Book VI: Prince and Assassin
Chapter XLVI
"I don't want to do it," Gabriel said to his blade.
Kasandra stood firm though. "It wasn't a request! You need this, you're going, that's final!"
"Yeesh, when did you get so assertive?" Gabriel asked.
Acacia looked concerned. "Is there a reason you called us here or can I go back to sharpening my sword?"
KOS-MOS started at her blankly, as she always did. "But my data suggests you were napping before this."
"Shut it KOS-MOS," Acacia quickly retorted.
"You two are adorable when you argue," Mythra mocked.
Acacia stared her down. "You shut it too blondie!"
"I find nothing wrong with her hair color!" Sheba added.
"Hey can you guys cut it out already?" I added.
"Shut it Silas!" Mythra and Acacia shouted simultaneously.
I sighed.
"I fell as if maybe we've been cooped up too long...," Sonata pointed out.
"Well, it makes sense," Azami agreed.
"What does?" I asked.
"From what I've heard, you guys have been fighting enemies together but we've all moved so fast that none of you have truly gotten to know each other," Sonata explained. "Now that you're all in close quarters with each other, you can no longer ignore what you don't like about each other. You've begun storming with each other."
"Yeah well maybe it wouldn't be such a big deal if Mythra over here could stay in her own fucking bed!" Acacia shouted.
Mythra was taken aback. "I can't help that I sleepwalk! Keep your door locked and maybe I won't get in!"
Sheba jumped in. "You could always sleep in my bed!" she said with a wink.
"Stay out of this!" Mythra snapped.
"I don't know," Malos antagonized. "Two shameless displays would fit really well together. I think you could make it work."
"Malos I swear to Father I will—"
"Am I interrupting something?" a sudden voice interrupted, taking the steam out of the arguments. It was Canaan.
Mythra sighed. "It's nothing. Did we wake you?"
Finch followed closely behind him, it was kind of cute actually.
"Don't worry about it, although I believe Winston had something to say," Canaan pointed out.
"Please... don't call me that, call me Gabriel," he said.
"As you wish."
Gabriel stopped and stood in thought.
"Well now it's silent, go ahead Gabe," Kasandra urged.
"I want to go to Tantal for my parents' funeral," he said simply. "I know it's selfish... but I need to go see them."
"Why would we say no to that?" I asked, confused. "Of course, we'll go right away."
"I-I'm sorry, thank you," Gabriel said.
Acacia was also confused. "Quit apologizing. For the Architect's sake Gabriel, why would we stop you?"
Gabriel sighed. "My father made it clear to me as a child that I'd need to assist the Aegis' driver, whomever that may be. I guess I've always felt prideful about it. I... feel like I'm abandoning my mission."
"The only way you abandon your mission is by giving up Gabriel," Canaan said. "You're not giving up, you're taking time to heal wounds. You can't fight with no strength."
The rest of us nodded.
"I have already routed the ship," KOS-MOS stated. "If we maintain our current course and speed we will arrive at our destination in seven hours."
"Thanks KOS-MOS," Acacia said.
...
"So how did you know my mom?" Gabriel asked Canaan later.
Canaan sighed. "I only knew her a brief moment before she died, and one day I will tell you the full story, but only after I finish my last mission."
"And what's that?" Gabriel asked.
"I'm going to find General Adonis, and I'm going to kill him," Canaan vowed.
Gabriel laughed. "Well you're hanging with the right crowd, I'm sure we'll cross paths soon. Be prepared though, I've heard he's pretty tough."
Canaan smiled. "Yeah, he is."
...
"Preparations ready?" General Adonis asked Pyra.
"Preparations are complete," she responded with simply as they began boarding a New Tornan ship.
Pyra began staring blankly at New Torna. She looked at the bright emerald-green streets, which paired beautifully with the golden buildings that layered this giant city. She gazed on the vessels below, moving on the streets at rapid speeds. Everything was so methodical, so man-made.
"One day this could all be yours," Adonis said.
"General?" Pyra asked, unsure of what he was talking about.
"One day I will find out what drives you, where your power lays, and then, this'll all be ours. Wouldn't that be nice?" he asked sincerely.
Pyra began to think. If she could inherit all of this, would that give her more freedom? Could she leave the confines of her room and enjoy her time? Would it mean she didn't have to answer to his beckoning call every second of the day. If that's what he meant, then there was nothing she wanted more. However, at the same time, she felt like she couldn't live without him, what would she even do? She needed him.
"I would like that very much," she said simply.
"You know I love you, yes?" Adonis cooed sincerely.
Pyra nodded and smiled. "Yes, and I love you as well General."
"Good, then let's go to Tantal, after all, we can't miss the funeral!"
Pyra laughed a bit. "Then let us go, we'll show them our strength for real this time."
Readability Level: 11-12th Grade
Time Taken: 1.5 Hours