The Next Chapter...Sephiroth Kingdom

Chapter 6

POV Legretta

"Stay still and quit squirming. I can't clean the wound properly if you keep moving." I instructed, placing a steadying hand on Van's shoulder blade. I studied the gash just below his right shoulder blade, trying to keep my eyes from roaming his toned back muscles. My cheeks flushed at the mere thought. An icky feeling like moths eating my insides rose in my stomach. I shook my head, redirecting my focus on the matter at hand.

The gash was a short laceration, but it had some depth. The good thing was that it had stopped bleeding; on the other hand however, the gash still needed to be cleaned, and Van kept trying to move just as I brought the cloth to the wound. I sighed in slight frustration when he jerked away from my hand again.

"I won't ask you again sir. Please, stop moving away from me." I warned one last time.

"I'm sorry Major, but it stings. It's like your trying to burn the wound closed with an acid. It's hard not to flinch." Van tried to explain to me.

"It's only a mild healing tonic on the cloth that closes wounds, it shouldn't burn you. If you keep moving it may cause your wound to start bleeding again. Honestly, you had no need to take the blow for me, I could have dodged it just fine." I mildly scolded with worry laced in my voice. "Also, I can't believe you didn't tell me about the wound until we arrived in Yulia City. It could have gotten infected, and then where would you be if you lost the use of your shoulder?"

"Legretta," he sighed heavily, "You worry far too much. It's only a slight scratch and it's my duty to keep my subordinates safe. I can't have you getting injured," Van paused as I tended more carefully to his wound, as if stuck in thought and then he added, " I need yo-" I pressed the healing tonic deeper into the wound. With a sharp intake of breath, Van grunted, "Can't you please do that more gently?"

What was he about to say? Did he just say-no-but I couldn't have heard him wrong. In an effort to cool the red bleeding into my cheeks, I looked up at something, anything other than him. Particularly the setting of the home, which was barren of personality or a smidget of something personal. No pictures sat over the fireplace. All things were in it's place, in their designated compartments-organized, and perfect.

"I apologize." I stated simply, and Van merely huffed in response. His back was still to me, and little did he know that I was giving him a slight smile. My face began to flush at the realization of what he was about to say, and I had trouble containing the random thoughts filtering in and out of my mind.

"Is the place interesting to you?" he asked.

"Hm?" I blinked.

"Your eyes keep wandering around." Van asked in a tone that cut straight to the lie.

"Oh." I responded slowly. The look of lazy interest on my face sharpened and sparked. Maybe I could take this chance to acquire more information on him. "I was just thinking...you seem to know the area quite well, Sir. Did you live here at one point?"

Van avoided my gaze and stared off into space for a moment. How hard and unblinking his eyes, how immobile his face was. "Comes with the job. Are you finished yet?"There was a tightness around his mouth. Did I hit a soft spot?

"You know, I never pictured you as someone who would be bothered by something so small, Sir. Maybe you aren't as tough as I had originally thought?" I teased with a slight smile.

"What are you talking abo-" Van gasps sharply again as the healing tonic did it's works, going against the natural order of things and forcing it closed. He cast her a warning glance over his shoulder-growling.

"Sorry, I forgot to warn you sir. That was the healing tonic." I said with a slight chuckle. I would never admit it, but this was very amusing. Van tried his best to turn around and give another warning glare in my direction, but my bandaging of his wound prevented him from twisting around. I shook my head at his attempt and worked on finishing my task. Doing one more loop of the bandage around him, I cut it off and pressed the end onto his back.

With a light pat I said, "That should do it for now, but we will need to change the bandages frequently, just in case the gash decides to reopen." I informed, watching as he pulled his shirt back on and adjusting his sitting position to face me.

"Thank you, Legretta for... tending to my wound. Now that it's properly dealt with I can return to my research." he added with a nod to the door, "And you... may return to Tear." Van said curtly.

I gave a slight nod in acknowledgement to his order and rose from my seat, gathering the items I used to dress Van's gash and placing them into the first aid kit I had in one of the shelves here in the home. I pushed the chair I was previously sitting in in and walked over to where I had found it earlier, returning it to it's proper place. By the time I had put the kit away, Van had already left the room. I assumed he was heading in the direction of the Yulian Records for his research on the Sephiroth. I would have to make sure to stop by later to delay him of his efforts because he was moving forward with his vision. Purpose. His plan was going as he imagined it would and I had done nothing to stop it; when in fact it was my responsibility to see that he fails. I needed to desperately make up my mind if I truly want to begin finding a way to change the inevitability of killing him. I needed to find my resolve so I can change his mind, but where in the world would I even begin?

Still deep in thought I walked to the area where Tear and I meet for her daily training to become an oracle knight. I was still early, so I used my extra time to sit and meditate on my predicament. I kneeled on the ground, placed my hands on my lap, and closed my eyes to drift into my psyche. I needed a way to convince Van to deter from his original plan of destroying the world and filling it with replicas to returning the world to it's original natural state. I took a deep breath in to calm myself and exhaled to relax my muscles. Worrying too much isn't going to get me anywhere.

"Major?" Tear almost whispered. "Should I return at another time?"

I opened my right eye to look at Tear and closed it again taking another deep breath before standing up-right from my kneeling position on the floor.

"No, this time is as good as any. We should resume our training from the previous session." I replied formally.

"Yes Major." Tear responded stepping to stand across from me.

"Now show me what you understand so far on casting fonic artes." I instructed.

Van Pov

I looked into the distance to watch Legretta train my sister. When I was satisfied with seeing enough of Legretta's training session, I made my way to the Yulian Records for research. Before I had left Daath I had tried to find the information that I needed for my backup plan, but I had found close to none. All I had discovered was the name of the group; which was the Guardians, or the Sephiroth Kingdom, and they are in charge of guarding the Sephiroth trees. I didn't find any information on their location, who their leaders were, what kind of kingdom, and most important of all, any distinguishing features to identify them from the rest of the people on this planet. If I was going to have any hope of contacting them, I needed these pieces of information. I walked into the Yulian Records room and immediately began to browse the shelves for anything useful. I ran my fingers along the spines of the books as I read their titles. I came across "Fonons and Artes", "Flowers and Meanings", "Yulian History and Battles", but only one book had caught my attention. It was a tome that had a light blue cover with golden branches spreading across the spine.

I grasped the spine of book and pulled it from its place in the shelf. Running my hand over the smooth glossy cover and turning it over in my hands, I studied the text covering the outer surface of the tome. I unlatched the clasp on the front and glanced at the pages within. The front had an unknown language scribed, but the inside of the tome was written in ancient ispanian. Why was it written in two different languages? My eyebrows furrowed as I continued to skim the book coming across helpful clues to the Sephiroth Kingdom's location. I paused when I came across a unique looking symbol illustrated on one of the pages. The symbol was a Sephiroth tree with strange characters written within the branches. I looked at the accompanying page to read the history on the illustration. It read "Those who bear this mark bear the responsibility and covenant of protecting the Sephiroth. They are given an extended life and freedom from a bound future to keep the balance of the planet.".

I read it over and over until the words were burned into my memory. This mark was a birthmark that branded them apart from normal people who existed. If I could find someone with this mark I could make them take me to the kingdom to petition for their aid. I stared at the illustration trying to think of anyone I could have know that could possibly have this very mark. My thought process was rattled by the opening of the door to the Yulian Records. Who in the world could be disturbing me? I looked up to see Legretta walking towards me.

"Did you find anything useful?" She asked seeming almost bored.

"I have found something quite useful, actually." I said with a small smirk. "This book I have in my hands has everything I need to know for my mission." I finished while holding the book up for her to see.

"What...does it say?" Legretta asked.

"Many, many things." I replied as I examined the book, a spark lit up in my eyes. "What does it matter to you? Legretta, it is not required of you to understand my vision. A Major such as yourself shouldn't ask questions, and only be my hands and feet. Your soul purpose is to follow my orders and complete them flawlessly. Nothing more and nothing less."

"Sir, let me see the book." Legretta said demanded.

I peered at her from behind the book with a raised eyebrow. "Who are you to demand such a thing from me Major? hm?" I began my annoyance slipping into my voice. "I'm afraid I'll have to teach you a lesson."

"I don't believe that to be necessary. I know my place well." Legretta responded with a steel in her voice. Her hands clutched at her sides when I came within a breath's distance of her. I tilted her chin up with my pointer finger to look her straight in the eyes.

"Do you now?" I growled. "Because I wonder if you truly know your position."

Before I could act I was pushed away by Legretta with an extreme amount of force that caused me to hit the floor and skid across it for a few feet. When I recovered from the impact I looked up to see an explosion erupt from the wall setting the whole room ablaze. The force of the explosion made a bookshelf collapse and land on Legretta.

"Major!" I tried to yell over the deafening crackle of the fire. I failed to receive a response from the unmoving woman under the bookshelf, so I sprang into action maneuvering through the flames to her location.

"Legretta!" I shouted shaking her unmoving form.

I grit my teeth in frustration. She wasn't going to be waking up anytime soon. First things first. I needed to move the bookshelf off of Legretta. I grunted as I lifted the bookshelf off of her tossing it to the side. I then kneeled down, gathered her into my arms bridal style, and started to weave my way through the flames. My lungs burned with every inhale I took as I breathed in the smoke of the fire. My own conscious was beginning to waver from lack of oxygen, but I couldn't fail now! I was nearly to the exit, so I held my breath and sprinted through the fire. I jumped and weaved through the obstacles in my path. When I had made it out of the fire a wave of relief washed over me as I took in a large breath of the clean fresh air. With each breath that I took in I felt my mind returning to me. I was slowly regaining control.

After I caught my breath I looked down at Legretta who was still in my arms. She look horrible to be honest. Her prim and perfect look was replaced by her now disheveled appearance. Her hair was free from her usual ponytail, she was covered in ash and soot, Her uniform was torn in multiple places, and she look as if she was in pain. I thought back to the beginning of this ordeal. If she hadn't pushed me from my place I certainly wouldn't be alive at this moment. How on Auldrant did she predict that explosion? I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard the metal steps of soldiers surround me. I leered up to see a crowd of soldiers donning the order uniform.

"DIE!" They all shouted before charging at me.