
We will never forget you and what you have given to us all.
May your soul rest in peace, before it is reborn´.
-Quynne Savarin!"
Reading this script drove me to tears somehow.
The plate was not the only thing which stood here, on top of it I could see a stature featuring a female head in all detail.
Underneath I could see the crest of Valhalla, as White had shown me, as well as another crest, looking like 3 stars in a row on the forehead of a Kumear.
"The three Stars represent the Orion´s Belt, a star-constellation on the night sky with three bright stars in one line.
Their Position on the forehead has a special symbolism and they have even been included onto the Royal coat of arms and the sacred Crown of Valhalla.
One star stands for Power, that would be one on the right side, you know, as only the rightful should hold immense power to control it and effectively use it to the benefit of others as well, to protect them.
The star in the middle stands for Wisdom, wisdom about many things, general Knowledge, as well as, in case of a Royal, important state-secrets and even Royal secrets, exclusive to the King.
The left Star stands for Loyalty, loyalty towards family and folk, it´s very important as a reigning king, the one who rules without the loyalty and respect of his folk, is nothing but a man bound to fail.
Sometimes I ask myself if I had been such a King." Father explained to us as he stroke over the two Crests, before he kneeled deeply infront of the grave.
"Thank you, thank you Banmori that you protected Choco for us, that you made sure she was in safety, it was not always easy and there were surely many hard moments for her, but in the end, she lived and that's all thanks to you.
Even though you died far too young, did you die in outmost honor, on Behalf of my Position as former King of Valhalla do I thank you with all my heart.
Thank you..., may your soul rest in peace." He stated his head low.
"On behalf of the Royal Family of Savannah, do I, King White Savage XIII, thank you as well, for all what you have done and what you have sacrificed to protect so many people.
I too won´t ever forget your Name, may your soul soon be reborn, on that we can meet again and properly thank you for it." White stated as he stood next to me, as I too kneeled infront of the grave, he took my hand and looked deep in my eyes.
"I think it is the best you can do, regain those memories, even if they end up being frightening, even if only to remember Banmori." White stated on my unspoken feelings and words and I think he was right, I might now say something here at her grave, but who am I kidding, without any concrete memories was it hard to truly feel that my prayer to her soul and my gratefulness are genuine.
"Once you have regained your memories, come back and pray for real, if it is your wish, then you can be sure that whatever feeling you have is genuine." Father exclaimed next to me, nodding.
"I guess you guys are right, I have to regain my memories of her, to make sure I can genuinely feel for her again." I replied, having no memories of those who sacrificed their life for us really sucked, I cannot tell how worse I feel to have forgotten someone who gave up her life to protect me and others.
"Well I think we should get inside again, the Director must already wonder where we are, shall we?" Thea asked as we all were done with our prayer infront of the grave.
Nodding we made our way back inside.
While we walked the hallway I felt how I was observed, here and there the door to the rooms were open to a split, wide enough to recognize a few pairs of eyes looking through the splits.
"They seem to still be vary of us?" I mumbled.
"That's only natural we told them to stay still when strangers are visiting, as I said, in our current times you never know who comes on this island, or better said who manages to invade.
After the attack and after rebuilding the orphanage, we expanded it downwards, into the island, each room has a direct stairway that leads towards a secret underground hangar, which can be used as an Air-raid-shelter, where our Aircraft for emergencies lies.
It holds place for 20 persons of all sizes, so plenty of place for the 12 of us." Thea explained and I nodded, that was quite an ingenious plan.
"Ah it seems that they are still talking" Thea whispered as she stealthily walked to the door and eavesdropped.
I went along as I wanted to know what Red was speaking about with the Director when I wasn´t there.
"It is important to know ones origins, however ..., Red, knowing about your past will definitely change you a lot, you will not be able to say that you are the same person you are right now.
Regaining all the memories of Red Savarin Wolvenra, Prince of tenn Moons might even go as far as to make Red ssvarin the hunter vanish, that must be clear to you.
Also knowing your past and origin will also mean that you will gain knowledge about all the things you have learend about the still ongoing conflict in this world and it will require from you to make a choice whether you sit back and watch the future as it unfolds, or if you take up actions to forge the future yourself.
Whatever you chose to do, be aware that becoming Prince once again will have a direct impact on the world, you will sooner or later be chased by Lycans henchmen, as you and your father are their biggest threat, sure you might get chased even without knowing your origins, but knowing them will not only make you more conscious about the importance of your survival but also the consequences if you would die.
All of what you will get to know, it will change your current world forever, it will give you access to knowledge yu hold, about magic, great power and skills, but also to the greatest of responsibilities you hold just by being alive.
Becoming the Prince of 10 moons again will show you how many people actually count on your future and how many lifes you have to defend, protect and lead on.
Also you will hold the very fate of the world in your hand, as one of the Lorekeepers of Shangri-La and the Free Regions, that much must be clear.
Some knowledge will be private to you for sure, but some will have lasting consequences on the world if it would ever be extracted, but to preserve these memories for the future within a mind is essential and beyond just important...
Knowing that you will change in any possible way, that more than just one folk will depend on your survival and lead, and knowing that the knowledge you hold leads either to this world´s salvation or damnation..., are you still willing to get to know your past?" The Director asked in a soft voice, as we opened the door carefully not to disturb them.
I honestly never saw Red thinking about something so hard, Elh had an expression that said the exact same.
Red held still for quite a while surely thinking about everything said, he looked up and looked up to everyone, Rose, the Director, Elh, even to me while I gave him a thumb-up.
Just as I had decided to remember everything, no matter how painful it might become, he should do so as well, even if just to honor and remember all those who sacrificed their lives for us.
"I still intend to get my memories back, out of the selfish wish to know who I exactly am, even if the danger occurs that I will lose the self I am now.
However, as you said that this wisdom can change the world in some way, I see it as important then that this wisdom is not going to get lost, for when we need it but cannot use it, things might go far more downhill as when I know it and can try to counter our all demise.
Lycan will be after me either way, just as you said.
But I am willing to fight, willing to keep this world together, if it means I can save other people.
I don´t know if Lycan might manage to someday somehow extract this knowledge out of me, but before that happens, I will do my most to prepare against him and his kind, for the event that he would succeed in his plan.
I don´t know if the world is ready for me, but I am ready for the world that awaits me, maybe I change but as long as I don´t forget the things I know until now, I am sure I can bear it." Red explained and Rose and the director nodded.
"That explanation suits me, how about you?" Rose asked.
"A good answer indeed, very well, as it is your wish we both will now carry out the ritual to unseal the knowledge and memories, we had closed away and in addition we will try to put some spell around your consciousness.
It will keeps your mind from being infiltrated and informations and memories being extracted, mostly by other Magicians which specialize in that kind of complex magic, as soon when you get your memories back you will get to know the fact that Lycan is not even the peak of all evil in this world, but quite close to it, he´s not the only one who would do anything for power, that must be clear to you before you can go further on your Journey." Rose explained and Red nodded with determination.
"Well, then, shall we begin?" The Director asked and we nodded.
"Then come with me, all of you!" The Director demanded, as she stood up to lead Red and the others somewhere, as if she knew we were there she looked at us and gestured us to come along.
She sure was a s sharp-minded as always, nothing ever got past her.
Once again we walked back to the Hallway from before into mine and Red´s Old Room.
"The recuperation of lost memories might last for a while, at least about 2-3 hours, it is easier if you lay down and take a good nap, then it does not put so much strain on your mind and body, how about it?" The director explained as she gestured over to the Bed.
To be honest, now that I saw the double-bed standing here in the room, I kind off got embarrassed, especially as Red already went to the bed and , after taking of his shoes simply laid down on it, a little reluctant and after a glance at Elh who urged me to go on, I went to the bed as well sat down took of my boots and laid down next to Red.
"Since the two have such a strong relationship to each other, the close contact to a familiar soul might be able to help you overcome the parts which will be scary to you." The Director explained as she gestured us to hold hands, making me and Red blush.
"Is that really necessary, I mean Red and Elh...?" I stammered but the Director nodded.
"Unless you want to go through your scariest experiences all alone, if you like we all can touch you as well, but I doubt me and the others would be able to stay here for 3 hours, at least I still got a lot of things to do around here.
Someone has to tell the children that it is safe around here, that they need not to be afraid of you guys and Thea has still a lot of other things to do, also is this room too cramped for so many people!" The Director stated.
"I see, well I think the closest to their heart should stay here, which are the little Miss Melizee and the Young King White!" Father explained and Anastasia was about to protest.
"Let her first remember Anastasia, she won´t go away so easily anymore, we will have our time with her as a family, but for now, let her be with the ones she loves since so long." Father stated and my Sister nodded although quite reluctant.
"If that has been cleared out, I think it is time for you guys to remember, the spell will make you sleepy and once you awake, you will have everything you need to feel complete again." The Director explained and Red nodded.
"I know how that feels." He mumbled while I was a little afraid which made me gripping his hand stronger.
The last time I got a memory of my former past back left me with a splitting headache, a racing heart and a bath of cold sweat, not to mention one of the worst feelings ever.
"The memories will come back to you as if in a dream, but seeing them, remembering your time will change you in an irreparable way, whoever you have been before, once you regain everything you will be a different being, different to who you have been and you will have to choose, if you can still continue the life you lived or if you will sacrifice it for something bigger than that." Rose stated and we nodded.
"One thing is for sure, as long as you guys have known each other am I certain that even if you one day decide to part your ways, your life will eventually join together once more someday, you have a destiny which binds you kids together strongly, to survive in this world, just like once the Ancients." The Director explained as she gestured to me and Red to close our eyes.
"I accept that, I always knew there was more to me than just a simple hunter." Red boasted loudly and I could hear the mock in his voice, how it drowned the doubt and fear in his heart.
"I accept these conditions as well..., I lived as Chocolat Gelato long enough, it is time to find out the truth, to get to know my own self and to face my past and my fears." I explained aloud as well.
"We will be with you, throughout the way:" I head two voice stating in unison, Elh and White of course.
"Then let´s begin, Ladies First, Chocolat, relax and take a deep breath, Rose, whenever you are ready." The Director stated.
"Of course..., you are ready Chocolat?" She asked and I nodded after calming down, feeling both, the heat of Red´s strong and comforting grip and the careful and gentle touch of White´s hand on my other hand.
"Iuri ore comen kiueria, Kiueria memoresta chaniestor.
Kiueria drehas, savur vores tori, chanies et wegaros eta reflaxio eta namor.
Roseralos marimus narum aries gethra, darun gethra aron, delcras darun feravente daruna arik.
Acerif darun shiccsel-oft, acerif darun vahe aron acen.
(I am the one who holds the key, the key to unchain the memories.
A Key to turn, a door to open, set free the path to the mirror of the soul.
Look inside for all the hidden things, the things you have lost, on that you can find yourself once more.
Become who you are destined to be, become who you have forgotten to be)!" I heard the Director and Rose´s voice chanting in perfect sync.
Suddenly there was a strange feeling creeping into me, I felt as though my body began to heat up and I felt how my mind became hazier, it was though not an uncomfortable feeling but I did tense up a little bit as I felt how I got sleepier and sleepier even yawning.
I barely heard that the incantation was spoken over Red, as I began to doze off rather quickly, the last ting I heard was that the door was opened and closed most likely the Director and Rose walking out, I could still feel the warmth of Red and Whites hands.
"I would have never guessed that the two of us would ever share one bed again, after all what happened between us..., Chocolat, before we change, I want to tell you that I never once really regretted to have you as my sister, you have been the best little sister, which a big brother could ever wish for." I heard Red mumbling drowsily.
"Likewise, I don´t know where I would be now without you at my side, you were my light in darkest night, whenever I was afraid you gave me courage, I am really grateful to have been able to call you my big Brother." I replied to him as best as I could.
"Chocolat /Red, you are great..., thank you very much." We stated in drowsy unison, before I felt how darkness surrounded me, more than before and without even knowing, I was fast asleep.
To be continued...
A/N: The newest Chapter is done, I hope you have had a great time reading, forgive all my mistakes, once I have reread it again, I hopefully have fixed almost all of them.
The reading off this story is quite Crucial to get certain details for the future story and the not so far away events which are soon coming up, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter and that we see each other again.
Yours truly, the storyteller and his books.