Chapter 3 – Winds Of Fate
Templar
"Good morning, Roia!" Miki called out cheerfully as his friend came into view, with Noa in tow. "Oh, and hello, Noa!"
Roia smiled. "Hey, Miki! How's the bakery doing?"
"Eh, well, we're nearly sold out again," he answered, smiling ruefully. Then he peeked behind her and saw that Noa was standing. "Noa! Wow, you're out of that wheelchair? I didn't notice! Hey, you should help me out some time!" But even before the words were out of his mouth, Noa was shaking his head and smiling forlornly. "I hate to disappoint, but it's only been a few days since I've started walking again, and even now I'm still sick. I don't really think I can do much," he explained.
Miki scratched his head meekly. "Well, I guess if you feel that way. But you need to come visit more often!"
At this, Noa's smile was genuine as he said, "Sure."
Sighing, Miki gazed at the vivid blue sky above them. "Gosh, it's a beautiful day! Just the sort of day when Zed—…" Suddenly he paused, awkwardly, looking at Roia.
"It's alright," she murmured, eyes downcast. An uncomfortably long stretch of silence passed between them, interrupted by Noa. "You can go, Roia. I'll be fine here."
She started, looking up at him in surprise. "But—…"
Noa smiled again. "Don't worry about it." Roia sighed, giving in. "If you think it's okay," she said, and left, just as a man clad in white, elegant clothes and a short scarlet cape strutted toward them. "Robes!" Miki said in surprise. "Ah, Miki, is it?" Robes replied. Then he noticed Roia as she walked away dismally.
"She's always been like that ever since Zed left," Miki said unhappily. "How unfortunate to see a beauty like that pine away," Robes agreed. "Well then! I'll try to cheer the lady up."
"Hey—…" Miki interjected, then sighed in exasperation as Robes walked after Roia. "Geez…who knows what he'll do to her…" he muttered.
Calm
Someone was running through the forest. Someone who was being pursued by something sinful and dark. His desperate, gasping breaths were evidence of his exhaustion, but he could not rest; not ever, not now. He could run. But he could never hide.
And then he fell, tripped by one stray branch.
The thing came closer with malicious intent.
"No!" The cry was torn from his lips as he crawled backward, fingers fumbling over the cold, hard dirt, trying to do something, anything, to stop that thing.
"Your spirit…" A voice rasped.
He stood and futilely tried to limp away.
"It is mine!"
"No-o-o-o-o-o-o!" Then there was a choking, strangling noise, and all was silent.
A waning sliver of moonlight illumined one crimson, brooding mask. "I am coming for you…"
Zed awoke with a violent start. That dream, again. He shook his head angrily, as if to dispel the vision. I thought it was gone.
Sighing, knowing now that sleep was impossible, he stood up, gazing over the lighted skyscrapers under the dark night sky of Calm. What could it mean?
Unconsciously, his feet led him to the same spot where that portal had opened once before; enticing him into its shimmering, golden depths, revealing a destiny greater than the one he was condemned to in Calm.
Then Zed was wrenched back into reality, and he realized that the wind was blowing again, blowing with purpose.
Zed's eyes narrowed. This…