Chapter 10: The Sun Finally Shines Again
Shadow forest, Another world, 1020 A.D.
The very first sunrays had just penetrated the deep mass of tree leaves that covered shadow forest. Three men were lying in the dirt. Suddenly, one stirred. Peppor Shaker painfully turned his head and slowly opened his eyes. He gritted his teeth, his body still aching and burning from everywhere. He took a look around and saw his brother also immobile. He reached out with his arm to grasp Solt's shoulder. The taller dragoon opened his eyes and turned his head to see who had touched him.
"P-Peppor, are we dead yet?" Solt's voice was weak.
"No, you idiot, we're still alive…" Both soldiers were still lying on the ground, unable to move due to the pain.
"…Shake it, Solt, you were right, these brats are protected by the white dragon." Peppor still had trouble breathing.
"So, are you gonna give up, we can't reallyly really hope to capture them."
"Shake it, no!" Peppor shook his head, a determined look on his face.
"B-But, Peppor…" Solt's lips curled down in despair.
"Solt, I-I want to be a deva."
Solt gave his brother an incredulous look.
"Ever since Sir Dario's spot became vacant, I knew it, it was my chance, the one chance to shaking become someone." Peppor looked down.
"But, Peppor, becoming a deva is totallyly totally, well it has, you must be verily very good and…"
"I know! Shake it! I know! You have to prove you're up to the task. But Sir Karsh told us the general wanted these brats alive so badly. Maybe if we bring them, it would give me a shaking chance…"
Both brothers just looked at each other for a moment.
"I want to achieve something before I shaking check in, Solt… And become a deva is shaking something."
"Then you'd better hurry up, Peppor, because trying to catch these brats will consirablyly considerably shorten your life-span." Solt had a very serious look on his face.
"I don't give a shaking damn, Solt, I'm gonna get them, even if it is the last thing I do, even if I have to shaking face the white dragon himself."
Peppor clenched his jaw and pushed himself up. He grasped his right wrist with his left hand and was engulfed in blue light. The pain diminished but he knew the numerous injuries caused by Kid's attack still weren't fully healed. He helped his brother up so he could do the same.
Peppor then spotted Zoah and went to him. He kneeled next to the deva and pressed his ear against the massive man's back. The dragoon rose his head back up and shook his head at his brother, signalling another deva had fallen. Solt and Peppor stood up, removed their helmets and lowered their heads in respect.
Guldove, another world, 1020 A.D.
Several hours after sunrise, Serge's eyes opened once more. He sat in bad, yawning and stretching. He turned his head around to take a look at his surroundings. It seemed that he was in a rather modest house, or tent as it appeared that a large piece of bright red tissue served as walls. The floor was made of wood and he had slept on a bed made of straw. Jugs and mugs were scattered on the floor. Curtains formed rooms inside the house and a wooden ladder led to the upper floor.
Serge's head was aching as he was remembering what happened last night.
We were on that balcony… and then Kid fell… and then I fell…and…damn, man, what happened… where am I now…?
Then the wooden ladder began creaking under the steps of a rather heavy person. A large woman with tanned skin and bright purple hair was smiling warmly at him. She was wearing a long purple dress with a pink top and had two scarves wrapped around her waist. One was gold and the other was of a lighter purple. Two golden necklaces hanged from her neck as well as two large golden earrings from her ears. She was holding a silver tray filled with exotic fruit.
"I'm glad you're finally awake, boy. You must be hungry." She left the tray on Serge's leg.
Serge looked at all the yummy fruit for a moment and decided for a papaya. He grabbed it and continued to observe it for a while.
"Eat, eat, cha're only skin and bones, boy"
Serge raised his eyes to look at the woman and then looked at his arms. Like most teenagers, Serge had rather skinny arms and like most teenagers, he sometimes wished he was more muscular. Seeing this, the woman chuckled softly.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to hurt cha. Um, I'm Macha, it's my son Korcha who found cha, or rather cha found him. He said cha came falling from the sky.
Serge looked aside for a moment, the name ringing a bell.
Korcha… the punk from termina…?
"Char friends are already up. They're waiting outside. Why don't cha bring them some fruit. I'm sure they must be hungry too."
"Uh, say, where am I?"
"Oh, cha're in Guldove, town of friendship, one of the rare places where humans and demi-humans coexist peacefully."
Serge massaged the back of his neck which was very stiff as well as most of his muscles. He then got up and picked as many fruit as he could hold from the tray and went outside. The sun was already high in the sky and several seagulls were roaming in the sky, looking for something to ease their hunger.
The whole village consisted of several docks all connected to each others. These docks were made from old creaking wooden planks all painted red. Ropes and buoys were hanging everywhere as well as big metal pegs to moor boats. All houses were actually tents except for one labelled Hospital.
The town was rather quiet and only a few merchants were doing business on that day. Serge partially closed his eyes to shield them from the bright sun. He then spotted his friends gathered around a counter on which were laid all sorts of gems and jewels. The jeweller, a demi-human, was closely examining a polished stone.
"I'm sorry, m'lady, but this one's a zircon." He handed the zircon back to Kid.
Kid furiously grabbed the gem and threw it in the sea, kicking at a wooden pole.
"Hey, are cha that lame radical dreamer who can't tell the difference between a zircon and a diamond. How did cha manage to join them? Oh, I get it, cha must be in charge of making the sandwiches."
Kid quickly looked up to see a young girl sitting on the roof of the hospital. She had brown hair tied in two buns. Her outfit strangely resembled that of Kid except for the red shirt and the brown jacket. Purple bracelets covered her wrists and ankles. A purple gem was hanging from her slender neck and matching sandals accompanied her feet. Her bright green eyes were sparkling in the sun and her small hands were resting behind her head, a sharp boomerang protruding above it. Her lips were curled in a mocking smile.
"Oi, you little brat, get your arse here and tell me this again. I'm gonna make bloody sure you eat that boomerang and get it out at the other end."
"Whoa, take it easy, she's just a child." Guile grasped Kid's shoulder in an attempt to calm her.
"Just a kid? Who do cha think cha are, cha hairy freaky drag-queen."
It was Guile's turn to look up, not believing his ears.
Where did that one learn such words…?
The girl stuck out her tongue, dove in the water and swam away.
"Oi, looks like we're even, m'lady."
"Hmmm… I'm not so sure… after all, you can't tell the difference between a diamond and a zircon." Guile flashed a mocking grin.
"Oi, don't rub it in, mate."
"Alright, alright, but seriously now, I didn't know you were a radical dreamer…"
"Oi, what d'ya mean, wasn't it obvious enough? Yup, I'm a radical dreamer, proud, strong, fearless. Bloody hell, I took that dagger, fell from over two hundred feet and now I could climb mount Denadoro."
But Kid suddenly felt very dizzy. She was seeing black spots and had to grab onto a pole to maintain her stance. However, after a few seconds, she collapsed, her vision completely blurred. Everyone quickly gathered around her. Serge immediately dropped the tray and ran to her.
"Back off, back off, she needs air." Guile was pushing everyone away from Kid and knelt down next to her.
A few moments later, Kid was lying in a hospital bed, a warm sheet covering her. Serge, Guile and Leena were gathered there as well as Korcha, a demi-human and the one guldovians referred to as Doc.
The hospital consisted on a single large room with four beds covered with white sheets. A stool was standing next to every bed. Jugs were scattered everywhere in the room and a clothesline crossed the room above Serge's head where he could see every single of Kid's garments hanging.
The nurse removed a towel from Kid's forehead before placing another one dripping with cold water. Doc, a man of average height with long blonde hair and wearing marine pants with a matching jacket covering a beige tank-top, came close to Kid a sat on the nearest stool. He removed the tuque his constantly wore despite the burning heat and wiped the sweat off of his forehead with the back of his hand and sighed.
"She was poisoned with hydra venom. The only cure for this is hydra humour. Otherwise… I'd say she has three days to live at most."
"But, hydras are extinct in the archipelago." Leena took a look at Kid.
"That's right, hydras were hunted to the point of extinction. Skin, teeth, humour, bones, everything can be used and sold for great amounts of gold coins. So typical of humans, if money can be made, who cares about life? The killed every single hydra, the marsh literally died and now that there's someone dying, we're helpless." Doc buried his face in his hands.
"I believe there are still hydras on the mainland…" Guile looked at Doc.
"The mainland? There's no way you could reach it. The current in the Zenan strait is way too strong in this season. You'd need to be on a big vessel and even then…" Doc slowly got up and sighed again.
"Excuse me, I need to be alone for a while." Doc left the hospital.
The nurse tried to go after him but it was of no use.
"What the? I-I'll go get the doctor, you just wait here." Korcha who had remained silent up to now quickly left the hospital but bumped into someone he had never seen before.
"Oh, la laa, no excuse for bumping into moi, have you no mannerz?" Harle put her hands to her hips.
"Hmm, bonjour, Serge, I hope you have dreamt of moi." Harle had bent to the side to look at Serge and then spotted Kid.
Serge definitely wasn't in the mood for a flirtatious conversation with Harle and gave her a reprehensive look. Harle gave him a fake sheepish look and walked past him.
"Oh, mon Serge, you are zuch a coeur sensible, so sweet of you, but alas, I'm afraid she iz out for ze count." Harle looked at Kid for a moment.
"So why don't you just leave 'er be and come with moi to heaven, mon Serge."
"Hey, who do cha think cha are? Barging in here and messing up the place. Cha could at least have some respect, she is dying." Korcha held up his fist threateningly.
"I am 'aving a converzation with mon Serge, not with some chicken-hawk, so se taire, monsieur puny-verse." Harle gave Korcha a pissed off look.
"What? Now that's it, I'm gonna make cha eat those words, and don't think I'm gonna cut cha any slack because you're a girl." Korcha quickly grabbed his fishing rod from the wall and swung it a Harle, but he was too late, Harle had already vanished.
"Oh, la, laa, you are not supposed to swing it like zis, you will scare those little fishies."
Korcha was astonished, but rapidly regained his composure and swung his rod at Harle again. Harle smiled and vanished again. She reappeared, sitting in mid-air.
"Zuch a simpleton. Serge, mon beau, zis was very amusing, but I muzt leave you for now. Aurevoir." Harle disappeared one last time, bowing deeply to Serge.
Serge was looking at Korcha who was still gripping his fishing rod firmly in case Harle showed herself again. He took notice of Serge and lowered his weapon.
"What? Cha know her?"
"Let's say we've met her before." Serge looked at Korcha and then to the floor.
"I'm gonna get the doctor, cha just wait here." Korcha left the hospital.
"…In my world… hydras aren't extinct in the archipelago…yet."
"Serge…Serge…" Kid's voice was very weak and she was obviously struggling to speak.
Serge quickly turned his head to look at Kid. Her face was very pale and her eyes were only half-open. Serge approached her bed and kneeled next to her. Serge's feelings at this very moment were a bitter mix of sadness and anger directed at himself: Kid was dying and he was helpless. If only he had been in his world.
"Serge… Are they all gone?" Kid's eyes closed momentarily and her features contorted in pain.
"Yeah, yeah, they're all gone."
Kid reached inside her jacket and took out a round purple amulet tied to a delicate rope. An odd drawing representing the sun had been painted on the relic. Serge carefully grabbed the amulet from Kid's hand and looked at her, waiting for an explanation.
"When…when you crossed dimensions for the first time, my amulet reacted in a very strange way. Maybe…if you go back…where angels lose their way…"
"Where angels lose their way?"
"Yeah…remember what the prophet said…try to remember where it is…where did it all began?" Kid's eyes closed and her head came to rest firmly against the pillow.
Serge slowly pushed himself up still gazing at the amulet.
"Where did it all began…?" Serge was mumbling to himself.
"Serge, where were you when you crossed dimension?" Guile was looking intensely at Serge, urging him to answer.
"Opassa beach…I was at Opassa beach." Serge raised his eyes to look at Guile over the amulet.
"Then we have to bring the amulet there."
"You really think that…"
"What other choice do we have?"
Serge glanced at Kid and then at the amulet. He nodded, agreeing with Guile that they had to take the chance that this amulet was the key to crossing dimensions.
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In the local bar of Guldove, two demi-humans were quietly sipping a beer. Doc was sitting alone by the counter, looking at the old wood. Seeing this, the barmaid, a young woman with blonde hair tied in pigtails approached him. She kneeled in front of him, placed her forearms flat on the counter and rested her chin on them. She looked upwards in Doc's eyes. At first, the man pretended taking no notice of her.
"Something tells me you're still thinking about her." The woman's voice was soft and understanding.
"I couldn't…" Doc only looked at her for a second and then returned his gaze to the counter.
"Doc… after seven years you're still blaming yourself…"
"It was my fault, Orlha, only my fault… I failed her."
"Your past is constantly controlling your life Doc. It's still devouring you, night and day."
"Seven years ago I failed her and today I failed again."
"Doc, let go, let go of her spirit. You did all you could, now it's time to move on."
"How could I let go, it was only because of me that she…"
"You know, sometimes Tia's memory comes floating around me, but I don't cling on to her spirit like you do. You're imprisoning both yourself and her by doing this. It's okay to keep in your heart the memory of loved ones, but if never want to forget for at least a while, your past will ruin both your present and your future."
Doc simply stared at Orlha, unable to find any suitable answer to this.
"…Now there's someone else who needs you. If you let one bad memory ruin this moment, you'll lose it and fail that person two. What will happen to you? Will you let the memory of two people control your future? Just don't let the memory of on person control your future and you'll be free…forever, Doc."
Doc slowly spun around, still sitting on the stool.
"You're right, Orlha. It's time I move on. I'm not going to let a bad memory ruining my life bring a second bad memory to ruin my life twice as much. I'm going back to the hospital." Doc got up and left.
Orlha waited for a moment to make sure Doc was away from the bar and turned around. She took out a blue brooch from her pocket and stared at it for a short while.
"Tia…I know you're still alive…somewhere…someday…I'll find you."
Orlha carefully replaced the brooch in her pocket and grabbed a towel and a buck from the top of the counter.
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Back at the hospital, Doc was a bit surprise to find Serge, Guile and Leena waiting for him outside.
"What's going on, dudes? Going somewhere?" Doc looked slightly nervous at the idea of being left alone with Kid who was dying.
"Yeah, we're getting some hydra humour." Serge had a rather determined look on his face.
"But how…? Never mind. You guys go and do your best, I'll be taking of her while you're away."
"We need to go back to Opassa beach." Serge's look went to Korcha.
"Right. I'm getting the boat ready." Korcha left for the docks.
A few minutes later, the group was setting sail. Hopefully, they'd reach Opassa beach late this afternoon.
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Serge had been sitting motionless in Korcha's boat for a few an hour now, longing to reach Opassa beach. Elbows on knees, chin resting on his palms, Serge's body had completely shut off to allow his mind to operate at maximum efficiency. Serge's mind was trying to remember the exact geography of the marshes to make sure to come back with the antidote as fast as possible. At the same time, memories were swirling in his brain, interfering with his planning, making the task very challenging. Those last few days had given him quite a run for his money.
First at Opassa beach… Then I met Kid… She drags me on this crazy trip to that manor… We end up in Guldove… And now we have to find this antidote…
No… Okay… Remember the marsh… First straight ahead, then left, and then right…Or left again… Damn…
Guile's mind appeared to be at the antipode of Serge's. He appeared very calm in spite of the time that seemed to flow much faster than usual. He had been staring at the ocean and the waves without making a sound. As for Leena, she had looked distracted ever since the morning.
Oh, gosh, mom's gonna kill me…I told her I'd be back before the night and it's been three days…I have to stop by… But there's someone dying, that's gonna cost us some precious time…
Korcha's mind was totally unable to operate at the moment, all his effort being focused on pushing against the water with his only paddle.
The sky was cloudless and a strong wind was rounding the boat's sole sail, bringing the group a much needed speed boost.
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Another hour had passed and the boat had finally reached the beach. Serge was relieved to see the purple coral and at the same time was extremely nervous. He hastily stepped on the sand and ran to the very place he had been when he had first been dragged across dimensions.
Serge took out the amulet and held it in front of him, waiting for something to happen. Leena turned her head around expecting to be engulfed by a tidal wave just as Serge described the way he first came to this world. After a while, Serge's arm dropped to his side.
"That's useless…" Serge's voice was barely audible.
But as the amulet came closer to the sand, a short green cylinder wrapped their feet. They all looked to the ground for a moment, waiting for something to happen again. Serge then flashed a smile and dropped the amulet into the sand. The cylinder quickly outgrew the three of them and, like the mouth of a giant worm, swallowed them.
Serge's head felt like splitting in twain again just like the first time. The pain was excruciating but he knew that it would be over soon and he would still be in one piece. After a while, Serge re-opened his eyes to see the white sand and the golden boulders of Opassa beach once more. Looking around, he spotted Guile and Leena who were lying face down on the sand. He went to help them up.
"Urrghh, man, my head felt like parting, Are we still alive?" Guile still had his hands pressed against his head, hardly believing he was still alive after this.
"Oh my god, I've never felt so much pain. Did you also get the feeling that your head was splitting apart?" Leena bent down to grasp her pan.
"Well, I'm sorta getting used to this, second time for me."
"Impressive, you'll surely get your membership card soon, kid."
"Kid? What's with the kid? You haven't called me that so far."
"Oh, don't worry, you've grown a lot since the start of all this, almost a hundredth of an inch." Guile inspected his rod to make sure no grains of sand had entered the small orifices.
Serge's eyes went to the ground for a moment. So far, Karsh had called him junior, Zappa had called him son and now Guile was calling him a kid. For most boys, the road that leads to being a man is usually long and tortuous, but for Serge, it sometimes seemed endless. Sometimes he blamed his father for having disappeared from his life. So many things he needed to know had been stripped from him. Sometimes, however, he somewhat considered himself lucky; several people in Arni had played part of a father's role in his life.
As for elements, Serge had the privilege of learning from one of the bests: Radius, the chief of Arni and ex-deva, had seen war and knew a lot about elements and how to get the best out of them in battle. Ever since he was seven, Serge had joined Radius on the training grounds with other villagers to train with elements under the chief's watchful eyes. At first, Serge had been thrilled with elements, but there was something he simply hated about them: no matter how hard he tried, Leena had always been able to beat him. He had always suspected his mom to give Leena additional tips on how to exploit his own weaknesses but had given up on that idea since nothing could justify her doing this to him.
Then, all of his problems seemed to vanish on a particular day when he was fourteen. He had been walking on the beach when suddenly he spotted something shiny. He had rushed to see what it was and his face had enlightened as he found out. A weapon, a real weapon, one that seemed both very able of inflicting deadly wounds while keeping any opponent at a good distance due to its length. It was a swallow, a dual-bladed weapon made of copper. Of course it was nowhere as strong as steel, but at that time, he couldn't have cared less. He had bent down to pick it up. It felt so light. He swung it around and somehow it was surprisingly easy to use in spite of its size.
Serge had rushed back to the village to show it to everyone. He still remembered everybody in the village gathered around him, urging him to let them touch the swallow. Then the only person who still hadn't shown up appeared. Radius had had a very serious look and walked to him through the crowd. He had grabbed the weapon from him and began inspecting it. He then asked Serge to follow him to his hut. He remembered the conversation he had had with Radius.
He had been alone with Radius in his hut. The chief simply observed him with a very concerned look on his face for a few minutes before speaking.
"Do you know what this is, Serge?" Radius held the swallow upright, next to his body.
"It-it's a weapon…"
"Yes, that's a weapon, a swallow…It's a real weapon, not a toy." Radius was looking intensely at him.
"But I…"
"I know you don't necessarily have bad intentions, but believe me, Serge, I was once soldier. I have seen what men can do when they hold a weapon in their hands. I have fought in the first war against Porre, Serge. I have seen the bodies of friends being pierced with these, I have seen their blood spilled. When I came back they weren't with me anymore, I had to abandon them dying on a battlefield."
Impressed and beginning to feel remorse, Serge lowered his gaze.
"As I said, I was once a soldier. I know what the life of a soldier is and what obstacles are waiting on the path that leads to war. If you really wish to take that path, I will not prevent you from doing so, however, I will not help you."
Radius walked to him.
"I now hand this back to you and leave it up to you as to what you will do with it." Radius walked past him and left him alone to ponder.
The second person to have played the role of a father is Serge's life was old Sam. The old fisherman had never declined an opportunity to boast about the fact that he had been the one to teach still-virgin Serge everything he needed to know about women. At first, Serge considered Sam as a living encyclopaedia about women. He remembered one particular day when he was twelve.
Serge had been sitting on a stool in a corner at Bertha's next to old Sam, quietly sipping a soft drink. Then Leena walked past them and for a reason that eluded him at that moment, Serge's head turned. Old Sam, who appeared to have been sleeping, raised an eyebrow. Sam then grinned and placed an arm around Serge's head.
"Say, boy, I'll go straight to the goal, what do you know about girls?"
"Uh, well, they like to wear dresses, and…"
"I see, so nobody has explained you the other differences between boys and girls. Well, I'll let you take advantage of my immense knowledge." Sam proudly tapped his fingertips on his chest.
Then Serge's memories quickly fast-forwarded to the moment he had decided to apply Sam's knowledge. Leena had been waiting for him on Opassa beach all alone, longing to see what the surprise he had promised her would be. Serge was slowly approaching her from behind, growing more nervous as the number of steps that separated them diminished. Upon hearing nearing footsteps, Leena turned around to look at him.
"So, what's this surprise?" she asked, expectantly.
"It's, uh…" Serge's heart was now thumping hard in his chest and he decided to just do exactly as Sam told him.
He simply grabbed Leena's left buttock with one hand, pulled her face to his other hand and firmly pressed his lips against hers. Serge barely had time to experience a strange new feeling as he felt Leena's hands brutally pushing him back.
"What do you think you're doing? Are you mad?" Leena's fists were clenched in fury.
"But I-I followed Sam's instructions on the difference between, I, you should have liked it, I thought…"
"Oh, so you followed that dirty pig's advice too? You're just like every other boy. You want to know another difference between boys and girls? Girls don't like to be considered pieces of raw meat that you have to cook." Before he could react, Serge's eyes caught a glimpse of Leena's hand accelerating toward his face.
Serge fell on one knee due to the force of the impact, but quickly got back up only to see Leena rapidly marching back to the village.
"But Leena, please, I…" He tried to scream after her, but he was too late.
It took weeks of apologies for Leena to forgive him and though he had understood that Sam's advice on women was certainly not the best in the world, he had no one else to turn to so he went back to him to try to understand what exactly had happened.
"She slapped you across the face…Whoa, boy, for a first kiss, you sure did lame, considering you had the advice from the pimp himself with you." Sam rubbed his face with his hand in discouragement.
Something in Sam's choice of words that night revealed him the way he perceived women and the way he interacted with them. Serge still continued to listen to the old man's advice but decided he had to filter the information Sam was giving him and it was no surprise that not much could make it through the meshes.
"Care to wake up, boy? She's still dying and that humour's the only hope, remember?" Serge was forcefully pulled from his memories and shook his head to come back to reality.
Serge's memories eventually stopped to torment him but as he looked around him he found himself facing another problem: was he really back home?
…Guess there's only one way to find out…
But did he really want to find out? However he had no choice, so Serge began walking toward the colourful rocks and plants of Lizard rock that separated him from Arni.
Anxiety began rising in Serge when he saw the fishing village drawing on the horizon. Upon crossing the beech wood arch that greeted all in Arni, Serge seized the massive sword-fish in one swift motion. It was there, the sword-fish was there, the other fish too, the flowers were gone, and the fish were back: he was home.
"I'm gonna see mom!" Serge sharply turned his head to look back at Guile and Leena who didn't even had a chance to ask for an explanation.
"Well, in a way, Serge had always been a mama's boy…" A weak smile grew on Leena's lips.
"I just hope she doesn't ground him, cause we still need mama's little boy to get that humour."
"I guess we'll just have to wait for him to come back." Leena headed over to the pier, a place where she had spent so many hours musing about everything that mattered to a sixteen year-old girl.
Looking around and seeing he had nowhere else to go, Guile simply decided to follow Leena.
Serge had ran as fast as possible to his house, but upon reaching the entrance he stopped abruptly, suddenly scared of his mother's reaction: she's probably be angry at him for leaving like this, but at the same time he hoped she would simply be relieved to know that he was fine.
It was rather dark inside and Serge walked silently on the wooden floor. He spotted his mother sitting on her bed, sobbing, her face buried in her arms with Leena sitting next to her, an arm wrapped around Marge's shoulder, desperately trying to find a way to consol her.
Serge simply stood there for a moment before the two women turned their heads to him.
"Serge…" Marge's voice was weak but filled with joy and tears were still running down her cheeks.
"Serge! How-how could you? How could you leave your mom like this, it was…" Leena was simply too angry to form any more words.
Marge totally ignored Leena's reaction and ran to her son to embrace him.
"Oh, Serge, I'm so glade you're back… but, where have you been?" Marge shook her head, desperate for answers as to what happened to her son as she slowly let go of him.
Serge looked at his mother and sighed before beginning his tale.
When he was done, he looked at Marge and Leena nervously, fearing what their reactions would be. Surprisingly, Marge's look was extremely understanding, almost as if she believed everything that had happened to him in the last few days was normal. However, the expression on Leena's face was exactly what Serge was expecting: a look of utmost scorn.
"By all the dragon gods that live, Serge, I never thought I'd say something like this one day, but you really are a jerk. You leave like this and then make up this absolutely ridiculous story. Do you even have an idea how much concern with had with you, I…"
"But Leena, I, you saw me being engulfed by that wave, I mean, you were right next to me."
"Oh, yeah, I saw you, that' s for sure, you were right by me and I just had to look away to have you disappear for days."
"…You know, Leena, I knew you would be the one who wouldn't trust me, so I've thought of something to convince… Care to see it?" Serge extended his hand to Leena in a challenging way.
Leena really was doubtful, but eventually took Serge's hand, accepting the challenge, and followed him outside.
"I just hope it's not something like that stone wall at the waterfalls you've shown me ten years ago saying it was one of the dragon gods and in fact it only resembled a dragon…"
"Look, if you can find a "scientific explanation to this, then I'll be paying your studies at the Porre academy, alright?"
With this, Leena simply let herself be dragged by Serge to that proof of the existence of a parallel world.
…Well… Maybe I'll find that studying at the academy isn't that harsh…
Viper manor, another world, 1020 A.D.
Harle was making her way nonchalantly in the desert halls of Viper manor. It was very quiet as most dragoons were now sleeping, exhausted after having searched the whole manor for other spies. When she reached her destination, she seized the doorknob and paused for a moment, not sure if she should knock before coming in.
Considering the fact that the one waiting for her behind the door didn't bother to do so previously, she simply pushed the wooden door and entered without making a noise. Lynx was silent, looking through the window, hands behind his back. Realizing the demi-human wouldn't beother to engage in a conversation, Harle spoke.
"Monsieur Lynx, c'est moi."
Lynx slowly turned his head to look at the jester but returned his gaze to the window and the smile on Harle's lips disappeared, the young woman not sure what the source of the demi-human's discontent was.
"J'attendais a better welcome from you, monsieur Lynx, after all it iz you who sent for moi."
Lynx took a moment to consider her reproach before answering.
"I a very afraid we are in trouble, Harle, it will be more difficult than I thought…much more difficult."
"What do you mean, monsieur Lynx?" Harle closed the door behind herself.
"The boy, he is stronger than I expected, the energies emanating from his aura do not lie."
"Oh, oui, Serge, isn't he charming, je le trouve…lovely."
Lynx sighed in exasperation.
"Oh la laa, monsieur Lynx, why don't you simply calm down a little, mmh?" Harle spun on her feet in one swift and gracious ballet move, an amused smile on her lips once more.
"The…problem is more serious than this Harle…The magician…I wasn't expecting his presence…in fact, he is the real problem…I have never seen someone with such a strong aura, he must possess some of the most powerful elemental capacities in this world…almost if he had an eternity to master the forces of the elements."
"Oh, la laa, anotzer most powerful magicien in ze world. If j'avais a gold coin for every person whose derrière I kicked after hearing 'e was ze best, Je serais très riche, monsieur Lynx." Harle took a deck of throwing cards from her pocket and formed a fan with it.
"And Kid, she has gotten away…again." Lynx's tone was now turning to anger.
"Oui, zuch a brat, Je dois dire…but simply calm down, monsieur Lynx, zis little plan of ours iz in good hands, non?"
"Oh, yes, of course, in the hands of some buffoon." Lynx had swiftly turned around and bent at the waist so that his face was level with that of Harle.
Instantly, The jester's hand flew upwards and connected with the demi-human's cheek, jerking Lynx's head to the side. Lynx remained motionless for a second and then first returned his eyes to Harle before turning his head.
"Je vous ait dit… never call moi zis." Under her make-up Harle's face had turned red in anger.
Lynx then returned to the window and placed his hands behind his back once more, signalling he would be losing himself in his chaotic thoughts again. Seeing this, Harle turned around to leave.
"And where do you think you are going exactly?" Lynx's voice didn't contain much authority, but was a mere questioning.
"Je m'en vais, to take care of zhat Kid once for all, so we'll see who iz a boufon."
"You can forget about her. Now that I have found the arbiter, I do not have any interest in her anymore. And in case you were thinking about taking care of the boy, I will simply tell you that he is not within your grasp anymore."
"What do you mean, monsieur Lynx?"
"That is right, Harle, he did it, he found the purpose of the amulet and was able to cross the dimensions to return to his home world… but he will be back, that is for sure. You can leave now, I will send for you again when he comes back."
"And à propos, the others, you know, ze soldiers, Karsh and Glenn, ze don't really like you monsieur Lynx."
"Glenn and Karsh… they can play with their little toys, I practically own the general so I rule this manor… and the sole heir to the manor… soon I will have taken care of her." Lynx's lips curled in a smile at the idea of being the only ruler of the archipelago.
"Poor fools, they do not even know what power is sleeping right under their nose…"
Having absolutely no desire to intervene in the demi-human's moment of coming self appreciation, Harle opened the door and left without a word.
Arni village, home world, 1020 A.D.
Guile and Leena were sitting on the wooden pier, shoes removed, feet dipping in the cool water. A few kids were swimming not too far away under the watchful eye of an old fisherman.
"Whoa, it sure is a relief, I mean, the climate is insane here, compared to the mainland, so hot and humid." Guile said, looking ahead.
"Yeah, I do this most of the day, babysitting the kids… Say, I wanted to ask you… That element you used on Serge back there in the forest, it wasn't an ordinary healing element, it was what they call a heal plus, I think."
"Yeah, that's right." Guile slightly turned his round to look at Leena.
"I've heard of elements like that, but I had never actually seen one. Where did you get it?"
"Oh, before I came here, I used to live on the mainland. I was taught how to use elements by a very powerful mage. He was the one who gave me this element as well as several others."
"But, why did you leave?"
"Let's just say my master and I just had had too many disputes at one point. So I just left to continue studying elements on my own."
"You sure seem to know a lot about elements…"
"That's what caused the main quarrel between me and my master."
"Oh… And I was wondering if you would be willing to teach me some of these things one day."
"And why don't I teach you now. After all, we don't have anything to do right now."
"Really? So, you think this thing about elements being created when the dragon gods were born is true?"
"Well, it's possible. They say the dragon gods were born when the universe was still young and highly energetic. Energy would have gathered in very dense eggs and those eggs would have hatched the very first forms of intelligent creature. They also say the other eggs, those that couldn't gather enough energy to hatch were buried under layers of dirt and through the pressure and exposure to a material almost impossible to find today, they evolved into elements. These eggs then began resurfacing through volcanic activities and sometimes deep excavations."
"Wow! That sure is an interesting theory."
"The scientists from Porre are currently developing another theory about the creation of elements. They say that elements could be the product of the digestion of an extinct specie, maybe dragonians or Lavos."
"Dragonians? Lavos?" I never heard of such things."
"Dragonians are supposedly a highly intelligent specie that lived here in this archipelago. Recent discoveries showed that they could have possessed a very particular digestive system. As for Lavos, it is an alien life-form rumoured to have come in contact with this planet a very long time ago. There's not even proof of its existence."
"So…I would be holding what came out of the lower exit of some aliens…? I think I'll stick to the first explanation."
Guile chuckled, reached inside his pocket and produced a glimmering blue bead.
"Here, this one's a cure plus element. You're a blue innate, so you should be able to get good results in a very short time of practice with it."
"You're really giving it to me?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Wow, thank you… But, I just have two more questions."
"Go ahead, my pupil." He said, chuckling.
"Pfff… okay, I just wanted to know how you can tell that I'm a blue innate."
"Well, first, you come from a coastal village. Lots of water around means high chances of being born a blue innate. Second, I learned to read through auras, so I can't be wrong, can I?"
"Well, you're right, I'm a blue innate, but I don't think everybody here is a blue innate."
"True, that old man carrying a staff, he's a green innate, and something tells me he wasn't born in this village."
"If what that prophet said about parallel worlds is true, then I'm pretty that he's Radius, the ex-deva. He wasn't born in Arni."
"But the real mystery is Serge. Not only is he not a blue innate, but he's white, the rarest type of innate, born in a village of blue innates. They say white innates will carry a heavy burden on their shoulders. Maybe that prophet was right."
"…And, what makes you say I'll be successful at using blue elements?"
"Elemental energies act like magnets. They attract energies of the opposite colors and repel energies of the same color. You're a blue innate, meaning you have an aura of blue energy around you. When you use a blue element, your own energy will repel that of the element you're using, thus forcing it more efficiently against your target, no matter if you're using an offensive, defensive or healing element. On the contrary, if someone uses a red element on you, the red elemental energy will be attracted by the blue energy of your aura, making any red element used on you stronger. However, no element is never fully exploited in terms of potential."
"What do you mean?"
"Whenever you use an element, a lot of the energy is lost, absorbed by any surrounding objects. They call this the field effect, it can greatly affect the strength of any element used depending on your location. If you use a blue element in place where many blue elements were used before, objects around will repel the new burst of energy at the point opposing the less resistance, in most cases your target. The contrary is also true, if you use a red element in the same place, the blue energy contained within the objects will attract a lot of the new burst of energy, meaning there is less to be directed at your target. Usually, between ten and thirty percent of the elemental energy unleashed actually reaches the target. You can easily imagine how powerful a level one element could become if one found a way to get rid of the field effect and concentrate all the energy on the target."
"Level one element?"
"Hm? Oh, sorry, well, you know there are just so many types of different elements that my master used to classify them in eight levels of strength."
"Really? How many types of elements do you think there are?"
"The answer to that question is rather simple, an infinity."
Leena just looked at him, mouth slightly open.
"But actually, there isn't really an infinity of types of elements. As of now, there is a precise number of element types known… As for the level of strength, it goes like this: level one, two and three include basic elements found in most shops, like the one in Termina. They include, cures, fireballs, ice lances, photon rays and bushwhacker elements. Not really devastating, but enough to teach a lesson to the average bully. Level four elements can be bought in shops, but only in specialised ones, like on the mainland or, I think Marbule has such a shop. Level four elements include ice blasts, magma bursts, aeroblasters and electrobolts. These can be pretty scary if used by a strong mage. Level five and six elements are large scale mass destruction weapons. They can wreck havoc on a large zone. I pretty much never use them."
"So you have some of these on you?"
"Well, yeah, but I keep most of them sealed inside my rod in case someone managed to steal it from me. The seal prevents anyone but me from using the elements inside the rod. These elements can usually only be used by someone whose innate color is the same as that of the element…"
"But you used the heal plus on Serge…"
"Yeah, but, you see, it's possible to learn to use them. It usually takes years of training and most of the time you don't get half the results an innate of the same color would get in a few weeks of training."
"And as for the last two levels?"
Guile took a moment to ponder, not sure if he should continue.
"Actually, I'm not even sure such elements really exist. My master told me these elements had gathered lots of energies at the very beginning and were on the verge of hatching life. If used, the energy of the caster combined with that of the element would allow a very powerful creature to hatch for a short time. It also requires a field completely imbued with energy of the same colour, otherwise the burst of energy will simply diffuse in the air. My master once said he had a chance to try to summon one of these creatures but failed. I wasn't really surprised, the difference of energy to compensate for is so immense that filling this gap virtually means the user has godly mind power… I could probably do it…" Guile nodded his head, grinning.
"Pfff, please, just stop bragging like that, it's actually more embarrassing for you than for me." Leena was also smiling.
"Sorry, I just can't help it sometimes… you know, after all, being such a gorgeous male, skilled with elements and all…"
"Now you really remind me of someone I only know too well."
"Really? Who is that champion?" Guile slightly turned his head to her.
"Old Sam, that perv, always bragging about that harem he used to have when he was still with the dragoons."
"I guess he fought in the war against Porre. Maybe he just inhaled too much of those gunpowder fumes, heard it could seriously damage your brain." Guile's tone was now more serious.
Leena, however, found this pretty amusing.
"Yeah, well, he spends most of his time in the bars of Termina, hitting on girls that have like forty years of age less than him. Still claiming no woman can resist a man wearing a uniform." Leena was doing a pretty good imitation.
"Oh, you shouldn't underestimate the attractiveness of a man in uniform. I'm sure you're saying this only because you have actually never seen him wearing his war outfit."
"What? You mean those garbage bags we had to wear last night? I'm sure he must be every seagull's dream."
It was Guile's turn to laugh.
"It's no wonder he's still single."
"Smart decision. Married women refuse to share."
"At least not with seagulls."
Both Guile and Leena's heads turned at the same time as they heard someone walking on the pier.
"Hey guys!"
"So, how was she? I hope she wasn't too sad about you leaving like that?" Leena's face showed concern.
"At least you still have all your limbs, she must not have been too mad."
"No, mom's okay, she'd like to meet you before we leave for the marshes, but for now, Leena, there's someone who's dying to see you."
Leena got up with a puzzled look on her face. Serge then slowed sidestepped to reveal another Leena. A look of shock then appeared on the visage of both Leenas. Thered hair, the green eyes, the headband, the dress, everything was exactly the same. They both slowly walked to meet each other, carefully extending a hand to make sure the other wasn't just an illusion. Upon touching another's finger, they quickly withdrew their hand.
"Serge, that's- that's me, it-incredible…"
"Serge, ever since the day I've met you, you've pretended to have done all sorts of incredible things and so far I've managed to find a fitting explanation for each and every of them, but this one…this one beats me…"
"So, see, I'm not crazy, it's just as he described, there are two worlds." Serge appeared rather proud; not only because Leena was force to acknowledge to the fact that he had found a parallel universe, but for the first time in his life he had done something that Leena couldn't explain.
Even Guile seemed fascinated by this. His look was a mix of joy and curiosity.
…So there are other portals after all…
Serge then left the pier followed by the others to his home. Once inside they saw Marge sitting on a chair, looking at the ground. She slowly looked up at them and smiled weakly. She got up, sighing. She proceeded to take a look at Guile and then turned her eyes to the two Leenas who were standing side by side. They both looked at each other for a split second, but quickly looked away, slightly embarrassed; for all their lives, they had been told that they were absolutely unique, but now, here it was, there was someone exactly like them.
"So… you must all be hungry, Leena, will you come and give me a hand in the kitchen, it won't take long." She looked at Serge and Guile, signalling that they could wait at the table.
Both Leenas stared at each other for a moment, unsure of what to do, before following Marge in the kitchen. Serge and Guile proceeded to sit a table. Serge placed his elbows on the table and rested his forehead against his palms, staring at the table for a moment. Upon raising his eyes, he noticed an amused smile on Guile's lips.
"What?"
"By everything that's holy… you'll end up with a harem, boy."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Serge was rather shocked to hear Guile talking like that.
"You already had two fighting over you, and now it seems that they can be cloned…" Guile was still smiling at him.
"When exactly did you seem them fighting over me?"
"You still have a lot to learn about women, boy…"
"And I suppose that you are going to make me a real pimp." It was Serge's turn to show an amused smile.
"To…tell you the truth, I…haven't been involved a lot in this field over the last…" He was cut off by Serge.
"Decade?"
"Well…almost." Guile sighed.
"I see… tell you what, I'm not so sure I'd ever want a harem, especially if it involves several Leenas."
"What d'you mean?"
"You have yet to discover the other side of Leena."
"What other side? Did she beat you at arm-wrestling?" Guile's smile momentarily returned.
"Well, at pretty much everything else."
"You're kidding?"
"In fact, it was only with elements. Ever since the day we started training with them she has never missed a chance to teach me a lesson."
"Hmm, must me tough on a young male's ego." Guile looked away for a moment, taunting Serge.
"Yeah, but, I haven't been involved much in this field over the last… decade." It was Serge's turn to show a taunting smile.
"Oh, I could always coach you to make you a real alpha male so you could finally bring together your harem, boy."
Serge was about to answer but decided against it when he heard his mom walking toward him, carrying dishes. Both Leenas were following her, both still looking rather uneasy and uncomfortable about the current situation.
"Here you go, eat while it's hot." Marge placed a large plate of fried fish in the center of the table and three smaller plates containing raw vegetables and biscuits.
Once everybody was served, they all began eating in silence. Serge was eating very slowly, nervous at the idea of telling his mom he was going to leave again tomorrow. He was slowly beginning to accept the idea that time would continue to flow like it had been doing forever and he would soon have to deliver the bad news.
The only sounds Serge had heard for the last fifteen minutes had been utensils lightly clanking against plates. Suddenly, a voice brought an end to the awkwardness that had filled the air.
"So…the marshes, how much time do you think we'll take to reach them?" All eyes turned to Guile
The room was silent and for a moment Serge was simply desperate that someone else would say something. Serge answered without really bothering to look up at Guile.
"About three hours of walk from here."
"…Then we'll have to leave before dawn to bring the humor in time." Serge felt his mom's gaze on him.
Serge was waiting for her to say something, grimacing like someone expecting a violent punch. However, not a word came. Serge slowly raised his eyes to look at his mom, but only saw an expression of sadness on her face. Seeing this, Leena gestured to say something in protest, but Marge turned her head to her, signalling she'd rather not have her get involved in this.
When everyone was done eating, Guile announced it was time to go to bed if they were to get up before dawn. Serge was the last to leave the table. He spent several minutes alone with his mom almost like asking if she was sure she didn't want to give that punch after all. Eventually, Serge came to realize that Marge would simply sit there with a sad look on her face and left.
In the darkness of his room, Serge was unable to fall asleep. Hands under his head, he couldn't stop thinking about his mom.
…Why the hell didn't she say anything…why the hell did she also silence Leena…mom would never do that…
Serge then heard footsteps coming to his room. His feelings were a mix of relief and nervousness when he saw his mom enter with a lit candle in her hand.
"May I have a word with you, Serge?" Surprisingly, his mom's voice was rather forgiving and Serge obediently followed her to the kitchen.
Marge looked at her son in the eyes for a moment before speaking.
"So? Is it true, that you will be leaving again? With that man and the other Leena?"
"Mom, I, yes, I mean, there's something important I must…"
"Serge…" his mom's voice cut him off.
"It alright, Serge… You know, twelve years ago, when your dad left, I was heart-broken and at the same time I couldn't forgive myself for what had happened to him…"
Serge's eyes narrowed as he tried to focus on memories of his dad, but for some reason, he simply couldn't remember anything about him, all images of him were blurry and didn't make any sense at all.
"So I vowed to never let this happen to you, to protect you, but I was wrong. Maybe I became a bit too protective of you, Serge. Maybe it is time you try your luck in the outside world just like he did, maybe you'll take the same way he took, who knows… Oh, Serge, you look so much like him… in a way…"
Serge was still trying to find a memory of his dad but not to avail.
"If you really believe it is the best thing for you to do, then do so, I will not try to stop you, Serge." The look on Serge's mom was still too sad to his liking.
"But, mom, I, you'll be…"
"Don't worry about me, Serge, I will be fine…Plus, I have Leena to take care of me." Marge smiled weakly.
Serge also smiled, remembering that the only person in Arni who could be more over-protective than his mom was Leena.
"Well, in this case, good-night, Serge." Serge's smile remained as he looked at his mom before she returned to her bedroom.
Serge slowly crept to his bed, careful not to wake the others and was finally able to sleep, his mind now at rest for the first time since the morning.
Viper manor, Another world, 1020 A.D.
It was very early in the morning and Karsh was back to his quarters after a long and exhaustive search of the whole manor and its grounds. Irritated of having found absolutely nothing, he sat on a chair covered in red velvet. Eyes closed, Karsh was trying to focus but his mind was too tired to think of anything so he just sat there for a while. When he felt his eyes could tolerate the light again the deva opened them and stared at the oval mirror suspended to the wall just above his desk.
Maybe it was just the fatigue, but Karsh felt very strange all of a sudden. Looking into the mirror it felt as if he was seeing his life played right in front of him. Trying to convince himself that it was just an illusion, Karsh narrowed his eyes to make the images go away… but they would simply not disappear.
A young boy of about seven years old with short purple hair was holding a wooden axe was standing behind the glass. Karsh blinked several times and brought his head closer to the image, convinced he was going insane.
…What the fuck…? It can't be… That's me… So long ago…
"One day, I'm gonna be a deva, and there's nothing you can do about it, got it, you punny bastard."
Karsh rubbed his eyes, not believing what he just heard. He closed his eyes tightly and then re-opened them again to see a teenager of about sixteen years old holding a single-bladed axe sitting against a wall.
"Damn, why can't you say something, why do you keep it all inside, can't you see it's killing you…but what good could anyway… Dario will always beat you, no matter what you do, he'll always do it better than you… The only way you found is to be a murderer… You're pathetic…"
"No, that's a lie!" Karsh was screaming at himself, slamming his fists on the desk, teeth gritted.
The image went blurry and then seemed to return to normal, as if it had all been a dream. Karsh was seeing himself again and was relieved for a moment, but then heard a voice again.
"Look at you…always full of rage…It's consuming you…It was not the masamune, it was you, your own rage, your own envy, your dreaded desire to show that you also existed…You're a burning fuse and soon the spark will hit the powder keg…Then who will it be? The general? Riddel? Glenn…? You're a murdered, filled with anger and there's nothing you can do about it now…How could you have let things be so…? Die with your anger…"
"Enough!" karsh grabbed his axe from the nearest wall and shattered the mirror.
Still furious, Karsh slowly lowered his weapon, still not sure if this nightmare was over. Bringing his head close to the mirror again for a moment, he felt relieved to see that no other image was appearing. Karsh walked to his bed and let his body fall on the mattress without bothering to put out the burning candles and rapidly fell asleep.