Chapter 3: Ancient Origin
Taking place at Castle Crimea in Melior, Brom, Nephenee, Kasumi and Aiden are speaking with Queen Elincia, Geoffrey and Lucia.
"I see... So that's what's going on." says Elincia. "Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I'm very sorry your village was affected by this. You have my sincere apologies."
Brom replies with, "Oh, no, Your Majesty. We need no apology. We're just happy we could help."
"Lucia..." says Geoffrey. "Brom's story confirms what we've suspected all along."
"Yes, as we thought." says Lucia. "Duke Ludveck of Felirae is firing up a rebellion. We should have seen it coming. To be honest, Queen Elincia, there have been a number of indications that something like this was under way. We'd hoped to uncover something more tangible than hushed rumors... I should have told you sooner."
"No... I bear some responsibility as well." says Elincia. "The discontent among the populace... is due to my lack of experience as a ruler. Now that a rebellion is gaining momentum, innocent blood will be spilled... I have always held the well-being of the Crimean people as my highest priority... I've done my utmost in Crimea's name. ...And all I've ever desired is a country where war and hunger are unknown."
"Goodness... she truly IS noble." Kasumi thinks to herself. "I can see why those that love her truly do so."
"Beggin' your pardon, Queen Elincia." says Brom.
"...Yes, Brom?" Elincia replies.
"Your Majesty is doing a bang-up job of it." says Brom. "The country's a safe place to live, and that's more than most can say! Once you get the hang of things, I'm sure you'll be the name kings and queens try to live up to. We know you can do it!"
"And it ain't like ALL the young bucks out there got bees in their bonnets!" says Nephenee. "There's a whole mess o' folks doin their darndest to make this a fine country. They wanna make you proud, Your Majesty."
"Yes, I must agree with Brom and Nephenee here." says Kasumi. "It may be my first time in this country, or this whole continent for that matter, but I can see you truly want to do your best. Your spirit is an inspiration to other rulers that wish the same for their countries."
"I'm not too with fancy words or long speeches, so I'll just say I got your back, Your Highness!" says Aiden giving a thumb's up.
"I... Thank you." says Elincia.
"All nations experience unrest when the reigns of leadership change hands." says Geoffrey. "It's true the world over. But for Ludveck to start beating the drums of war as if this were unheard of... What utter nonsense! We must not allow it! Your majesty, would you be so kind as to appoint me to the task of his capture? I myself will march into Felirae and seize Ludveck and his rebels."
"No, Geoffrey. We can't do that." says Lucia. "Unfortunately, we don't have enough evidence to arrest him."
"But..." Geoffrey starts to say.
"Don't worry, Brother." says Lucia. "If we have no evidence, then I suppose we'll have to dig up some. Your Majesty, I'd like to take on that job."
"Lucia, I appreciate your dedication." says Elinica. "You have my permission to proceed..."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." says Lucia. "I will not fail you."
Meanwhile, as things are going, Kasumi and Aiden walk the halls of Castle Crimea together.
"The design of this castle is amazing." says Kasumi. "Definitely a massive contrast to the design of Castle Hazumo."
"So, Hazumo... Is that were you come from?" asks Aiden.
"Yes, that's my home land." says Kasumi. "It was thought by many to have been lost in the great flood during the War against the Dark God, but certain... events... prevented that from happening."
"Excuse me, you two." says Elincia.
Kasumi and Aiden turn to see Elincia walking towards them while being followed by Leanne and Nealuchi.
"What is it, Queen Elincia?" asks Kasumi. "And I don't believe I've met your laguz friends."
"Oh, sorry for not meeting you two sooner." says Nealuchi. "I'm Nealuchi of the Raven Tribe. And the other lovely lady with me is none other than Princess Leanne of the Herons."
"The Herons?!" asks Aiden. "I thought they all died during the Serenes Massacre!"
"Serenes... Massacre?" asks Kasumi.
"Oh yeah, you're new here." says Aiden. "Well, a good few years ago, a huge number of Beorc set fire to the land of Serenes, home to the Heron Tribe. Many heron laguz died. In fact, it was thought all were gone."
"But why would they set fire to their home?" asks Kasumi.
"No one really knows why." says Aiden.
"WE do." says Nealuchi. "But we must find Commander Ike to tell him this news."
"I assume Commander Ike is a blue-haired warrior." says Kasumi. "I get the feeling General Geoffrey isn't him."
"Oh yes, Ike has blue hair and is a magnificent swordsman." says Nealuchi. "At least that's what Leanne tells me when she saw him fight."
"Well, I hope to find him myself." says Kasumi.
Leanne looks at Aiden curiously, and Aiden asks, "What is it?"
"(You! You have the same blood as me.)" Leanne says in the old tongue.
"(Yes, I too have heron blood. In fact, I also have dragon blood.)" Aiden replies in the old tongue himself.
Leanne gasps at this and responds with, "(So... you're one of the parentless?)"
"(I am. Both Kasumi here and I are Branded)" says Aiden.
"(Must you keep calling me Branded? It's getting really annoying.)" Kasumi says in the old tongue.
"Whoa! You can speak the anicent tongue yourself?!" asks Aiden.
"Of course I can speak it. I've known it longer than all of you here have been alive." says Kasumi.
"Wha...?" Aiden wants to ask.
"That brings to mind what I came here for." says Elincia. "I wanted to know more about your stories."
"Why don't you go first, Aiden?" says Kasumi. "Mine might take a while to tell."
"Uh, very well." says Aiden. "Hey, I'm Aiden. I really don't have any place to call home, but I do love Crimea a lot."
"So... you're homeless?" asks Elincia.
"Unfortunately so." says Aiden. "But being homeless has toughened me up and made me stronger. Of course, I can thank my laguz blood for that."
"So... you're a Branded?" asks Elincia.
"Indeed I am." says Aiden. "And I'm mixed of two laguz bloods. My mother had heron blood as she too was a Branded. My father, however, was a red dragon."
"Well, where is your brand?" asks Elincia.
"Right here." says Aiden as he shows Elincia his right shoulder, revealing his brand. "And I don't just have that feature. I've got this one as well."
Aiden removes his headband, showing his right eye to be a red dragon eye.
"Wow, the only known parentless to possess a feature of a laguz!" says Nealuchi. "Not to mention you're the only known one to have two different laguz bloods in them. That's truly unheared of."
"What about you, Lady Kasumi?" asks Elinicia. "What's your story?"
"Well, since you're a queen, I guess I could reveal my true identity." says Kasumi. "I am Kasumi, rightful heir to the throne of Hazumo."
"You're a Princess?!" asks a surprised Elincia.
"Whoa! Now THAT's a surprise!" says Aiden.
"Yes, I am the rightful queen." says Kasumi. "And I too have a mark like Aiden here."
"So, which laguz were you born from?" asks Nealuchi.
After a bit silence, Kasumi says, "A phoenix."
"What?! Are you serious?!" asks a stunned Nealuchi.
"I've never heard of a phoenix laguz." says Elinica.
"That's understandable, milady." says Nealuchi. "The phoenixes are supposed to be extinct. No one has seen a phoenix for over more than 700 years. Even I never got to see one. And you... You say your mother was a phoenix?"
"That's right." says Kasumi. "And you're right. My mother was the last phoenix in existence, especially after she died giving birth to me more than 700 years ago."
"Gracious!" says Nealuchi. "That's older than even me!"
"You're kidding!" says Aiden. "I swore, just looking at you, you were younger than me! You mean that you're over 700 years old?"
"It's a long story." says Kasumi. "And one I wasn't entirely awake for."
"What happened?" asks Elincia.
"Well, when I reached adulthood, that's when the great flood happened." says Kasumi. "When it occured, I used my power to prevent Hazumo from being wiped out. However, I used so much power and my training so incomplete, I fell into a deep sleep. Centuries went by before I woke up. I was the only child and heir to my father's throne. So when he died, Hazumo was without a king. So, they established a king regnant to look after the kingdom. When I finally awoke, the king regnant said I could have the throne, but I refused. Because my spiritual training was incomplete, I let him keep the throne. Eventually, I went through more spirit training until I could manifest my spirit into a set of magic armor and this sword you see beside me, known as the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi. However, even then, I still have much further to go. But, eventually, I had a dream. It was a dream of a blue-haired warrior reaching out for me. The priests said it was a prophecy. A prophecy that I was to join forces with a blue-haired warrior. Apparently, in the rest of the dream, disaster strikes, but the warrior and I stay vigilant and face the threat head on. The prophecy said this blue-haired warrior and I would fight against a great calamity that would happen to this world, starting here in Tellius. So, I armed myself with my family's treasured bow, Sutā no Yumi o Utsu. And I set out to fulfill my destiny."
"That's a lot to take in." says Elincia.
Kasumi says, "Yes. And if this Ike exists, then perhaps he and I are the ones made to destroy this threat."
"Oh, he exists, alright." says Nealuchi. "Leanne and I are tyring to find him ourselves. We have information we need to tell him."
"Then I hope he arrives." says Kasumi.
"I'm hoping Marcia will be able to locate him for us." says Elincia. "However, he hasn't shown himself for a while."
"Well, you needn't worry too much, Your Majesty." says Nealuchi. "If this girl is indeed the offspring of a phoenix, even if she is one of the parentless, then she'll be a powerful ally."
"Thank you for the bode of confidence, Sir Nealuchi." says Kasumi. "But for the record, never call me 'parentless' again."
"Well, what DO you prefer to be called?" asks Nealuchi.
"Well, the priests refer to me as a savior because of my parentage and the mark on my lower back." says Kasumi. "As for what I am, just call me a person. I much prefer that. In the end, whether we're beorc, laguz or of mixed blood, we're all people in the end."
"Well put, Your Majesty." says Elincia. "So, Nealuchi, what makes her so special being the offspring of a phoenix?"
"Well, according to legends, the phoenixes are a race of laguz that are spiritually powerful." says Nealuchi. "They can use their spirits to attack or defend themselves. It's said if their spirits are powerful enough, they can take the form of creatures or weapons."
"That's very true, Sir Nealuchi." says Kasumi. "And you're quite right. As I said, as my spirit got stronger, I could produce a magic armor and this sword of mine."
"Yeah, but her armor isn't one that most women would wear to battle." says Aiden.
"Well, I'm not most women." says Kasumi.
"Clearly." says Aiden.
"Well, if you're truly a strong ally, Your Highness, would you be adverse to joining with Lucia to investigate Duke Ludveck?" asks Elincia.
"I would be honored, Your Majesty." says Kasumi.
"Hey, she's not going without me!" says Aiden. "I want piece of that Ludveck bastard myself! No way he's going to drag this country or its queen to hell!"
"That would be most appreciated." says Elinica. "But remember, this is just undercover. We have to gain evidence that he really is behind this all."
"Bah! Politics are so ridiculous these days!" says Aiden. "All I understand is cutting chumps down with my axes! I just hope he angers me enough to send me into berserk mode!"
"Berserk mode?" asks Elincia.
"Yeah, kind of a function I got through my laguz blood." says Aiden. "Some dirtbag pisses me off enough, and I go into a frenzied rage that lays bodies everywhere I go on the battlefield."
"Goodness." says Elincia. "Maybe sending you on this mission is a bad idea."
"Please, Your Majesty." says Kasumi. "I'll watch over him. Maybe if we keep things on level, there won't be any worry about his 'berserk mode'."
"For some reason, I trust you." says Elincia. "Very well. You can both go, but do watch out for each other."
"You can count on us." says Kasumi. "I suppose we'll be talking to Lucia about joining her on her mission."
"Very well." says Elincia. "And I'm sorry if I bothered you."
"You didn't." says Kasumi. "Although to be honest, I wanted to wait till I met the blue-haired warrior before telling my story. But, I fully trust you, Queen Elincia."
"I'm glad." says Elincia. "I just hope I can be that way for my country and her people."
"I just know you will, Your Majesty." says Kasumi. "And we'll help you in any way possible."
"Thank you so much, Princess Kasumi." says Elincia. "I'm honored to have you as an ally."
"And I'm honored to be your ally." says Kasumi.
To Be Continued in Chapter 4.