空とロマンス
Sola to Romansu (Sky and Romance)
Important side-stories
Book 1: The House of Memories / Part 5
14 Years ago, Clawstone, Capital of Valhalla, Chocolat´s Pov:
Darkness, the smell of fire and burned flesh, the sound of mighty wings beaten, the storm like gust that rushes over the island.
A shadow of something huge rushes over the ground, illuminated by the burning town.
A Roar, ear-deafening and so strong, that it shakes the entire city to the core.
My blood froze as I heard it, as I felt its evil aura which was almost omnipotent.
I knew that this was the nearest future I would see in the continuation of this memory.
If I thought that I had already seen the worst the Lycanians had to offer with that beast, then I was not at all prepared to see this other thing.
We had just reached the Central Plaza, as I felt it like an ice-cold jagged blade, slicing down my spine painfully.
"Wait, something is here, something evil and powerfull!" I stated aloud to the entire group, as I was left trembling in terror.
"What do you mean, Princess, there is..., nothing..., there." Boka stated as he suddenly stopped dead in his track and rose his glance up to the sky trembling and sweating in terror.
"Oh shit." He simply said, gulping, as his eyes were glued on the sight above our heads.
"Everybody hide..., right now." He stated with a low hiss, as he dragged us, Banmori, Lady Taluvien and Bjearn to the side behind the broken walls of the ruin of a house, those who had gone in front of us hid behind the walls of another house a bit away from our hideout.
"I cannot believe it, what is such a thing doing here?" Lady Taluvien asked as her glance was fixed on the same spot as previously Boka´s.
"What is this thing?" I asked as I looked at this black winged creature with Red eyes.
All it did was standing atop the roof of the Cathedral but that was enough for the fires on the ground, to barely illuminating it, heaving it above from the darkness surrounding it, however the ice cold feeling it emitted spread over the entire place.
The evil aura was almost touchable.
"A Dragonkin, a Ghoul on Level 9.
I´ve heard stories about it and it has been described in ancient history books and the list of monsters to avoid at all cost if possible, but that I would live long enough to ever encounter one of them myself, I never would have believed." Lady Taluvien explained in a low voice, through gritted teeth.
"This is..., a Ghoul?" Banmori asked, as she paled more than the white spots on her fur.
"Indeed, and the strongest known to Beastkind, its force is only rivalled by a Titano Machinae of the 2Th type, if we are spotted and attacked by this thing, I doubt we will have any chance, maybe only if we fight together as one, we might make it out alive, at least some of us.
But the way I see it, he will not make it so easy to us." Lady Taluvien stated, as she pointed ahead to the foot of the Cathedral where other dark silhouettes with equally blazing red eyes, stood and looked around.
"Clong!" Suddenly a loud metallic echo was to hear over the silent central plaza, a sword had clanged onto a broken pipe.
It came from the group of Royal guards, which had hidden themselves, same as we, within the ruins of a destroyed house.
As response to the noise a black wave suddenly rushed over the plaza and destroyed the walls of the house-ruin.
Then we suddenly heard screeching sounds and could see how a horde of Ghouls came running and invaded the rest of what remained of the ruin..., all you could still hear were loud screams of pain and agony and the disturbing noises of the ghouls.
Before it was all silent again, all you heard was the scrapping of ghoul claws on the ground, as they returned to their position.
"Oh no." I though in pure shock.
"What are we going to do, if we aren´t careful we will be annihilated." Banmori whispered terrified, as Boka held her in his arms.
"I´m not sure, we are too far as to go back and we need to get to the Cathedral, otherwise we won´t be able to reach the Ursa Grande." Lady Taluvien replied with low voice.
"I bet this was the thing that took the Ursarion down earlier, along with the rest of our squad.
As this thing can fly, we need to take it down somehow, disabling it from following us, once we are in the air." Pablo explained, as he thought about it.
"And I may just know how to do that, but it will take time to prepare it, can you guys get me some minutes without me being killed, this will make a lot of noise." He asked as I basically could see how an idea formed in his head.
"What do you got in mind?" Lady Taluvien asked in a low voice, after we retuned into the alley which we came from, to discuss our plan.
"We going to turn the night into the day." Pablo stated, as he gestured over towards a shop on the other side of the Plaza, it was the firework-atelier.
"You mean..., but that would be like a giant signal fire, just screaming, `here we are, come and get us´, won´t it?" Boka asked.
"Maybe, but if you have another idea, I am all eager to hear it...
Of course, I know that my plan has more faults than benefits and that we most likely get the entire Lycanians on the island on our toes, but if we want to survive and get towards the cathedral, we will need to take that risk.
Its no wonder the Lycanians have released these things during a Moonless night, Dragonkins have the strongest resistance against Light, but all the others are still affected by it, it was pure luck that our princess can feel the aura of evil and were it comes from." Pablo explained.
"Indeed, he is right, from what I know, unless they are exposed to different intensities of Light all at once, they won't be affected, their scales can always only adapt to one intensity at a time, so much we know." Lady Taluvien explained
"That's why we will mix strong and weak explosion, one after another and the end will be a long-lasting Star-rain, that should keep the little ones away, but as I said, to connect all of the needed wires and place the batteries, I will need at least 20 minutes.
Take these and strap them to your weapon, they are from the Ursarion, one each of them burns for at least 10 minutes, it will keep you safe from the lesser Ghouls, but be careful, we don´t know if this asshole isn´t attacking before I am done.
I unfortunately have no experience in fighting against a Dragonkin." Pablo explained as he opened his backpack and gave each of us two Magnesium-torches.
"They burn in a bright white light, do not look into it directly, it might blind you for a moment and that could be your end." He explained and we nodded.
"You are well prepared honey, how come?" Lady Oonda asked.
"After we were shot off, I had such a vague idea that they might release the Ghouls by night time, if there are still enough Kumears fighting against them.
As I said, the least of us have ever fight against a higher leveled Ghoul or against a Ghoul at all." Pablo explained.
"Boka, Bjearn, Banmori, I will need your help on this, Children you come along but stay in the atelier together with Banmori and Mayuri, we cannot know how more of these Ghouls are there, if you are near the brightest light, you might be safer than in a dark lit alley." Pablo explained and Lady Taluvien nodded.
"You might be right about that." She stated as she and the others thought about that plan.
"Alright it is worth a shot, as you rightfully said, we have not many options left to us anyway." Lady Taluvien explained and Lady Oonda nodded.
"Alright Operation: Night is Day, begins now, objective one is for the Greyback Family, the Valkyries, the Royal Guards and myself to draw the attention of the ghouls, fight them with help of the torches, but be always careful, as we have seen can this Dragonkin attack with long range attacks.
Objective two is for you, Mayuri, Banmori, Boka, Bjearn, Princess Choco(2), Princess Anastasia (3), Seichiro (3), Sunako (2), Bukari (2) and Bachiru (3) to set up and launch the fireworks needed for this plan, it is crucial for our survival that they have to be fired but be careful yourself, it´s no wonder that usually only professionals shall work with pyrotechnics." She stated.
"Did you just come up with that name?" Boka asked with a low chuckle.
"We got no time to joke or think of big names for our operations.
Let´s hurry this up and get ourselves in safety, got it." Lady Taluvien stated with a hiss.
"Ready your weapons." She stated.
"On your mark Pablo." She stated.
"Are the kids in your arms?" the same asked, holding his Son in his arms, while his wife had his Daughter.
Anastasia sat on Boka´s shoulder while I sat on Banmori´s, Bjearn carried both Bachiru and Bukari, the daughters of both Lao families on his shoulders.
"Is Aunt Barya in safety?" Bachiru, the oldest of both asked.
"She was with the hospital-staff the last time I saw her, so I highly believe she is already near the Ursa Grande, to take care of the injured." Bjearn replied as he gritted his teeth.
"She better be okay or else I will rip these Lycanians to shreds." He growled.
"Now hold on tight, kids." He continued.
"Everyone ready?" Pablo asked.
"1..., 2..., 3..., Go!" he stated aloud and so he began to run as fast as he could, while Lady Taluvien lead the warriors to confront the Ghouls, who instantly rushed at us in order to kill.
"Light up your first torches!" Lady Taluvien shouted and so they did, their weapons and the space around them lighted up with bright lights.
The ghouls instantly backed away on a distance hissing and growling at them.
Meanwhile we made our way over to the fireworks shop to do what we had to in order to survive.
"Its though a shame, these were supposed to be used for your birthday festival tonight, little princess." Pablo stated after he simply broke the door open.
The shop inside was brimming with shelves full of Fireworks-batteries, sticks, rockets, spinners and so on.
"So which one are we searching for?" Bjearn asked, while Banmori and Lady Oonda secured the door.
"Those with the name Angle´s-Descend, Holy-Light, Golden Supernova, We own the Night and Silver-Star Rain, they are the brightest and most varied of them all and were originally meant for the big Climax of the Firework-show." Pablo explained.
"How do you know all this?" Boka asked.
"My Uncle runs this shop." Pablo simply replied, as he searched in the shelves.
"I know I saw them somewhere here, the last time I was here..., wasn´t that long ago." Pablo explained.
"Might this be one of those we search!" Anastasia asked as she pointed on a chest, which was a little hidden by rags and paper boxes.
"Hmm, oh these are exactly what we search for, you´ve got good eyes princess, this spares us the hardship of searching the entire stock for them.
I knew he sat them aside somewhere for the big day." Pablo explained.
"I sure hope he has survived." He mumbled as he cleaned the Desk with a swipe of his arm.
"Whatever you are doing Honey, do it quicker, I think these bastards have found out about us." Lady Oonda exclaimed as she and Banmori readied their weapons.
"Everyone, take cover!" Banmori shouted as I was pulled backwards by Pablo, behind a shelf, as we heard ear-deafening screeches, hisses and growls.
The sound of metal being clashed against something different, was to hear and the ice-cold feeling, which the ghouls spread, nearly froze the blood in my veins.
"Dammit they dragging us in confined space this way." Lady Oonda shouted as she shielded herself from the ghoul´s claws, but was in return dragged backwards into the shop.
"Dammit!" She shouted as her sword ended up getting stuck within the wood of a shelf as she took a swing.
"Aaaah!" She screamed up in agony as the Ghoul punched her back., Banmori instantly shielded her with her own sword.
I felt how Pablo left our side, rushing forward.
"Banmori get out of the way!" He shouted as I saw how a faint light was illuminated before it vanished again.
A strange noise was to be heard over the noise the Ghouls made.
It was a joint that sizzled.
"Hey, Asshole, how about you pick on someone whose as ugly as you are!" Pablo shouted as the Ghoul ran at him with his mouth wide open, ready to bite him.
Before he however could reach Pablo, a bright line appeared in the shade of the night, swallowed by the Ghoul which pushed him backward out of the shop, through the window and up in the air.
"Chew on this, bastard!" Pablo stated as he Ghoul exploded in many pieces as the big firework-body detonated within him.
"Here have a taste, there are enough servings for all of you ugly shits!" Pablo shouted, to taunt the Ghoul, as the next rocket was launched, dragging the second Ghoul which had entered, out of the shop and over the plaza right through the door of the Cathedral, right over the heads of Lady Taluvien and her group, detonating near his comrades.
The scream which the Dragonkin emitted upon seeing his loyal men detonating and disintegrating shook the entire place around.
"I guess that made it angry, everyone grab yourself a battery and of we go, I doubt this place is safe anymore!" Banmori shouted as she supported Lady Oonda, who did not look good.
"Dammit, that bastard hit me right in the stomach..., I fear for the worst." She stated her eyes full of rage, wiping away the blood from her mouth.
"These assholes..., but as long as you are safe and alive Mayuri..., I can bear the pain, let us make them pay!" Pablo stated as he grit his teethes in anger and clenched his fist so hard they almost began to bleed as his claws dug into his palm.
And with this we rushed out of the shop.
"Watch out everybody!" We heard the shouting from the frontline only to see how more Ghouls emerged out of the dark lit alleys, some of them were usual ghouls, the others were mutated Kumears, but one each of them was out to kill us.
Some of them stood on the roof of the shop prying at us ready to jump.
"I won´t make it so easy to you!" Pablo shouted as he ignited his last torch, but instead of keeping it, he threw the same into the shop.
"And now, say Happy Birthday to our Princess and enjoy the show!" he exclaimed loudly, as the first explosions began.
"Everyone run as fast as you can, it was not really planned but this might be even more effective than my original plan.
However, am I sure that there will be extreme destruction awaiting.
There are about 100 tons of fireworks stored in that shop for the big celebration!" Pablo shouted, as he took me and Anastasia in both arms.
"Kids ignite the joints and let the batteries fall, I will carry you!" He ordered and we did as told.
"Uncle Melchior, I´m sorry." He muttered as suddenly an ear-deafening explosion shook the entire plaza, as the roof was literally blown off the shop.
The shockwave pushed us from behind and made Pablo stumbling.
"Oh no!" Anastasia shouted as the battery, who´s joint she just had ignited fell to the ground not far from us.
With horror we saw that it landed on its head, the pipes to the ground.
"Taluvien!" We heard Lady Oonda´s voice shouting and in a matter of seconds the woman stood before us, slipping her sword under the ignited battery, flipping it and threw it in the direction of the ghouls close to the entrance of the cathedral.
"Everyone start running this is out chance!" She shouted as she helped us up.
Without a second invitation Pablo and the other began running.
The sudden eruptions and lights did well against the Ghouls, who shrieked back as light began to illuminate the night as though it was day.
Even the Dragonkin screamed in agony as the different intensities of light were fired at it, as the thrown battery unleashed its fury up into the sky.
The operation was a complete success and it indeed made the night to the day.
"As beautiful as it is we need to get out of here, if the entire stock blows up, nothing within 600 meters will stand anymore, perhaps only the cathedral." Pablo exclaimed as, he ran as fast as he could towards the entrance of the Cathedral.
"Dammit!" He shouted as suddenly the Dragonkin fell right infront of the same.
"You think you get away!" It shouted in a gruesome and ice-cold voice, which dripped of malice.
If I ever imagined myself how the devil might sound enraged, this here was close to it, very close.
"Those puny explosions will not harm me, you have to get something better than that." It stated as it was ready to slice its claws into Pablo.
"Oh but you haven´t seen the best about if yet!" Pablo shouted with a grin.
"Everyone get down!" He shouted and everybody obeyed as they crouched down just in time as the most massive explosion, I had ever heard or felt before, detonated.
A wave of fire and light rushed over our heads, 5 centimeter more in the height and it would have scorched my hair.
The Dragonkin was helplessly obliterated, as his entire upper half was blown to bits.
However as I saw how the same began to rebuild itself, I had a flash of genius, as I stuck my torch in the still standing lower body with the dagger I was given earlier by Lady Taluvien as a Matter of self-defense, preventing it from regenerating, while simultaneously killing off the remaining Cells.
"Nice thinking, now you can say with every right, that you killed a Dragonkin, dear princess." Pablo stated as he stood back up and made his way past the disintegrating Ghoul-body, while the others ran after us.
"The entrance to the secret vault is underneath the altar, we have to hurry, this place will soon be brimming with Lycanians." Lady Taluvien stated as we rushed on speedy toes towards the Altar.
"This was an ingenious plan, this most likely will still burn for hours, keeping the Ghouls away." Lady Oonda stated as she embraced and kissed her Husband.
"I really hope our baby is alright." She stated in sorrow.
"I am sure she is, after all her mother is one of the toughest and most badass women I ever knew." Pablo stated, as suddenly a secret door was opened within the altar, stairs leading down.
"Hurry now, we need to get towards the ship." Lady Taluvien stated as she held the Entrance open for us to slip through one by one.
It was quite a narrow descend, but if you go orderly and quickly, you really can make a hundred people disappear within it in barely an hour.
Pablo Anastasia, Mayuri, Banmori and myself were the first to enter, Bjearn with Bukari and Bachiru was right behind us while Boka and two of the royal guards supported the dead Body of Bunbart, the stairs went far downwards into the innermost point of the island.
As we arrived at the Ground we were greeted by a group of Royal Guards and Valkyries.
"Ah Lady Taluvien we hoped you made it, it´s good t see that the princesses and all of you are alright, come on in, they eagerly await you!" One of the Guards explained as he opened the thick steel gates.
As we entered, a murmuring went through the present masses, while some still had to process what just happened, others already began to applaud.
"Choco, Anastasia, oh I´m so glad you are alright, I should not have left your side!" A loud voice shouted as we saw how mother came running at us, her eyes full of tears as she embraced us in a literal bearhug.
She nuzzled us to her side making it hard to catch our breath, but it suddenly felt not as cold as before.
"Thank you, thank you so much Banmori, Pablo, everyone!" She stated aloud as she looked up to them.
"It was an honor, to be of service to you my Queen, as much as I can see you too managed to accomplish something great." Banmori stated, looking around before she kneeled in front of my mother.
"Indeed, it was by far not easy with all the Ghouls and Lycanians roaming around, but eventually we managed to get almost everyone who was still in town in safety." The voice of my father exclaimed as he arrived next to mother.
"Yet I wonder about the other towns..., I really hope the clans had enough time to evacuate their civilians, before the Lycanians invade
Anyways I am thankful to all of you, you did an outstanding job, especially you Pablo, considering you aren´t a trained soldier." Father stated as he patted Pablo´s shoulders and pulled him into a hug.
"Thank you so much." I heard him saying.
"What about Lord Bunbart?" He asked as Boka and the Royal guards entered with the dead body of the old Shaman, which they quickly fetched from the corner, where they had hidden him during the fight, as the Fireworks exploded and the Ghouls were driven away.
"Unfortunately, he didn´t made it, this whole mess has been staged since the attack on the Skyriders Base, the Lupycan who survived was used as an infection source for their parasitic receivers, so it is to assume that nearly anyone who came in contact with him, was infected with such a receive.
It is better to get a throughout investigation on that matter, we need to round up one each of the medical staff who had been in direct contact with him." Lady Taluvien stated, her mine one of sorrow, but still she held her composure of not breaking down in tears, even when her fists were clenched.
"This here was by no means Bunbart´s fault, he was being controlled by Beowulf!" She stated aloud for anyone to hear.
"Bunbart loved Valhalla and its citizens, he would have never done something like this freely on his own volition..., and yet..., on behalf of my family and my dead Husband, I humbly apologize for all of the actions he was forced to do!" She continued, as she kneeled down and lowered her head to the ground.
It was grave silent in the huge den, all what was to hear was Lady Taluvien´s soft crying.
"Lady Taluvien, I..., and I might speak for the majority of Valhalla here, know for sure that Bunbart would have never done such a thing freely.
We know that Bunbart loved Valhalla, just like Valhalla loved him.
That all of this here has happened was by no means his debt, it all was according to the wicked plan of Lycan and his man.
It is to assume that he uses the same method, to control most of the Lands in Ragnarök.
He has not done it for the first time and it won´t surely be the last time that he uses someone of us against huis own people.
Please do not feel ashamed, maybe the Lycanians have taken this island over and have wrecked much destruction and claimed a lot of lives today, but we still have the majority of the citizens here in safety.
And the fact that most of us aren´t yet brainwashed must mean that they did not managed to get the information about Valhalla´s treasure out of him, prior to his death.
Alone for this, Bunbart has already my honor.
And once we manage to flee from here, we will find a way to drive the enemy back out and rebuild Valhalla back up to its old glory." Father and mother explained, as he offered her a hand and helped her back up.
"Your Majesty..., I´m so grateful to you!" She stated her eyes still filled with tears, before she was pulled in a hug by her son, in order to comfort her, while she strokes the cheek of her dead husband.
"Once Valhalla has returned, we will give him a proper funeral!" The King ordered and loud cheering was to be heard.
But suddenly the entire den shook.
"Was that one of the explosion from the burning fireworks atelier?" Lady Oonda asked her Husband.
"I highly doubt it, at least not with this magnitude, the biggest explosion has already gone off before, as The Big One, exploded.
It surely blew half of the Plaza away, no as deep as we are here, this must be something entirely different." Pablo explained, before a cranky old voice shouted.
"Pablo you fool, how could you burn down my Shop, are you out of your freaking mind?!" The voice shouted in rage, as an old man with a cane arrived, which he promptly hit on Pablo´s back multiple times.
"I´m Sorry Uncle!" Pablo stated with a sheepish grin as he shielded himself from the cane.
"Pablo is a hero, if he did not had the idea with the fireworks we all might have been killed by the Dragonkin and his Ghouls, which waited outside the cathedral for everyone who dared to try and get here." Lady Taluvien, Lady Sorelia and Lady Oonda exclaimed as they narrowed their eyes at the cranky old man.
"Wait really?" The same asked dumbfounded.
"Indeed, Uncle Melchior, and have no fear, once all this madness is over and Valhalla is safe again, I will help you rebuild a new shop." Pablo stated as suddenly a new tremor shook the Den.
"Whatever this is, we better get out of here, I´m not sure how long the den will hold out." He stated and Father nodded.
"You got a good point, I´m not sure that anyone of us is still waiting out there, and the longer we stay here the more we risk to either be found or stuck when the tremors get stronger and the exit caves in.
Alright people, it´s time to wrap this up, everyone, to the ship, get the Guards in front of the door, bring the injured towards the medical Station and hurry up with getting the luggage on board.
Pregnant women, Mothers and Children first!" Father explained and showed incredible leadership.
It made me truly proud of being his daughter.
"Mayuri, please bring all the Kids along Queen Tereza to the Ship, I will help the Board crew and the pilots to start the Airship and meet you up later, alright." Pablo explained, kissing his wife, before he saluted infront of Father and Mother, and quickly rushed through the masses, as we walked to the bridge of huge Airship.
White adorned with Gold, similar to the inside decoration of Jormungandr, and defended by several heavy weapons, artillery, machineguns and massive canons.
The people hurried inside of the huge hangar, while the board crew showed them their cabins.
The ark was humongous and had place for nearly 5 million people, as Pablo explained to us, was it originally build for a quick evacuation of the island.
But it needed at least 3 pilots to fly it, next to the Cockpit Crew.
To my young mind it was impossible to understand, what power and energy was needed to make this titanic thing move.
While I watched how my younger self followed her mother to the Airship, the colors bleached out again, indicating that this memory was over.
It lasted a while until the next memory came.
And once again everything was dark lit.
I heard screams, commands being shouted, red emergency lamps flared and a siren ripped the calm apart.
"This is..., how can they do such a thing." Mother asked with her mouth covered in pure terror, we stood at the window of our cabin, looking outside into the night.
From here we had a good view on Valhalla.
Better said on how our Valhalla was destroyed.
Red Flames razed this island, an inferno beyond comparison.
I was sure that in other cabins people must watch this as well, crying their eyes out, despairing, shocked by terror.
Admits the flames a gigantic figure was clearly to see, which indicated how huge she was.
"Mommy..., what is this?" My younger side asked, as we both felt a cold like I never have felt before.
Yes, even thought this was a memory, could I feel the freezing cold which this sight made me feel.
"Choco..." Anastasia muttered as she embraced me in comfort.
Just then I recognized that I cried and that my Hair was bright red.
"Bahamut..., I've only seen it once during the war, during the days as the Continent Abyssinia was scorched and ripped apart.
By none other but this thing and the rest of Lycan´s War-machinery
I´ve begged the gods, that I would never ever see it again..." Father stated in a breathless voice.
"What does that mean?" Anastasia asked in fear.
"This is Lycans personal Mecha, which means that he must be here himself, to annihilate us." Father stated as he stood there with grit teethes and clenched fist.
"If this thing is out there and decided to attack us, the defense systems of the Ursa Grande is basically useless." He continued and I think at that moment I pissed myself.
Suddenly an even louder noise was to be heard, it reminded me of the scream of the Dragonkin, only a thousand times amplified.
Suddenly a new siren was heard all over the airship.
"We go into defense mode, which must mean that we are getting attacked." Father explained as I looked outside, to see how the figure came closer, I backed away in terror.
Before I knew it I already ran, not knowing were to.
"Choco, no don´t run, stay with us!" Mother shouted as she ran after me.
"I will bring her back my Queen!" Banmori shouted as she ran after me.
I followed my younger self, seeing the people run through the corridors in a panic, she did not know where to run, just wanting to hide from the terror that was about to happen.
I don´t know how long I ran after myself, as suddenly the entire space shook and my younger self stumbled to the ground.
"Princess, please don´t run away, I know you are scared, but I promise, I will protect you whatever it takes, I will not leave you alone, I will stay by your side, until my last breath!" Banmori stated aloud over the sirens as she stood behind me, pulling me in a comforting hug while I trembled in fear and terror.
"Will we really die?" I asked after a while, my voice breaking from crying.
"I´m not sure, but I truly hope that that does not happen..., and as they say, the hope dies last." Banmori stated as she hugged me a little tighter.
"Princess..., do you know why I became your and your sister´s bodyguard?" She asked me.
"Because you were ordered to?" I asked.
"Yes..., but not only because of that, I did was ordered but I always wanted to become the guardian of you..., it was mainly because your mother saved my life during the war.
I almost would have died that day, killed by Lycanians, my family was nowhere to be found, she too was separated from her family, but she took injuries upon herself to save me, even though she did not know me at all, she shielded me with her body and smiled reassuring, telling me that everything would be alright.
It was her who protected me throughout our journey through Valhalla, until I was reunited with my family, which I thought to have lost..., on that day I swore to myself to follow and serve your mother for the rest of my life.
Even more so as she became a Queen.
As she then gave birth to you and your sister and was so happy about it, I saw the happiness in her eyes and I swore to myself to protect that smile, which automatically meant that I would protect you two by all means necessary.
After your birth I came to realize a certain fact, you possessed the same smile like your mother, so it was evidently that I would protect this as well.
I don´t know what will happen from now on, but I vow to you to keep your safe, until you will be able to stand up for yourself..., and yet I will never leave, my body might someday die, but as long as you live, my soul will be by your side, protecting you." She stated as she looked into my eyes turning me around.
Her eyes were to a hundred percent sincere.
"Alright, I will depend on you then, until I can stand up for myself." I stated to her with a smile, wiping away my tears.
"That's what I want to hear, well then let's get back to your parents." She stated as she took me by my hand.
"Banmori, Choco!" I heard the voice of my mother, I looked to see her at the other end of the corridor.
"Mommy!" I shouted as we ran up to each other.
It was to be a happy reunion, but as so often fate had another plan.
"PRINCESS, WATCH OUT!" Banmori shouted as I was pulled back, second before something almighty ripped the space between us and my Parents in pieces, the corridor behind us was also interrupted by something slaying it away.
Out of the remaining window I was able to see a huge silhouette standing right infront of the Airship.
"Oh god!" Banmori exclaimed loudly.
"Banmori, Choco, quick jump!" Mother shouted in terror, but it was too late, before anyone of us could react, the ground beneath us caved in, the corridor on which we stood was ripped out of the ship with a new claw-beat.
Alone through the use of Banmori´s shield-forces, we were spared from being squashed to a mush.
But as a result, we fell into the open night sky.
"CHOCO; BANMORI!" I heard my Mother shouting from the broken Corridor, while I was still in Banmori´s arms.
But before I could focus on anything, I came face to face with this mighty beast which ripped the Airship in pieces.
Bahamut, terror itself, floated before me and was ready to devour us, before it was stopped by the Cannons of the Ursa Grande shooting on it.
"Princess hang on tight, I try to Navigate us, over there, maybe we can use it!" Banmori shouted over the noise of the wind, as she pointed towards an emergency aircraft, which had been ripped off the Ursa Grande.
I nodded and held myself on her shoulder, climbing on her back, while she navigated us towards the falling ride.
"Got it, now we have to somehow get in there!" She explained.
"Which way was it again..., I've seen it before..., ah yes here we go." I heard Banmori saying as the cockpit opened up.
She carefully placed me on the seat behind her, strapping me on the seat, while she sat herself in the front seat, closing the cockpit again.
"Alright now to get this thing to work." She mumbled as she looked at the controls.
"I hope this works!" She stated as she used a key on the lock within the control board.
"Pablo gave me the same in case of an emergency, if he would not make it, I hope they are all alright up there." She stated as the Aircraft came to life.
"Are we flying to Mommy and Daddy?" I asked her.
"I´m not sure this is wise with this thing outside destroying anything which comes too close.
I think the best would be if I fly to the next Skyrider Base and ask for help, but first I have to..." She stated but was interrupted as suddenly the radio came to life.
"Crrrrzzz..., Ursa Minor 3 please coming, I repeat, Ursa Minor 3 please coming!" The voice out of the radio stated.
"Here Ursa Minor 3, Banmori Gongmeng on the controls, what can I do for you?" Banmori asked.
"Banmori, oh thank god are you okay, what about Choco?" it was Mommy´s voice.
"My queen have no fear, the princess is well and with me, how about you up there?" Banmori replied.
"We are as well as we can be in this situation, but who knows for how long.
Banmori, do not try to get up here, this thing will only shoot you down if you try it.
Try to get in hiding somewhere nearby, you hear?" Mother stated.
"Yes understood, I was planning to fly to the next Sky Rider Base and ask for help anyways, I might be a passable pilot but I´m in no way confident to win a dogfight with this thing." Banmori stated honestly as she navigated the aircraft through the debris.
"I think the next best base should be around Aurora, it might be a way from here but I am sure you can make it until there with a full tank." Father voice rang out of the radio.
"Understood, stay alive until I come with Reinforcement, my Queen, my King." Banmori stated.
"BANMORI; OUT OF THE WAY!" Suddenly Mom´s voice shouted, and as if on reflex, Banmori ripped the steering to the side letting the aircraft evade a sudden attack coming from behind, which instead let the debris around us explode.
"Phew that was by a hair´s breadth." She exclaimed.
"Are you alright?" Mom´s worried voice asked.
"Yeah that was scary..., oh dammit!" Banmori exclaimed.
"Dammit..., what do you mean with that..., what´s wrong?" Mom asked.
"We might have evaded the attack, but the debris that exploded has hit the tank, we are running out of fuel in a scary way." Banmori stated in desperation.
"Can you reach some island?" Father asked.
"I doubt it, there is no island in close vicinity and as fast as the fuel runs out, it would be a miracle if I could reach any safe place, once the Fuel runs out we are in big trouble, all I could do for now would be to try and find a place underneath us, as much as I know there should be islands underneath somewhere, maybe I can reach the Shepherd Republic.
I promise to do my best to reach it as safely as possible, it might be a good idea to meet there, if you find a way to get away from this thing. "Banmori stated as she began to descend the aircraft towards the ground.
"Understood, we will make sure to find you, wherever you end up, as long as you are safe." Father explained.
"Choco, sweetheart, don´t be afraid, maybe it lasts a bit, but we will surely find you and then we will be all together again, just keep believing in us, you hear!" Mother´s voice explained.
"Mommy..., I will be strong!" My younger self exclaimed, tears forming in her eyes.
"I love you my dear, don´t ever forget us, we surely will..., crrrrzzzz!" Suddenly the contact was interrupted.
"Mommy..., Daddy." I cried as I had to watch how my younger self clutched the medallion she wore, the same I had until today.
"We definitely gonna make it, I promise my Queen:" I heard Banmori explaining in the radio, maybe just to reassure herself, even though she knew they could no longer hear us, as we dropped deeper and deeper through the clouds.
The memory bleached out as this Memory ended.
It gave me time to reflect on what I had witnessed.
Valhalla had been destroyed by a massive weapon in form of a giant dragon, commanded by Lycan.
Now I understood the feeling of terror I had, as I saw the giant Claw which White summoned in the Battle at Basset and Airedale, it reminded me of this day..., a fear, deeply engraved within my heart.
The next Memory, was at least not dark anymore.
If anything, she was as bright as the first few memories I had seen.
It was the memory of a busy town infront of me.
I looked from out of an alley, Banmori next to me, clothed in simple rags, a hood over her head which shadowed her face, even though she had a longer tail and a slender build, was I sure that it was her, though she looked like a tall-grown Felineko.
Myself on the other hand had grown a bit so a lot of time had passed ever since Bahamut attacked the Ursa Grande.
"Are you ready, Princess?" She asked my younger self next to her, which in contrast still looked almost the same as before, just taller and a little famished I would say.
"I am." She stated with determination.
"Just as we have discussed it, keep your head down, people shall not see your face, they shall not recognize you, we do not know who´s the enemy here." Banmori explained and I nodded.
"Then let´s go." She stated as we walked on stepping out of the alley, instantly I recognized where we were.
"Airedale." I thought in awe.
While we walked over the market place, my younger self held her head down as required from her.
Maybe it was because she had yet to learn how to transform herself.
After all the specialty of a Kumear was to shapeshift, but without training this was impossible.
Banmori, as an experienced Valkyrie, was also taught in Magic casting, though not as much as a Shaman, like Lady Taluvien perhaps.
Still she could do it quite well, and to shift her shape to such a degree that normal people would be unable to recognize her, was surely a feature crucial to infiltration of a society.
Especially when you were the one being hunted.
The explanation, if anyone asks, was simple.
Due to an accident, my face had a nasty burn-mark, which I was embarrassed about and therefore I hid my face before strangers.
Of course I knew, that this was a lie and I had promised my Mother to never telling lies when I was younger, but if it helped that people did not asked unnecessary questions, it was a necessary evil to commit.
I looked around as best as I could, while Banmori bought the food with money from here, which she took off from some street-thugs, who thought they had an easy game with her.
The change in her shape, however, gave her usual fighting style even more agility and flexibility.
If she was already strong as a Kumear, as a Felineko she was even stronger.
The art of shapeshifting was complex to say the least, I did not really understand it myself, when our teacher explained it.
All I knew was that you had to be aware of your own body, meditate to feel every inch of you, then you had to reimagine it in a shape which was possible to turn into, a shape which was not so far from the size of your original body.
If you turn, like Banmori, into a Felineko, you have to slim down your body a lot, but as a contrast you then have to harden skin, muscles and bones, to match the force and durability you used to have as a Kumear.
To be honest, Banmori reminded me more of the Wildcatz Amazons of Shamballa, which Cereus told me about.
I don´t really know how long we lived in this place already, ever since we escaped from Bahamut, or how we even survived at all, but it surely had been a while,.
As much as Banmori told me, I went unconscious due to the extreme stress, as we were in midflight, shortly before she crash-landed the Aircraft in a meadow outside of the town.
It was a wonder that none of us both was injured during all this, but ever since we were stranded here, with no clue what to really do, other than to wait for any Kumear to arrive.
That is, if anyone has survived the assault on the Ursa Grande.
"What´s going to happen to us from now on?" I asked Banmori as we sat back in the alley we came from, after we went to buy bread and apples, some water and fruit-juice, as well as paper and pen as well as other daily supplies.
"I don´t know dear Princess..., but as I have promised you, I will stay at your side no matter what, so it will be alright.
"Thanks to those thugs we have money to get us food and water and stuff." Banmori explained and I nodded.
It was enough to live for a while.
But I knew that life was not easy, when you were an illegal immigrant in a foreign land.
Not only was the money we possessed worthless in this corner of the world, no we also had to hide from the authorities, who quickly found our broken and burned out Aircraft.
Not to mention that there could still be Lycanians or their henchmen on the search for us.
We had no real home and slept on the street, Banmori kept me warm when it was cold, kept me dry when it was raining.
To be honest I was glad to be alive..., but I never felt more miserable in my life.
I long gave up counting the days, but it must have been at least about a year and a few months, ever since we arrived here.
Communicating with the locals was hard for Banmori, but even more so for me, as the Language of the Shepherd Republic was so totally different, than the Valhallian Language I was used to speak, but she brought us through with gestures and pictures, drawn on paper.
We rarely talked to each other infront of other people and only did so in private, Banmori taught me everything she learned herself, so I was able to speak a little, but it was not enough to hold an entire conversation, or to even make sense out of the few words I had learned.
I often felt lonely and longed for my sister´s touch, my mother´s warmth and my father´s reassuring smile, that was when I embraced Banmori and cried in her chest.
She hugged me close and patted my head in comfort, never once she let me feel, as though I was alone in this world.
The reason she gave me, was enough for me to trust her blindly and lay my life in her hands.
.
.
.
Today was a really rainy day, and it was freezing, a few days ago it had even started to snow.
Back in Valhalla it was summer before we left, but that was quite a while ago, here it was now early winter, and today the clouds above our heads were really thick.
The market was closed early today, due to the bad weather.
We got us some food and drinks before and were just at holding lunch underneath a bridge, in a house made of metal barrels and cardboard, as we suddenly heard a loud voice shouting.
I was not sure what she said, but she sounded frightened.
"Please stay here and hide, I will look what's going on." Banmori explained and I did as I was told.
The shouting intensified after Banmori was gone and I heard several voices shouting.
Suddenly something fell in the river underneath the bridge, but I was not sure what it was, I was afraid of looking at it so I stayed right where I was, hoping for Banmori to return soon.
I lasted a while before Banmori returned, but when she did, she was not alone, she had someone with her.
"Choco, quick, bring a chair!" Banmori stated and I nodded, bringing said thing to her.
Our chairs were nothing but wooden crates we sat upon, but it was the best we had to offer as seating.
"Some thugs attacked her, trying to rob her, but she fiercely fought back with her cain, but as frail as her body is it was but normal that she was easily beaten, when facing a group of five.
Such cowards..., going against a frail old woman..., kicked their leader in the river, maybe he survives, not sure about it..., not that I care much about scum like that, ganging up on weaker people just because they can." Banmori explained uncaring and with a lot of venom on her tongue, her mine an angry one.
We often encountered thugs, and it always seemed to me as if Banmori just waited for such opportunities to vent off a lot of steam and take her anger out on them..., she tended to go overboard but she rarely truly injured them in a life-treating manner.
Not only had she and Boka stood close before marriage, no she also began to despair herself, after so long, with no sign of life from our family and friends.
With no one else to hold on to, desperation was the worst enemy to fight.
She was proud, proud of her family, her Fiancée, her position in Valhalla and proud to be of use to her beloved queen, but now almost anything of that had been stripped of her, robbed by the Lycanians.
All what was left to her was a little child which was just as frightened and full of desperation than herself, a circumstance, which was not able to ease the same in the slightest.
The woman which Banmori brought along was a frail looking old Felineko-lady indeed, who wore her hair in quite an unusual style, totally different from the way other woman in this town did, some might say it was an old and outdated style, but to me it had something peaceful and respectable, it was a testimony of the old times, someone who had lived long before today.
The Woman had a friendly face, even though the same was contorted in pain right now as her arm was injured, Banmori had offered to carry the groceries she had bought for which the old Lady was quite thankful.
"I thank you for your help." The woman stated in Shepherdian which was hard for me to understand, but not entirely impossible, I knew a few words at least.
"T´was... nothing." Banmori replied.
"You..., okay?" She continued.
"Yes, I´m fine, just a little under shock." The old woman replied.
"You..., go home..., safely?" Banmori asked.
"Well it is still a way away..., honestly I don´t think I should go through the alleys anymore, I will just go to get myself a taxi, but thank you for your concern..., I would like to make it up to you, as a thanks for your help, so why don´t you come along.
I will let you sleep in my house, until the weather clears up again, it´s cold and wet today and unless you are yearning for getting your daughter a massive fever, I cannot truly recommend to stay outside." The woman explained and I only understood bits.
"You..., offering..., us..., to ..., come..., with..., you" Banmori asked and the woman nodded.
"It.., is..., far?" Banmori asked, as she took a look at our belongings which weren´t many.
"Well on foot it might be, it´s on the other side of the town, we will need to get to the main street, from there we can call for a taxi." The woman explained, gesturing to us for understanding.
"I see..., okay..., wait." Banmori stated before she discussed anything with me, as I saw no fault in accepting the offer, even if it was just for a few days, we packed all the supplies which were left to us in a bag, folded the carboard house together and took it along to shield us from the rain.
"Such a card-board house seems to be quite practical." The old woman smiled.
"By the way, my name is Grenadine, Grenadine Cherrypie." The woman explained and suddenly it dawned to my current self.
This was the day we met the Director the very first time, different as to the memories I usually had about it..., Now that I think about it, I never even really know how I got to know the Director, maybe because I couldn´t even remember how I got in the Orphanage in the first place.
It makes me wonder why the other children, who were of Shangri-La as well, weren´t suffering from a permanent amnesia, like Red and I did, they just simply accepted the fact that they had a roof over their heads, never once questioning where they were and how they arrived there in the first place.
"Banmori..., Chocolat." Banmori explained, gesturing to herself and to me.
"It nice to meet you, Chocolat, Banmori, well then, shall we?" Mrs. Cherrypie asked and we nodded, she seemed friendly, and I felt no evil intent on her.
In case of danger we left a strain of hair dangling out of the cloth I wore, as I constantly felt cold and was perhaps not able to distinguish it from feeling danger.
With Mrs. Cherrypie leading we left our bridge and made our way towards the main street, where she called a taxi and let us drove to her home.
As we arrived, I saw that her house was quite huge..., for a simple house of course.
"Welcome to the Savarin Orphanage!" She stated proudly as we entered.
At first, I did not understand, but as soon as the door was opened, we heard the laughter and shouting of other children.
Inside it was warm and it smelled nice, after freshly cooked food.
"Children I am back home and I brought guests!" Mrs. Cherrypie exclaimed loudly and but a few seconds later, a horde of children arrived with smiling faces, embracing the old woman, each speaking over the other, some of them looked at us with curious eyes asking us things I was unable.
It was impossible for me to comprehend even one word said.
"Children, children, calm down, you are startling our guests if you speak so fast and over one another, where are Thea (11) and May(13) and have Felix (15) and Percival (15) meanwhile returned back home from their work?" Mrs. Cherrypie asked them.
"Mrs. Cherrypie, Thea and May are in the kitchen and Felix has just returned from work but Percival is still gone!" One of the children, a little Felineko girl of my age, exclaimed loudly.
"Ma´am, Red, that weirdo, is still holed up in his room, he hasn´t come out since yesterday, not even for eating breakfast." Another Child, a boy which was a little older than myself, exclaimed.
"No name calling, Maxwell..., this kid, he will starve at this rate, I better get him to eat at least something.
You can enter, make yourself a home..., Thea, we got guests, please take care of them, I will look after Red." Mrs. Cherrypie stated as she poked her head into the kitchen, out of which it smelled heavenly.
Especially when all you eat is fruits, bread and if the money allows it, sometimes a piece of meat.
"Oh, well then I will help them to put themselves at ease." Thea explained as she went out of the Kitchen.
"Felix, can you help May!" The Girl that appeared shouted, she wore long brown hair in a ponytail, wore glasses and looked like a lovely older Felineko-girl.
"On it!" another voice shouted as an even older Boy appeared, greeted us with a bow before vanishing in the kitchen.
My younger self was quite confused by this sudden change of tone but Banmori gestured her to rest at ease.
There were so many children around me all of a sudden that it left me speechless, especially as this girl walked up to us, bowing before us with a smile.
"Good afternoon, my name is Thea, first off, you really need to take these wet clothes off or else you are going to catch a cold." She stated as she attempted to take the rag cloak off.
"Banmori..., what shall we do..., they will see my face?" I asked her and she nodded.
"Just..., cloak!" Banmori exclaimed as she explained to Thea, gesturing over to her.
"Burn..., face..., she..., shy!" She continued, gesturing wildly to explain what she meant.
"Oh..., she has a burn mark..., I see, well that's no problem, she can leave the bandages around, but you need something proper to eat." Thea explained a little confused but also understanding.
As my younger self took of her cloak, I could see that her entire body was bandaged up, hiding her fur, expect of her hair which was dirty and felted, while she still wore normal yet dirty clothes.
Without a house to take a proper shower and washing supplies, it was hard to keep the clothes clean and intact for months, and yourself as well, all we ever got was perhaps a piece of soap, to use for about a month, every now and then.
I remembered that Banmori often apologized for the poor treatment she had to give me, often crying and lamenting about it, while singing the lullabies she knew, to make me sleep at night, when I missed my parents and Anastasia the most.
It was almost as if she blamed herself for the situation we were in, but without her I would have surely died.
I had to survive at all cost, not only to make the promise to my mother come true, but also due some other reason, back then I never knew why but now I know what Bunbart said to me on that night, that I held the Nature sphere, the Treasure of Valhalla, sealed within me, and that I had to speak the words of release, when the time was right.
"Hmm, I think you could use a shower, how about you take one, the bath´s currently free as we all had already taken one, dinner will need a bit anyways, I will tell the Director when she comes back.
The Shower is upstairs on the right, last door." Thea explained and we were quite grateful for it.
"Let´s go, while there is no one inside." Banmori whispered to me.
I nodded and so we made our way up towards the shower.
It was the first time in a long period, that I last have seen a real bath and I was quite happy for it.
Banmori helped me out of the bandages before she took her own clothes off..., I had to admit that even as a Felineko her figure was still alluring, most of her body was adorned in black fur, while here and there some white spots of fur were seen.
Grass green eyes, long black hair bound in a ponytail, she had a B-cup, long slender legs, a flat stomach.
Even in her Kumear form she wasn´t chubby at all, although she loved to eat cake in her holidays and days-off from duty, as she had told me some time ago back on Valhalla.
Black paws helped me to wash myself and mostly my back, as my Fur got cream-colored again, a stark contrast from the dirty beige it had before after all this time.
It was such a long time since I felt warm water.
"I could get used to live here." I stated to Banmori, as I took in the gentle heat of the water.
"Yes I know, I feel the same, but we need to be careful, we cannot trust just anyone even if they seem like good persons at first, always be mistrusting to strangers until you are sure you can trust them, that way you stay alive." Banmori explained as she showed me a knife she had pulled out from under her towel, out of the knee holster.
Although I shuddered and blushed alike, both due to the knife and by seeing her naked, I nodded in approval, she was probably right.
"There is no such time where you are more vulnerable, as when you take a bath." She continued.
We were just at washing my hair a suddenly the door opened, much to our shock.
"Tsk, I was too careless, we should have better locked the door..., get behind me Princess." Banmori explained, as I did as she told me, anticipating an assault coming.
However, we could not be any more wrong.
Instead of an Assassin or some other Criminal, a sleepy looking boy entered the bathroom, who rubbed his eyes, while walking to the Washbasin.
He had rust-red Fur and red-brown long hair bound to a ponytail, he had a scar on his snout and wore a red shirt and blue jeans, he looked older than myself, maybe he was 10 or close to it.
He was splashing water in his face, most likely to wake himself up, before drying it on a towel, it wasn´t until he recognized us sitting there, that he got a nose-bleed, blushed deep red and turned around.
"I-I-I-I´m sorry, it wasn´t my intention to walk on to you two and to see what I had just saw, it wasn´t on purpose, forgive me!" He explained as he was about to leave.
He walked back to the door but hesitated to open the same for a second, he blushed but looked at us..., better said at me, right into my eyes, then to the bandages in my hand.
He looked into my face, while Banmori stood infront of me quite tense, covering most of me with her own body, just in case.
As the seconds stretched into minutes, I feared to hear an insult from him or something the like, but I was surprised as I heard his words coming out of his mouth.
He smiled at me with a radiant smile.
"No need to be so ashamed, you are pretty..., so don´t hide it." He stated with a blush and I barely understood it, but somehow these words filled me with a sudden warmth.
His eyes were honest and full of feelings, off grief and sorrow, but also compassion.
"Anyways, sorry for barging in here, but you better should close the door by lock, if you take a shower." He stated as he walked back outside, not without stealing a side glance, looking at Banmori up and down, blushing even more, while his nose bleed endlessly, before he turned around and left the Bathroom, closing the door.
"Red, were you just in the Bathroom, are our guest still inside, tell them that dinner is almost done!" We faintly heard the voice of Mrs. Cherrypie shouting from downstairs.
"Understood!" The Boy´s voice replied.
"Food´s soon ready, come eat once your done." He stated through the closed door.
"Understood..." Banmori replied.
"What a little rascal..., he kind of reminds me of Shuvra, when we were little, he always just barged into the bathroom when I used it, not feeling ashamed at all, just because he was the older one of us..., I miss him." Banmori stated, being put at ease but ended up blushing, as she recognized, that she hadn´t really covered herself through the whole ordeal and was seen naked by a young boy in puberty.
Who knows what for fantasies and fetishes she had just carelessly ignited in that poor boy..., still, she was disguised as a Felineko, so he at least had not been able to determine anything, my body was covered by Banmori and only my face was seen, so maybe he does not know how a Kumear looks like and won´t assume what I am.
Still Banmori blushed as she carefully covered herself with her towel, but just a second later, she looked down, thinking of her past and her brother.
"You know, Shuvra could be so dense, stupid, reckless and carefree at times..., but he was always there when I or any of our friends needed him.
He lead us on, gave me advice and helped me train as I applicated for the Valkyrie trainee-ship.
He wasn´t the best one..., but he was definitely the greatest Big brother I could have ever wished for..., it hurts to think about it, that he is no longer there for me.
That I won´t get to hear him calling my name, see him smiling, scoffing, laughing and bickering with me." Banmori explained as she began to tear up, while I hugged to comfort her.
Although I wished I could do more for her, did I recognized that my worry was not able to diminish the other feelings which had been ignited by me by that particular boy.
My head felt hot and my cheeks as well and I was still feeling the fuzzy feeling, which that boy ignited in me, as his glance fell upon me.
"I wonder who he is..., he feels so..., so real to me, more than others, he feels more like Banmori than Thea?" I wondered with a blush.
The moment he entered, not seeing us, his eyes were puffy red from crying and almost empty, as if there was some grief in his heart, eating away on his soul..., it made me feel that he was similar to me somehow..., I wonder why.
It didn´t lasted long before we were done, as Banmori was about to put the bandages back on me, it knocked, luckily, we now wore towels around us.
I still hid behind her out of caution.
The door was opened to a part and Thea entered, before closing the same, as she put a stack of fresh clothes for me and for Banmori on a cupboard.
"These might fit your size, unfortunately we do not have anything different, anyways dinner is ready, so come down once you are done, okay." She explained and Banmori nodded.
"A burn-mark is nothing bad, no one will laugh, I assure you and even if, I will make sure they are punished, so if you want to, you can show us your face." Thea explained, her voice and glance directed at me, before she stepped back outside.
"What did she say?" I asked Banmori.
"She brought us Clothes and I think she said that you can show your face, if you want to..., I wonder if that boy talked to her?" Banmori explained.
"..., I´m not sure about it..., but I think we can trust them..., but they might not understand..., I doubt they ever have seen a Kumear." I explained and she nodded.
"I doubt that too..., in the end it is your choice, if you say to trust these people, then we will." Banmori replied, looking at me.
"I think we can..., they share their home with us and their food, the least would be to be grateful and reward them with the truth." I stated and she nodded in understanding.
We quickly dressed, my clothes fit me quite well, while Banmori´s clothes were some wider clothes, a little bigger than her current size, but since we wanted to reveal us to them anyways, we decided that she might as well transform back too.
Surprisingly the clothes she was provided with suddenly fitted perfectly as soon as she became a Kumear again.
We were astounded to find out that the clothes had Valhallian patters on them, just as if the old lady knew exactly who Banmori was.
As we came downstairs and walked towards the chatter, we were greeted with a heartwarming scene.
Many children sat around a table and were provided with warm soup, bread, meat, Berryjam, cheese, warm milk and honey.
In a chimney burned a fire, radiating its gentle heat all over the entire house.
Once we entered the room the chatter quickly died down and an utter silence emerged while the Children looked at us in awe and surprise.
I still hid a bit behind Banmori, before I felt a sudden tug on my arm, I looked to see the boy from before, gesturing me to follow him.
I looked at Banmori and the same nodded.
Together we walked towards the table where he sat me down next to him.
"Banmori, please sit down, rest assure there is no one here to harm you." Mrs. Cherrypie stated and as if it was a wonder, I suddenly understood her.
"How come...?" Banmori asked the old lady in shock.
"I might not be one myself, but from where my home lies I was acquainted to several Kumears before, that's why I speak a little in your language." She explained.
"But how do you knew we were Kumears in the first place, the clothes fit perfectly?" Banmori asked.
"I saw the crest on your earring, it is the same crest, which Valhalla possess, if I am not mistaken..., Meiling once showed it to me." Mrs. Cherrypie explained, as she pointed at Banmori´s ear.
"I..., I don´t know what to say, Mrs. Cherrypie?" Banmori state as she nearly teared up.
"No need to be so formal with me, just call me Grenadine, and have no fear, you are definitely safe in here, even if Valhalla was destroyed, are there still some Kumears out there, that I assure you." Mrs. Cherrypie explained, while she children looked at us in confusion not understanding a word they said..., all but Red, somehow it was as though he understood, what we were talking about.
"How do you know?" I asked in shock.
"The Sister of my Master told him about it, saying that she managed to safe a big deal of Kumears back during the attack, and also as Bahamut attacked the Ursa Grande, she saved as many as possible, before returning back to her own dimension, before Lycan and Bahamut could follow her." Mrs. Cherrypie explained.
"The sister of your Master..., who´s that supposed to be?" Banmori asked worried.
"Queen Panmora Savarin Pandaria, sister of my Master, King Maranell's Savarin Wolvenra, also the Benefactor of this Orphanage!" Mrs. Cherrypie explained and I saw Banmori gasping in sheer surprise, so much like I had never seen before.
"They are both still alive?" Banmori asked in shock.
"Indeed, they are both still alive and kicking, but I tell you about all that later, for now we should eat." Mrs. Cherrypie explained and we nodded, Banmori was still in awe.
"Well then, we thank and praise the lord, our King, for the food on our table and the joy in our heart, joy to be alive and healthy, amen!" The Director exclaimed aloud in Shepherdian.
As soon as the last word was spoken, we all began to eat and it had been quite a while since I last felt myself so warm, calm and welcome.
The girls looked at me in awe, commented on my hair and fur, while the boys stared at me with amorous feelings.
All but Red, he simply looked forward, eating calmly.
In that moment I still had no idea that this boy was to become the man I would later love as a Brother..., and even more.
The scene ended and the colors bleached out again.
However suddenly it got cold again, the same feeling as back then in Clawstone.
.
.
.
It was all wrong..., how could this happen again, why was everywhere I go war, fighting, destruction and death?
I didn´t want to hear the clash of blades anymore, I did not want to hear the blazing of guns anymore..., and I did not want to hear the screams of agony.
But I was unable to, I hear the clash of steel, the guns blazing and the agonizing screams, not sure who´s they were.
It made me terrified and whimpering in fear.
"Sssshhh stay still Choco, or else they will find us." I heard Red saying as he covered the mouth of my younger self with his hand as she began to hyperventilate, tears blurring her sight.
"Why is this all happening again?" I whispered in fear.
"After a year and a half of piece..., why must they find us now?" I continued.
"I don´t know why these people invade our Orphanage, but one thing is for sure, they kill anybody they see." Thea explained in a low voice, hugging May who crouched together, terrified as she had to see Felix dying before our eyes, shot by the bullets of the men, before Percival pulled her into this room, as the men were engaged by Banmori, who fought alone against 10 men.
"Children you need to be silent, until they have left." The Director explained, gesturing us to be silent.
"Will Banmori be alright?" Red asked.
"The question is rather if we will be alright, I don´t want to die..., this is all your fault, if you haven´t come here, then these bastards would have never come here either, its your fault that Felix is dead." Maxwell stated in enragement directed towards my younger self, which was already terrified enough, but with this realization in mind, she just wanted to disappear.
"Maxwell shut the hell up, this is no one´s fault, there exist such bastards all over the world, and that they came here in order to rob us and kills us, is something which also occurs in other places.
But that doesn´t mean that anyone is to be blamed for them coming." Red stated aloud.
"Haven´t you heard what that woman said when they arrived here, they were on the run from those men, so what makes you say that these people now, aren´t here for them." Maxwell asked eyes full of hatred as he grabbed after my younger self.
"Maxwell what are you doing?" The Director, holding the little Katharina in her arms, asked with panicked eyes, as that brat pulled me by the hair towards the door.
"Oooowwww!" I shouted in pain and terror.
"We might survive if they get to do what they came here for, if it is them they want, than they shall get them..., I will not die because of them." Maxwell stated with blazing eyes at me.
"no let Go, this isn´t our fault, Let go!" I shouted in fear.
"How dare you, you Asshole, let her go!" Red stated aloud as he jumped up and pushed Maxwell away.
"Stay out of this bed-wetter!" Maxwell exclaimed just as loud, as he punched Red in the face.
He was older and bulkier than Red and had a lot more force in his arm.
And yet, Red, not accustomed to quit once he had started something, did not give up.
"Get your filthy hands of her, you sick bastard!" Red shouted at Maxwell, I think it was the first time I saw him so full of live, according to the memories I had from our time before we lost our memories.
"You will not sacrifice her just to save your own life, Choco is our family, the only to understand me, even if they came for her, what makes you think they would spare us, once they find us, we are witnesses in this crime, there is no way they would not kill us.
So we should pull on one rope, instead of dividing us on two sides and trying to push the blame around!" Red exclaimed as he punched Maxwell.
"Kids stop it, don´t fight and don´t shout so loud, they will find us." The Director stated as she tried to go between us.
"I won´t get killed just because of you guys, out with her!" Maxwell shouted.
"Maxwell, no!" Thea and May pleaded him.
"She stays inside!" Red replied, pulling me out of Maxwell´s grasp.
"Its to save our Life, so let her die!" Maxwell stated, his eyes the ones of a madman, his pants pissed from fear and terror.
"I´m afraid I cannot allow that!" We heard a voice from the direction of the Door, to see no one but Banmori standing there, holding her right shoulder, slumping as her left leg was shot.
Her mine was one of wrath, disappointment and resentment towards Maxwell, which made him back away.
"I think I made them flee after I took out most of them, for now we are safe again, however I believe it to be unwise to stay here any longer, we better get out of here." She stated before she stumbled and almost fell over being caught by the Director.
"How could they have found us, we were so careful, no one but those in here know about us being Kumears, we made sure to properly masquerade us when we stepped outside." She mumbled panting.
"You need a hospital, instantly!" the Director stated.
"No hospital, if the authorities find us, we might get caught again.
The government should not be aware of our existence and us living here on Airedale, we trust you but we do not trust anyone else.
We stayed quiet and out of trouble and yet they still found us." Banmori explained.
"But you need help, quick, if not you die!" The Director stated and I saw how my younger self teared up as she grabbed Banmori´s bloody hand.
"No don´t die Banmori, don´t leave me alone, you promised!" She shouted in fear.
"I hold..., my promise..., little princess..., I will not..., leave you!" Banmori exclaimed weakly before she fell unconscious.
"BANMORI!" I shouted in terror, nudging her to wake up again.
"We need a doctor, a healer, someone who can use advanced healing art, anyone." The Director stated, frantically looking around in fear and confusion as well, looking from face to face.
"What shall I do, what can I do!" She asked.
"Grenadine, are you there, are you and the kids alright..., oh god..., Felix..., no..., why..." We heard a voice shouting from downstairs.
"Quynne..., Quynne hurry we have an injured!" The Director shouted in desperation, as we heard loud stomps on the stairs.
"Noooo, I won´t die, I will not!" Maxwell suddenly shouted in terror, his eyes huge as he looked around and grabbed an iron poker, which stood next to the chimney and slayed the same in direction of the door as a tall Man entered, the dead body of a young boy in his arms.
"Aaaaaahhh!" Maxwell shouted, as he brought the iron rod down.
"Stop it Maxwell!" Red shouted, as he caught the rod in both hands, tearing up due to the hurt, but managed to push him to the ground and the rod out of his hand.
"May, Thea, Percival, you guys need to restrain him, before he snaps completely!" He stated and the others did as commanded.
"Grenadine, are you and the kids alright?" The tall men asked.
"Oh Quynne..., Felix has been shot..., and Banmori too, she is unconscious, I told her we needed a hospital, but she does not want other people to know about her and the little Princess!" The Director explained to the tall man with the large hat.
"I see, it is understandable..., I might be able to help her, but I need light, no fear I have erected a shield around the house no one will enter here..., dammit I should have done that a lot earlier, this is my fault." The man explained as the light was illuminated.
Suddenly my eye went huge as I saw another Lycanian in the room.
"No..., nooo go way, don´t kill Banmori!" My Younger self shouted.
"No Princess Choco, don´t disturb him, its alright he is no evil man, he is a friend!" The Director stated with a soothing voice as the man indeed began to heal Banmori´s wounds.
"Dammit one of the Bullets has splintered, they are too deep, and I have no experience in such things, Ciarella was more well-versed in such things.
I can only get the biggest part of the bullet out but the rest might destroy her right lung over short or long, if they stay inside, an expert has to take care of them." The Man explained.
"Is there nothing you can do, Quynne?" the Director asked in shock with tears in her eyes.
"I fear I do not, remember I have never been good in healing such wounds, I am only able to treat simple wounds, severed limbs and the like, but something so precise and delicate, as to remove metal pieces deep within the body and near the lung, was never my strength, one mistake and she might die.
However, if we do not consult a hospital and a professional, she might not survive for long either way..., maybe one or two months at most!" The Man explained as he rose his head and took of the hat, under it we could see that he had the face of a Wolf, like the Lycanians I saw during the assault in Clawstone, but way, way friendlier eyes.
"No..., Banmori." My younger self whimpered as she cried in Red´s chest, who appeared behind her and took her in a loving hug, not saying anything, just comforting her silently.
We did not speak so often as he rarely came out of his room any way, but when he did he seemed odd to me, a little strange but lovable.
He liked to lay down in the grass behind the house and watch the sky between the high houses beside us.
Often he looked at the night-sky, before going to sleep, with such a melancholic glance.
Once I asked him why he did that, he answered that he did not know, but that it both put him at ease as well as making him longing for something unknown, feeling like he had lost something, somewhere up in the sky, that something was left behind by him, something of a past he could not remember.
It was the first time in ages that I felt, as though I had found a related soul, maybe he felt that way too, at least it would explain why he freaked out so much when Maxwell suggested to kill me off to safe their life.
Being close to Red strangely reminded me of Cereus, just like now as I laid in his arms crying while he comforted me.
Over my crying I almost overheard the faint voice talking to me.
"Do not cry my princess, remember what I promised you, maybe my body will perish but my soul will remain, as long as I remain in your heart, it won´t vanish.
King Maranell Wolvenra..., I beg of you, please take good care about the Little Princess when I die, make sure no one can ever harm her like this again..., she is the future of Valhalla and she must live at all cost..., I beg of you." Banmori, who got conscious again, asked and the Lupycan infront of us nodded.
"I will do so immediately, but first I will heal all the wounds which I can, this should give you 2 more months at most." He explained.
"That's quite a short time, but I am grateful for every minute I am allowed to spent with my Princess." Banmori explained as she caressed my cheek.
"You must remain brave my princess, even when I am no more..., Valhalla needs..., you..." Banmori stated before she fainted again due to the pain.
"Banmori..., please..., don´t leave me too..., what am I supposed to do without you..., Banmori!" I stated with hoarse voice, the tears never stopped.
Outside it was raining, as if to signal that even the heavens cried over tonight's tragedy.
"For now, she is fine, but she will need a lot of rest..., I think we should wrap things up here, I found a place in the Darven Islands which is secluded, I will see to shield it with an extra strong spell, this tragedy of today shall not ever be repeated." The Lupycan before us explained.
"Red, you´ve done well protecting Princess Choco..., I am quite proud of you." He stated as he kneeled down on eyelevel with Red, who nodded with a blush.
"Good job!" He stated with a warm and gentle smile and as I saw it, even I felt warm and fuzzy inside.
The glance in Red´s eyes was indescribable, but it was plain to see that the praise he got from this odd man, meant the world to him somehow.
"How could this all happen?" The Director exclaimed, as she held Felix in her arms crying softly, while the man hugged her in comfort.
"We were so careful, no one knew that they were here, so how did they found out about them?" She stated and out of the corner of my eyes I saw Maxwell tensing up and looking away, as if in shame..., it was quite suspicious, no one had noticed it, but my younger self who looked at him through blurry eyes.
It couldn´t mean that..., did he tell someone about us..., no, maybe I am overthinking this..., he wouldn´t..., not when we explicitly said that we needed to stay in hiding, wouldn´t he?
"It is really a shame, the poor boy!" The man called Quynne stated, as he shed some tears as well.
"His parents were good people, hardworking and always righteous." I heard him mumbling and my younger self looked at him with a strange glance.
"This man..., Banmori called him Maranell Wolvenra..., the Lupycan King the Director spoke about..., maybe he can help us..., help us return towards our comrades, to lady Panmora..., if we find her, maybe we can find Lady Taluvien..., she might be able to heal Banmori." She mumbled unsure, while pushing her tear-stained face in Red´s chest, who caressed her hair in comfort
The Memory faded away and the next to come was brighter than the two before.
To be continued...