In which an argument in the hallway leads to blood, and the Beast Rune stirs awake once more.
Striking a delicate balance between maintaining Luca's character while avoiding outright character assassination requires a pretty good reason as to why he's not committing reckless murder.
The contents of this chapter are based on a series of comment threads from March 9th, 2005.
"Do you honestly expect me to keep track of names? Tch. Waste of my time."
"It's not a waste, Luca," Yun walked at his side down the castle hallway. Their shadows in the candlelight stretched across the tiled floor. When Yun requested an after-dinner stroll, he assumed it would be for something useful, but instead she just wanted to talk. Again. And unfortunately, all her favorite topics to discuss were inconsequential and had nothing to do with what he wanted.
Luca growled to himself in irritation. Winning Yun's attention was almost too simple—women were so weak and easy to sway. All it took to secure her good graces was a display of affection, but now that he succeeded, actually getting answers out of her was beginning to feel tedious. He was starting to second-guess her abilities. If she truly had the power to see the future, it was completely squandered on someone so feeble and lacking direction.
"I was just speaking with Barts yesterday. He says he's begun planting for the season! I'm so excited to meet all the new seedlings," Yun continued, looping her arm through his as if they were already strolling across the Budehuc gardens and not aimlessly wandering down another barren hallway. "There are so many new arrivals lately. It's quite exciting!"
He rolled his eyes. Why did this woman insist on dragging him everywhere? He had more important things to do than keep a running list of every stupid worm at the castle, but that didn't stop her from sharing each name. "Whatever. It won't matter when I cut them all down. Just another bunch of weaklings, nothing like myself or Yuber," he chuckled to himself as they rounded the corner. "I guess with a leader like Thomas you can expect a bunch of other pitiful, squealing pigs to huddle together—"
"Yes... well, I may not be physically strong, but I'm strong in other ways. And I'm letting you stay here, so that should count for something."
Heh. Speak of the devil.
The castle master stood opposite them in the hallway. A young woman hovered behind him, half-clad in armor. Despite Thomas's surprisingly calm demeanor, his companion was less than composed and fidgeted impatiently in place. Luca frowned. Her face looked vaguely familiar.
"Luca…" Yun touched his arm. He twisted away; whatever drivel the shaman was about to share with him wasn't half as entertaining as putting Thomas in his place. Luca was determined to make sure the castle master's surge of courage was short-lived.
"Master Thomas has a strong spirit! There's more to strength than physical force!" the woman standing behind Thomas piped up and stabbed the heel of her spear against the floor with a resounding clank.
"Heh, are people not afraid of me anymore? Seems like more and more of you maggots are growing overly confident around me. I might have to change this…" he narrowed his eyes and stared down at the duo. Just because Yun said no killing...there were always other ways to have fun.
"Afraid of you?" the young woman shifted her posture so she stood as a small human shield in front of Thomas. "You should be grateful Master Thomas is gracious enough to let someone as argumentative as you to stay at Budehuc!"
Finally he realized why she looked so familiar. Amidst the flash of unfamiliar faces in Yun's vision, hers was one. But then again, there were dozens of pigs lodging at the castle. He could've seen her at any time. It was going to take more than facial déjà-vu to convince him of Yun's abilities.
"He lets all sorts of people stay here," the woman was still prattling on, "But that doesn't give you the right to misbehave! You mustn't question his authority—he's the castle master, after all!"
He loomed over her and took immense delight in noticing their difference in size and power. What a pathetic fool. Did this woman think she was threatening him?
"Do you know who I am?"
Clearly she doesn't. The maggots at this castle grow dumber each passing day.
"Ah," she hesitated, her expression sheepish, "N...not really. I've been away for quite some time, so I must've missed your arrival. But that doesn't matter! If you have a problem with the way Master Thomas is running this castle, then you should talk to him about it, not blame it on his physical build!"
Thomas looked pale in her shadow. What a pathetic weakling. Not only was he standing back and letting a woman do all the talking for him, but even his protector was admitting outright he was physically inferior.
"Then I'll warn you now - watch what you say and do around me, woman. If I have any serious problems with anyone in this castle, I'll deal with it my way. Discussing things only prolongs situations that can be solved in a matter of seconds with a blade."
Yun suddenly flinched at his side as her eyes clouded over.
Another vision?
Luca desperately wanted to shake the answers from the shaman. If she was seeing something, it was her responsibility to share. But the little nuisance standing in front of him was still talking. "I'll say whatever I want! You're the one with the attitude! My job is to protect the residents from threats like you in this castle, and I take it very seriously!"
"Very seriously, huh? You're just a woman, how much of a threat could you be to me?"
"Luca," Yun steadied herself and placed a hand on his arm again, "please calm down," she paused and glanced between Luca and the young woman. An unusual expression flitted across her face. Apprehension? "It's not best to pick fights with everyone you meet. Cecile's a nice girl, one of my close friends here in the castle."
"Yun. What did you see?"
The shaman broke eye contact. Whatever it was, she wasn't about to share the details. "Please, I beg you, don't pick anymore fights... if you continue this one with Cecile, you'll regret it. I warn you."
Regret? Is that what her vision showed her? How laughable.
"Heh. The only one who will be feeling regret is this pathetic runt for believing she can challenge me! Is this woman really that important to you? I might spare her life... if she doesn't get in my way."
"I have no intentions of getting in anyone's way, so long as they leave Master Thomas alone!" Cecile loudly declared, "I...I think you are the one with a weak spirit, Luca!"
"Me? The strength of one's spirit makes no difference in battle. I make up for it with brute physical strength. And in this world, that's all that matters!"
"It was Master Thomas's strong spirit that saved Budehuc! Without him, this place would never have prospered! Most of us probably wouldn't even be here! Even you!"
"You call this prospering?" he sneered and gestured to the narrow hallway. The candles along the walls flickered feebly in the dark. "Heh, 'strong' spirit. This just proves weaklings flock together. I bet you'd like to know what I really used to do, wouldn't you…"
"It's none of my business what you spent your time doing. I think you're just jealous of Master Thomas's success!"
"C...Cecile," Thomas quietly touched her shoulder, "it's okay. I'm strong enough to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence. Please don't provoke him."
The young woman's face flushed pink at his touch. Even in the candlelight it didn't escape Luca's notice.
Heh. I see, so that's how it is.
"HAHAHAHAHA, resolving conflict? You? Maggots like you are incapable of defending themselves!"
"Honestly, I think I am a stronger person because I fend for myself without having to use any physical strength," Thomas swallowed and stared back.
"If I was to come at you right now, what would you do to fend for yourself then?"
"Luca—" Yun clung closer to his arm.
"Violence will not solve anything. Please do not sink down to the level of a barbarian, or I might be forced to treat you like one."
In the blink of an eye Luca's sword was drawn and flashed through the air. With one smooth motion, the blade grazed across flesh and fabric, barely skimming the surface. The force was enough to draw blood, but only just. Death was not the main objective.
Cower in front of me. Acknowledge that I can strike you down whenever I want.
I want to see the fear in your eyes.
You are nothing compared to me.
The castle master stumbled back in shock. The shoulder of his coat slowly stained red.
A familiar feeling rumbled awake within Luca for the first time since his resurrection, like a flame blossoming deep within his core. A burning sensation rippled outwards, prickling at his skin. The Beast Rune bristled at the scent of blood and whispered in his ear after months of silence.
What took you so long?
"Ohmigosh… Master Thomas! You're bleeding!"
"I-I'm okay…" Thomas turned a faint shade of green.
"No, you're not! We have to get you to the infirmary!"
"HAHAHEHEHAHEHEHEHOOHOOHOHEHE! Even still you cower behind a woman! Your weakness is pitiful! Where is your 'conflict resolution' now, pig!?"
"Enough."
A new voice called out from the end of the hallway. Light footsteps approached as a small girl stepped between them. In one hand was a wand, in the other she held a candle.
"A child?" Luca scoffed. "As if the protection of a woman wasn't enough, you're hiding behind children?"
The small girl narrowed her eyes and raised her wand. "This provocation has gone on long enough. It is late. I am trying to sleep."
"Viki, please don't—"
"Yun. Your unrealistic presence here is already bothersome as it is. But this eyesore—" the child gestured to Luca, "—is beyond trying my patience. Now that blood has been drawn, I have no choice but to intervene before things escalate."
"Eyesore?! Big words for a small child. I have no reservations about striking down children!"
"Hmph," she pointed her wand in front of her, "Ready."
There was a blinking flash, then the rushing sensation of cold, hard stone shot up and met his face with a crunch. Pain blossomed in front of his eyes.
What…
Luca groaned and dragged himself to his feet, then quickly motioned for his sword. His hands and scabbard were empty.
Where the hell am I now?
A single torch affixed to a stone wall flickered from a distance. Luca took a few steps forward, then collided with iron. His hands fumbled in the dark. Stone floor, iron bars…
That bitch teleported you straight into a jail cell.
The voice of his rune hummed in amusement.
"Heh…" his shoulders shook with laughter. "You maggots...you think this jail cell will keep me?! You have no idea who you're dealing with!"
Luca reached out and motioned to grab at the bars, then froze as his eyes adjusted to the dark. He staggered backwards from the bars and cursed under his breath. Yun's voice echoed in his memory as he recalled her words from before.
"I see...possibilities, potential outcomes, futures that may or may not happen. I can't look backwards, only forwards."
All along there was still a part of him that doubted the shaman's abilities, even after she shared her visions with him. Yet now he could no longer ignore it. Their authenticity was undeniable as he stood in the very same jail cell her visions showed him months earlier.