A blast shook the building and dust billowed into the rooms and covered everything in a thick layer if yellow plaster. Men shouted and pointed at the building that had collapsed while other ran forward to help any that may have been caught in the collapse. Not a single man had been injury being as not a single person had been in or around the building when it had fallen. But it was immediately clear that the King's Guymelef, Escaflowne was gone.
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The King of Fanelia traveled in worn clothes under the guise of a man just trying to get to the next place. The ship he bought charted with was small, which meant few would be there and fewer yet to perhaps guess him out. He had allowed only one possession to go with him on his travels which was the Fanelian blade that was actually sown into the fabric of the half cloak under his weathered outer cloak. He did not dare bring the pendant that had resonated with the Escaflowne, it was flashy and even though it tended to be a useful item… it was also dangerous to bring. It would have to be return to its owner when he dragged both Merle and the girl back. In another day he would be inside the walled protection of Asturia's Palace were he could finally get some answers and meet the woman who claimed to be Hitomi's daughter.
"Makes no sense…" Hitomi had been gone only 3 years and yet a full grown woman was in Gaia with the pendant… Yet she was here with the pendant… who else could have such an item. And that he knew was legitimate. He'd seen it at work himself… and it had wanted the Escaflowne.
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Which no longer worked… for him at least.
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After the machine which Emperor Dornkirk made was dismantled, Van had returned with Merle, Allen and Celena. They spent the next 3 months clearing out the debris that was Fanelia and began to rebuild. Escaflowne had been kept in the place where he had begun all of this with Hitomi and there it was forced to remain. Van had tried to move it for one reason or another and it would not activate. It would not heed his command. It had not shown life until Hitomi's pendant had crashed through the roof.
"This time tomorrow and we will be docked in the port of Palas." Van smiled as a fellow traveler stared out at the morning sun that had raised pink and orange on the horizon. Thin strips of clouds cut between the bright blue of the sky behind it and Van ignored the knot forming in this gut. It had been there since he had been told about the girl, Keori.
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In moments Kaen had lifted me form the bed and jumped right out the window. I was neither impressed or fully awake, but the moment he'd jumped I was more than willing to hurry the process along. What was his thing with jumping out of places?
"Kaen!" I could tell something was wrong… He had that look on his face and Merle had it too. "What's; happening?"
"I do not know Hurin… Stay with me… Do no leave my side." He put me down long enough to sling me on his back and run back into the building. He found a guard that recognized Merle at least and told them to stay here. Neither of Kaen or Merle listened and the met up with Allen and Dryden.
"Celena is with Millerna and the King behind a half of Asturia's knights guarding them." Allen eyed me as if waiting for something to become clear and turned to Merle when it obviously didn't.
"Tell me Allen. What is happening here?" Merle put back the blade I didn't even know she had been carrying and stood a good foot shorter, but for all of that her presence was huge and demanding.
"The palace is under attack. We do not know by whom and we did not know of any threats to the city before this act. The castle is completely taken by surprise." Merle bit her lip and closed a balled her fist at her thigh.
"We must leave at once. This is not place to be if it is under attack… I understand your loyalties remain here Allen, but I cannot allow Keori to remain here. Even if under that elite that is Asturia's knighthood. Allow me to take her from her to someplace else…" Allen suddenly became very curious and his expression changed immediately.
"Is the attack on the castle because of her?"
"I do not know for sure… but if it is, then there is more a reason to remove her form the palace. For both the King and for Keori." That made sense enough to him, but he didn't like it in the slightest.
"We will leave from the northern gate and head for Rampant Port. It is close enough that should I be needed I am not far. Also that is this is because of Keori that we will still be close to allies. I want to know what you know Merle. Whether Van is here or not. " Merle nodded with a gruff duty and they left.
"I will stay. As soon as I can leave again I will met with you in Rampant." Dryden left with his glasses swinging slightly as he turned.
"Keep the King safe Dryden. Millerna as well." Dryden didn't dine to answer and continued as if he hadn't heard.
"What is going on? Someone talk to me." I dropped down from Kaen's back while we walked quickly through hallways that we as wide as my bedroom had been long.
"An explosion took out part of the eastern side of the castle. Men began to invade from the guard wall that had all but shattered. They are clearly looking for something… or someone because they do not take valuables and they haven't gone towards the Kings rooms or even the Princess's. Whatever they want the believe is in the East Wing. They are armed with odd armour and weapons, there skill level is high, but they don't look like they are from Asturia. They are too few people living in old Zaibach to have spurred on some kind of revolution and Freid and Fanelia have been allies for the last three years with nothing to have caused anyone to think otherwise." I kind of expected an answer intended for someone that didn't know anything about Gaia, but I got an in-depth explanation that I only partly understood.
"You must tell me what you were dreaming about." Merle grabbed my arm and everyone stopped and looked at me.
"I-I beg your pardon?" She grew very stern and serious at that point.
"Before the explosion went off you were saying something we could not hear in your sleep and you woke just seconds before the blast shook the building. Now tell me. What did you see?"
"I don't know what you want from me… I was sleeping is all…"
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A glazed look washed over her face and Kaen pulled Keori away from Merle, but it was not Merle he sought to defend Keori from. Merle turned as well as Allen and they eyed a strange man in stranger clothes.
"He's from Freid… one of the Praktu." Allen slide forward with his sword drawn.
"Tell them what you saw, Keori of the Mystic Moon and daughter to Hitomi Kanzaki." The Praktu closed his eyes and Keori spoke in an eerily calm voice.