Minelda Rocks, Wesdarath
By the time we arrive at the fort, my mood is completely sour. Not sour enough to be unnecessarily rude or anything, but sour enough to let something that annoys me led to unnecessary retaliation. We've traveled all day without much rest, and the rations we had were...unfilling, so blame my mood on long travels, nasty bars, and pile on the stuff of the last two or so days. Yeah, I'm beyond reasonably calm, and the source of it comes from this fort. It also could originate from Eydis' own anger, which is more obvious than my own. She's wearing it like a mask.
Along with Alice, we venture across the stone bridge to the fort. The wayfarers along the way look at us as if we're from another world, (one-third correct, to their credit), but we ignore them until we come to the gate guard. I try my best to be cordial. "We would like to see Lady Medina."
"You shall not pass. Savior's orders."
If Kirito was here, he would suggest finding another way in, and everyone in the group would support that. I'm not Kirito...and I'm tired of searching for Medina. "Alice, Eydis, if you're not going to approve of why I'm about to do, close your eyes." I give both girls a moment to decide then throw my arm out, forcing the wayfarer aside with a blast of wind. As he lands alive and a little shaken on the ground, the wayfarers on the bridge become alarmed and take up arms. Eydis draws her sword, forming her clones to stand between us and them.
Alice sighs and looks at both of us. "You two cannot help but make noise."
"It makes things interesting, Little Cutie, and to be honest, these whole thing is not making me feel like being peaceful."
As more wayfarers come from within the keep down to the gate, I glare up, knowing she must be in earshot. "Medina! Unless you want to these the might of two Integrity Knights and the fabled Lord of Knights, I suggest you let us in!"
"How dare you address our savior with such vulgarity!"
"Wait!" Ah, there she is, high and mighty on the upper level of this ruined fort. "Let them in. Bring them to me."
"Yes, my savior!" The wayfarers lessen their threat and move out of our way. Satisfied, I sheathe my sword and Eydis recalls her clones. Seeing no one got hurt, I look at the one-eyed blonde and smile.
"See, this is my type of diplomacy. Got the job done."
"Hmm… I cannot disagree with that."
As if Empress Kayode inspired her, Medina sits on a throne as we enter what I will call her 'throne room'. She doesn't seem excited, sad, or angry to see us, which is how I believe her to truly be. Someone who doesn't wear what they're truly feeling on their face unless pushed to a mental extreme. Yet, I noticed it that day, but what did I miss when I last saw Medina? Where was the cause...and why was this the effect?
"It's been a while, Jaymes, Eydis, Alice." Medina stands up and takes two steps forward, but not walking down to our level. "What business do you have with me, Medina Orthinanos?"
"Nice fort. Let's start with the part where you leave without saying anything, Orthinanos."
"Please, allow me to apologize for any trouble my disappearance has caused. But to all of you, my presence was not necessary. Nor has it ever been."
Is that how she feels? "If you expect me to beg you to think otherwise, I won't. But we do think otherwise. You could say we were worried about you. I was worried about you."
Medina loses her stiff composure momentarily. "That's just...well, hmph! I figured you would say that, but it doesn't change how I feel." Finished with us, Medina turns her back. "There is nothing further to discuss."
"Oh, we got lots to discuss, Medina." Eydis steps forward, her temper getting the better of her. "What did we do that wronged you?"
"I've seen the truth. What you have been hiding in me all along."
"What truth?"
"I must become the savior...to take back that which is important to me."
"So that's your answer to your question? The honor of House Orthinanos is that important to you?"
Medina faces me as she grits her teeth. "What else is there if not that?"
"So you believe all that's been going on will bring my friend's house back to honor? Good luck with that, because the girl in front of me is not going to restore any honor to her ancestors. No, she's what everyone calls her, a defect."
Medina is taken aback by my words, then angrily throws her hand out. "Everyone! These individuals are guilty of treason against your savior!" Wayfarers surround us, but my eyes doesn't leave Medina as my hand moves and lingers over my sword.
"Jaymes, Eydis, Medina, wait." Alice turns to Medina with an inquiry of her own. "I have but one thing I would like to ask you."
"What is it, Alice?"
"While in Wedarath, we witnessed wayfarers performing inhumane acts. Using civilians as decoys to lure beasts, and as human shields to protect Clamps. They said they were following orders, but were you aware of their actions?"
Medina sighs. "I never expected them to go to such lengths...but cannot deny responsibility. However, they were necessry sacrifices. For the resurrection of Lady Pontifex."
Eydis gasps. "The Pontifex's resurrection? Medina, is that what you are trying to do?"
"Yes."
"So ordering wayfarers to slay beasts, protect Clamps, and collect their fruit, it's all in order to accomplish that goal."
Medina nods. "The Senate Representative told me that her revival is my true Calling."
"So it's true," Alice comments, "you're colluding with Hersyrian now?"
"You honestly believe what that raving lunatic tells you? How stupid are you? If he brings back the Pontifex, she will--Gah!" Eydis drops her knees, clutching her right eye. Is that the work of the seal? I kneel down and remove her hand, seeing her normally blood-red iris ten shades lighter with a weird text within: System Alert Code: 871. It soon passes, but I can see Eydis is shakened about it.
"Your time is up," Medina commands. "I have no further reason to explain myself to you."
"Medina! Hersyrian has no idea what he's doing, and if he does, I guarantee it won't end well!" Medina gestures to her wayfarers, and they draw their swords on us. Incensed, I draw Falchion. "I don't know what's gotten into you, Medina."
"Isn't it obvious? As usual, your meddling nice guy act makes me sick.
"Jaymes," I hear Alice says as she helps Eydis recover. The wayfarers are no problem, but I don't want harm to come to a vulnerable Eydis and I don't know if Alice will fight herself.
"If you agree to retreat, I'll have them lower their weapons."
"Fine." I sheath Falchion and follow Eydis and Alice out the throne room. But once the Integrity Knights step out, I pause. "I want you to remember one thing, Medina."
"What is it?"
"If and when you come to your senses...know that you're important to us. And that no matter what, I'll welcome you back because I trust you."
"I also have something to say to you. I hereby declare my resistance against the false Axiom Church and its ACTF. If any of you stand in my way net time we meet, I'll not hesitate to draw my sword."
"That's so? Then remember this as well… I am also not Kirito." I turn my head around and face her, and unless my eyes are playing tricks on me, she flinches as she looks back. "If you truly desire to stand as my enemy, then I'll forget what I just said. I'll forget my connection to your family. I'll forget that Kirito may consider you a friend as well. If you get between me and my ultimate goal to bring Kirito back, I won't hesitate to draw my sword on you too..."
"Moreover, with worsening lightning, I fear it may reach nearby villages."
"Investigating the lightning is now our priority. I believe Sheyta is fine for now, but we must expect the worst."
Alice nods and looks at the distant fort. "Indeed. I am concerned for Medina, but for now, we should focus on other matters. For instance, putting a stop to what's happening around the Clamps."
"Aye. We must help as many as we can, but if we get to the Core, we can end it for the most part… How is Eydis?"
Alice looks back to the supplies cart, where Eydis sits inside of. "She's...fine, I guess."
I look to Alice, specifically her wrapped right eye. "So that's how you lost yours. You overcame the seal. How?"
"Kirito told me the truth of the Integrity Knights and my own origins. It was...difficult to accept this over the Pontifex's tale, but somehow I believed him and overcame it with my will power. But it hurts to do so, as you saw with Eydis. This isn't the first time this has happened."
"Really?"
"It happened when we defeated Deusolbert. I don't know why it occurred, but I think facing Deusolbert, who was at the whim of the Pontifex at the time, initiated it. She struck a knight of the Pontifex, a direct affront to the Pontifex herself, and since she hasn't broken the seal before, it appeared. Then, speaking harshly against the Pontifex again today… It pains me to see her like this."
The origins of the seal is unknown to me, but from what I know, it is probably due to an outside source tampering with the project. Seeing it for the first time makes me realize just how effective it is at the progress of our project, as if Administrator wasn't enough. "I'd like to keep her out of intense situations where it can lead to the seal unstabilizing her. Seeing it is just as bad as watching someone destabilize their Fluctlight, and I don't want to lose Eydis."
"I agree."
The next day, Raubel Greenbelt
We returned to the town on the cliff, creatively named Cliffia Town, and found out some details in the mystery of the lightning. A townsman told us that there's a legend of a dragon who lived in the ravine who could control lightning. But if we wanted to know more, we needed to visit an elder who lives close to the Western Ravine. Deciding our day was long enough, we settled down in the region for the night.
The next morning, now in a much better mood, I returned to the village accompanied by Tiese and Ronie to get a cliffside view of our path westward. As we reached the overlook, thunder blasted its roar so loudly it caused me to jump. "Whoa! Yeah, the lightning is definitely getting worse… What are you two laughing at?"
Tiese stifles her giggles and looks at the sky. "I wonder if the dragon is responsible for this too."
"Hmph. Okay, let's go over the legend one more time before we head out to the elder. Ronie."
"Umm… "A dragon with the power to wield lightning dwells in the Western Ravine. It loved the land so, and any who defiled it incited its wrath and lightning. Eventually, the ravine's people revered the dragon, and earned its protection.'"
"Should we assume the dragon is actually responsible for that lightning?"
I nod. "It's not natural for anything like this to linger for days. Not even in the real world… A dragon at the Western Ravine must mean this is a Guardian Dragon. They were allies of humanity and helped against the Dark Territory, even posted at the four entrances between the two realms. If I remember correctly, Administrator had them eliminated. Now I can see why she felt threatened."
"So a Clamp is involved." Ronie looks out to the land in worry. "Why is the dragon angry, though?"
"Yeah...but a dragon is...beyond giants and Kayode… Let's return and head out. I have faith this elder can help us out."
Medina, Villind Plateaus
"My savior! We're being asked to reinforce! Apparently someone encountered a strong beast!"
"So you believe all that's been going on will bring my friend's house back to honor? Good luck with that, because the girl in front of me is not going to restore any honor to her ancestors. No, she's what everyone calls her, a defect." Medina stares at the lightning in the distance as it strikes the entrance to the Western Ravine. It's been more than a day since she's seen Jaymes, but his words haven't left her. He, of all people, called her a defect. But for some reason, hearing him say it feels more wrong than anyone else. It angers her more than any other time she's been called it, and at the same time, it makes her feel sad. She doesn't understand her feelings at all except that it is bothersome.
His last words to her frightens her as well. "If you truly desire to stand as my enemy, then I'll forget what I just said. I'll forget my connection to your family. I'll forget that Kirito may consider you a friend as well. If you get between me and my ultimate goal to bring Kirito back, I won't hesitate to draw my sword on you too." But it isn't his words that sparked her fear, she made the threat to him first. It was his eyes. He had the same eyes when they confronted the sentry back in Norlangarth, but she said nothing about them then. She thought it was a trick of her own eyes, but then she saw them yesterday.
His eyes definitely turned from calm dark brown to a angry, burning red. "...Let's move out and hurry to reinforce!"
