Dual Fates Part 6
Magic and Betrayal
by
Sailor Janus
"Ready?" Hotaru inquired as she and Duo joined hands, their eyes locking as well.
Silently the pilot nodded. Soon reality began to dissolve, propelling the two young people into another life.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Slowly, the young dark-haired woman awoke. Dazedly her soft violet eyes fell open upon the window as the intense sun shone brightly across her small face, greeting the girl with its presence.
Peacefully, Halia rose from her soft bed. It was yet another task filled day for the young mage.
Since her father had died of an unfortunate illness several months back and her mother had long since left the earth, Halia found herself forced to manage the small cottage alone.
Luckily, the violet-eyed girl possessed several tactful abilities which proved worthy enough to allow the girl to survive, mainly sewing clothing using her loom, but was quite profitable in the skill, producing some of the most elaborate and well-made clothing known to the small city of Carnelian.
Another ability which was still regarded among one of the most highly controversial, was her magery. The power to cast magic did leave some townsfolk weary of mages and alchemists, however, they were still accepted into the city as much as a common blacksmith or baker.
"Another day, another chore," Halia sighed, fetching her freshly lain out clothing before quickly changing from soft yet, well-worn nightgown to a common purple dress with a long skirt that barely grazed her ankles.
Today the mage was in dire need of delivering several articles of clothing to her vendors and then refill her supplies, whether they be wool or cotton for clothing or reagents, special herbs used to cast spells.
After weaving a few braids through her long dark hair, Halia threw on her deep violet cloak and quickly grabbed her leather reagent bag, and a smaller coin purse.
Swiftly, she snatched a few fresh apples and placed them in the reagent bag before heading out the door, locking it firmly behind her. Spinning around, the young mage walked to the small stable to retrieve her horse.
*~*~*~*
"Lady Halia, good day to you," the dark green-haired woman greeted the violet eyed-girl.
Halia had always enjoyed the woman's company. Sonia always appeared wiser than her age indicated. In fact, she had taken charge of the stable only a few months ago, but needless to say, the green-eyed woman knew very well how to run the place.
"Hello Sonia. How is this morning treating you?" the dark-haired mage inquired as she was led to her horse's stall.
"Quite well, my lady. Going to town again?" Sonia asked as she unlocked the paddock door to Halia's horse, Firefly.
With a smile, Halia stroked the black horse's mane as she fed her an apple. "Yes. I must refill my supplies as well as take more clothing to my vendors." With a sigh, she dropped her eyes to the ground. "If only my father were still alive, then perhaps things would not be so difficult."
"I apologize for your loss, Halia, but take faith. You are doing quite well for a young woman of your age," Sonia said as she bowed her head in respect.
With a nod, the young mage mounted her horse. "I know and I thank you for understanding. Fair you well," Halia cried out as she rode away with a wave of her hand.
Sonia sighed, watching the girl ride off. "I wish I could pronounce the same for you child, but in the next few days, you shall meet a dire fate. At least you won't be alone."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Halia had ridden a short distance away before deciding to cast a spell into town instead. There was too much risk in riding through the woods alone. Lately the murder count was on an increase and no matter how powerful the young mage may be, she knew it was foolish to attempt to enter the forest which was often frequented by thieves, murderers and monsters alike.
"Well Firefly shall we?" the violet-eyed young woman questioned her horse which nodded its head in return. "Very well then," Halia spoke, opening her reagent bag and pulled out a black pearl, mandrake root, and blood moss. Tossing each reagent to the ground the mage called out, "Kal Ort Por!"
Suddenly, in a flash of light, the girl and her horse disappeared only to reappear in the town of Carnelian.
With a small smile of victory, Halia spun around on her horse and nearly ran into a guard!
"Whoa! Watch where you are going!" the chestnut brown-haired guard shouted, looking at the girl in shock. 'How did she do that.'
"Oh dear! I apologize! I- I'm so sorry!" Halia rambled, blushing a crimson shade as she dropped her head in embarrassment. "Please don't punish me! I did nothing wrong!" I'm just a simple mage who was left orphaned by her mother and father. I didn't mean to scare you."
Dane blinked as he stared at the young woman with his deep cobalt blue eyes with curiosity. "What is a mage?"
Frowning, Halia lifted her head, peering at the guard's face with wonder. "You are a guard yet acquire no knowledge pertaining to what a mage is?"
"Actually, I'm new. My friends Hollis and Trey found me this job," the chestnut brown haired man admitted with a sheepish grin. "So what is a mage if you do not mind my prying?"
The dark-haired girl smiled slightly, nodding her head. "A mage is a person who possess the power to cast magical spells using raw materials such as spider's silk and sulphurous ash, along with a few words."
"Really? So what does that combination create?" Dane asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nightsight. It enables the subject of your choosing to see in the dark. Quite more beneficial than one might believe it to be," Halia simply spoke, finding herself unable to take her eyes off the guard for too long.
Blinking, Dane snickered at the girl. "Sounds like a very special skill you have there my lady, uh..."
"Halia," the young woman pronounced with a smile. "What may I call you Good Lord, since you have acquired my name?"
"They call me Dane," the guard smirked causing the mage to lightly giggle. "Uh, anyway, I need to get back to work. Never know when I'm gonna need to break a fight or kill something," Dane mumbled, after taking one glance at his best friend's relentless glare.
"Yes, and I must refill my supplies as well as restock my vendors. No rest for the weary I guess," the violet-eyed made sighed as Firefly backed up a bit. "It was lovely meeting you, my lord."
Bowing his head slightly, Dane agreed, "It was a pleasure as well, to meet you my fair lady Halia. Can I expect to see you again?"
The mage blinked at the question in shock. "You- you want to see me again?" the young woman stammered. 'Surely, he cannot be serious. I'm a mage, and he's a guard. That's just completely curious. After all, it's his kind that punishes those such as myself.'
Grinning, the man nodded before taking the girl's hand, kissing it gently. "Very much. You are so different compared to all the other girls I have met. It's like you see the world in a different way."
"Thank you, my Lord," Halia bowed her head, "I am quite flattered by your words, but your fellow guard has been glaring quite coolly at you," the young woman whispered, indicting the direction where Hollis was appearing very cross at his friend.
"Eep! I got to go! Will you be here tomorrow?" Dane quickly, said, as he began backing slightly up.
"Ye- yes I will. I practically come everyday," the violet-eyed mage answered as the guard began reluctantly backing away.
Dane instead grinned yelling over his shoulder as he ran off, "Good! I'll see you then!"
Blinking, Halia gave a small hand wave, as she watched the young guard race off towards his friend who was acting rather cold, quietly the two men returned to their stations.
With a sigh, the girl returned back to her duties, unknowing as to the fortune and misfortune which would soon affect her life gravely.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It had been several since Dane and Halia first met, but was not the last. Even though it was quite difficult to talk to the guard because of his endless duties of keeping the townsfolk out of danger, the cobalt blue-eyed man always tried to make time.
Sadly, all good things had to come to an end. The young mage only wished she knew why everything had to end this way.
The day seemed like any other. Halia arrived at Carnelian by teleport as she always had, and Dane cheerily, marched up to greet her, often times, escorting her around town.
Soon they had to depart, once again, except time, reality would be different.
After Halia had finished purchasing more reagents, for her spells, she happily left the shop, and departed for the nearest vacant street of the town to teleport from. However, this was a terrible calculated error, for at the same moment, an evil mage Berlynn had cast a flame strike upon a peasant girl whom must have angered her before teleporting out.
Stunned, the young mage stared at the scorched corpse with horror. At the same exact moment, another peasant appeared and screamed.
"GUARDS! MURDER!" Kay screamed at the top of her lungs. Unfortunately for Halia, the redhead despised the mage with a vengeance.
Quickly, several guards appeared, Dane and his friends Hollis and Trey were among them.
"What is the problem my lady?" Hollis asked in a monotone voice, his Prussian blue eyes remaining icy cold.
"Arrest that woman! She committed murder on Lady Selene! I witnessed it with my own eyes! Murderer!" the fiery redhead reported with venom dripping off of her very words.
"What?! She lies! I was in search of a place to teleport! I would never take another life!" Halia exclaimed, outraged over the fact that Kay was trying to frame her for a murder that the mage in her right mind would never dream of committing.
The black-eyed woman instead shook her head, "Liar! You cannot hide behind the guards you criminal. You deserve to die for taking Selene's life away from her!"
Dane stared at the woman he loved in disbelief her his cobalt blue eyes. He may be a guard, but there was no guarantee, he could actually protect Halia. The woman known as Kay already had much influence over the town being the mayor's daughter and all.
Frustrated, the dark-haired mage shook her head, "I did no such thing! Why would I want to take Selene's life away from her to begin with?! It's just absurd!" Quickly, she turned to the guards with pleading eyes. "Please, I did not kill Lady Selene. I swear! You must have faith in me! It is her word against mine!"
Trey glanced defeatedly to the ground. From the description of the young mage reported by Dane, she seemed innocent. Unfortunately, they were in a very difficult situation since Kay had a great amount of influence of the town through her father which with one word, could have himself and his friends executed for committing treason by simply naming Halia as innocent. They only had one choice which would save anyone's blood from spilling.
The chestnut brown-haired man knew exactly what his friends were thinking, which was the only way possible to save Halia and themselves as well. Unfortunately, it was not what any of them wanted. Solemnly, he bowed his head after taking another look at the dark brown-haired guard.
"We have no choice. Lady Halia of Talam, you are convicted for the murder of Lady Selene of Tukin. We here by banish you from Carnelian. If you are sighted on the premises, then you shall be executed immediately," Hollis clearly spoke as Kay gleefully smirked.
Nodding the tall green-eyed guard softly said as Hollis took the woman's reigns out of her grasp as Hollis pulled her down, "Halia, please come with us and we will escort you out of town."
The violet-eyed girl was at a complete loss for words. 'Banned from the town?! How can this be possible?!' she thought with a simple head nod.
The entire ride out of Carnelian, Dane avoided Halia's eyes. He knew she felt betrayed but they had no choice.
Silently, Hollis nodded for Trey to follow him back into the city. "We'll give you five minutes then you have to return to duty Dane."
Mutely, the cobalt blue-eyed guard glanced at his departing friends and then at the girl whose violet eyes were now brimming with fresh tears. "Halia."
"Go away. I never want to see you again," she bitterly said, keeping her back turned to the man. "You betrayed me. I thought you liked me."
"Halia, I do," Dane mumbled when suddenly the young woman jerked her head around.
"Ha! You believed Kay instead of myself and didn't say a damn thing! Instead now I have been convicted of a crime that I didn't even commit! It was Berlynn that murderer Selene! I DIDN'T DO IT!" the dark-haired girl who was filled with frustration shouted.
Biting his lip, the guard finally said, "We had no choice. If we had argued with Kay, then our heads would have rolled. Banishing you from the town was the only way possible to save everyone's life. We hated doing it, but had to. Please forgive me."
Gently, Dane lifted Halia's head, and pressed his mouth softly against hers. Unknowingly, the young mage found herself, wrapping her arms around the man's neck as the kiss intensified before they broke away.
Sadly, they gazed into each other's eyes as the guard slowly walked back into town, leaving the girl alone with her horse.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Duo, blinked, and grimaced slightly as Hotaru dropped her eyes towards the ground. "I really hated that part."
"Yeah, and the fact that Kay ruined everything almost destroyed the entire town.
Need a breather before we live through the final chapter of that life?" Hotaru inquired taking a deep breath before slowly letting it out.
Frowning, the cobalt blue-eyed glanced at the girl. "Wait. This isn't the one I think it is, is it? The extremely messy one."
"I'm afraid so. Be glad we weren't the ones left to clean up the mess," Hotaru snickered.
"Joy."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Author's Notes: I am so sorry that this is so late, but I was on vacation and the program didn't match with the computer I was using so I forced to write everything by hand. Then I got a bad case of jet lag and sprained my wrist making typing, very interesting. But I'm back now so yay!
Okay, questions with the names? I decided to change everyone's names for certain lives but I will always describe them a bit and the first letter of their name will be the same.
Halia is Hotaru. No idea where I came up with this one. It sounds pretty.
Dane is Duo. It sounded Medevialish
Hollis is Heero. Before I get anyone saying that they hate the name, Hollis means Hero. Yep I did a name pun.
Trey is Trowa. Trey means three in Latin
Sonia is Setsuna aka Pluto. Her name means wisdom
Kay is Kaorinite. She didn't like Hotaru so I figured, why not
Berlynn is Queen Beryl She's evil. Enough said.
Selene is Serenity I just threw that in for grins.
Um, that's about it so thank you for the reviews and oh! I don't own Ultimate Online. That is what gave me inspiration for the story.