The Legend of Dragoon : Essence

Part Two

Crux

If they stayed here, no more of them would die. But staying here was not what Lloyd had in mind. It posed no gain on his part and much loss. His fingers unconsciously went to his throat. Realizing the action, he sneered, eyeing both the guard of the cell and the Dragon Block Staff in the corner.

"Tell me, when will the King be come to call again?" Lloyd asked.

"When and if he pleases," came the response.

Lloyd sighed. Two days had past without visitation from King Albert. He was growing apprehensive and he didn't like it. Caged and powerless, his hate for Ellis violently boiled just underneath the surface of his expressionless façade. 'You should have killed me . . .'

******************

"We should have him executed," Miranda commented at breakfast.

"He'd be even less likely to tell us anything then," Albert reasoned casually as he poured himself a cup of tea.

Dart nodded, "I don't like it, but we do need him."

"He's such a horrid creature," Emille began. "What an example he makes for the Winglies! It's good he's down in that dungeon so that no one can see him – I'd hate to think of all the terrible things a person could think about those people if Lloyd was the first one they met."

"The same could be said about a lot of humans," Shana remarked dryly. "Your Majesty," she added quickly, hoping that she hadn't offended the queen. Emille smiled politely.

"I suppose I should see if he's come around again today . . ." Albert muttered exasperatedly.

Dart smiled, "No." He put his hand on Albert's arm reassuringly, "Now, that I'm here, let me have a go at it."

**********************

Lloyd stood when Dart entered. He had been expecting the red warrior for quite some time.

The fury in his eyes he did not hide. Dart spoke calmly, "Albert is a patient man but he also is a just King. He can't let Lavitz Slambert's murder go on unpunished indefinitely."

"Is that a threat?"

"No, it's a fact," Dart approached the bars.

Lloyd mirrored him.

"You're either going to rot in here or you're going to rot out in a shallow grave, headless that is, if you don't-"

Lloyd put his hand up to stop Dart, "Yes, yes. I've heard all the dire alternatives already." He paced for a moment, looking as though he was pondering a grave moral decision.

Dart knew better, knew that everything Lloyd did in front of an audience was put on. He waited, folding his arms across his chest and leaning back on his left leg so he could tap his right foot.

Lloyd stopped with his back to him, "You have to resist the urge to transform when they attack you."

"The demons?"

"They're not demons," the wingly stated matter-of-factly.

"Then enlighten me, what are they?"

Lloyd spun around and smiled wickedly. "Are you sure you want to know?" Dart only gave him an unimpressed look. Lloyd went on, "They are wraiths, my friend. Dragon wraiths. . . whence do they come?" He voiced the question before Dart had the opportunity to. Lloyd laughed. He gestured with a nod to the Divine Spirit that lay in Dart's armour. "They are hate and rancor embodied. The hate and the rancor each Dragon Spirit has for its Dragon Knight."

Dart wheeled back. "No!" he yelled in shock. Lloyd watched him but remained silent. Dart shook his head in disbelief what lies that wingly would spin. His web was intricate and concealed – parts that were shown were made shown for a purpose. It couldn't be real.

They are hate and racor embodied.

Dart met Lloyd's gaze. Yet, the tone in which he spoke . . . the crispness of his words . . . the malignant light in his eyes . . . Dart closed his eyes at the revelation.

It was truth.

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@ So here it is. I hope you guys like it. I warn you now, the next parts introduce my OCs. This fic is a remake of another I wrote awhile back. Anyways, I intend to update on a relatively frequent basis so here's to it!

Thanks for reading and for your reviews! As always, tell me what you like, hate – anything, just validate my existence!

Disclaimer: LoD is not mine