A/N: Sorry for this being later and full of bad grammar. I have had limited access to a computer these last week & a half due to the fact that I am moving to a new apartment & been working doubles. Sorry. Enjoy.
Bad Dreams
By angelwings1
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Chapter 19
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Together they stepped out into the cold air, matching stride for stride. Neither led nor followed. Instead, they made their way down the stone paths through the wilted garden as partners in crime. Each of them was heading for the same destination with the same goal, but their motives were dramatically different. Even so, they would help each other in this dire battle. Otherwise, all chances of success would disappear.
She had to believe in the man. She had to believe in herself. There was no room for fear or doubt where she was going. She needed to be confident that going into the temple wasn't the biggest mistake of her life.
'Lord, I seek you now more than ever. Give me the strength to undo the darkness plaguing this kingdom. Place your hand over me and protect me from my enemies. Help me save this world.'
To her distinct irritation, a loud explosion broke through the last words of her prayer, startling her into a standstill at the edge of the garden. Whirling back towards the castle, she spotted several visible guymelefs marching towards the castle.
"Finally…" she mumbled. The Fanelian guards had rounded up to attack. She had nearly returned to the path when larger movement caught her attention. A smile burst across her face when she saw the other countries lending their own guymelefs to help. The banners were a stark colors waved vividly across the gray sky. "Thank G-God…"
Her words trailed off when one of the Austurian soldiers struck down a Fanelian guymelef. "What…"
Another guymelef, a Bosrom, attacked a melef of Freid. Hitomi couldn't believe her eyes.
"What are they doing?" she cried, taking a subconscious step back towards the castle. "Why are they fighting each other?"
"They do not see the Zaibach flags, Lady Hitomi."
"Huh?" she gaped, looking back at the man. He was stiff as he watched the messy battle. He had swiveled slightly towards the castle, but his body mostly remained forward, pressing the need to keep moving. She frowned angrily and snapped back to the scene. "But why fight one another?"
"Fear." He stated harshly. "It is a controlling factor of men. Fear of the unknown is something in all men's heart. It makes them panic. They ignore the very people they trample over foot because they can only think of their own survival."
"So they're fighting because they are too scared to think?" she gripped as she watched a guymelef thrown through a chunk of the castle. "Those foolish—"
"We must hurry, Lady Hitomi." The man proclaimed, turning away.
The seer whirled in astonishment. "But what about them? Shouldn't we stop them?"
He sighed loudly and glanced over his shoulder. "What would you do? Try to stop each individual soldier? Even if you went to one, they are piloting giants and it would be likely you would be killed before your voice was ever heard."
"But…" she insisted feebly.
"Any hope of helping them lies in stopping Dornkirk." He stated firmly. Folken was being very patient with her, but his body language told the seer he didn't have much left to deal with her. "You can do nothing for them."
She glanced to the melefs than back to the blue-haired prince. Her heart sunk. He was right. Nodding grimly, she turned back onto their original path.
..
He didn't want to call it a flashback of history. No, it made it sound too cliché and hopeless. Even with his blood pumping out quicker than he could swallow air, he had faith in his king. As long as he lived, Fanelia had a future. Just as it did years ago.
Balgus grabbed blindly for the boy's collar with a red splattered glove. His sight must have been lost because he felt a hand clutch his, but he could not find a face to connect it with.
"My Lord," he gurgled, his mouth full of blood and bile. "You must rally the men or else they will be scattered and picked off."
"No, Balgus—" He could hear the fear in his lord's tone. He knew it was terrible time to die, to leave his student, but there was no energy left in him to fight against the calmness settling into his body.
"Please, Van-sama." He interrupted weakly, spitting out blood. "There is still a chance to save this kingdom from being torn apart, but only a king can lead them."
He wondered if he heard him. His voice sounded so faint.
"Save them." His body hitched on a painful wave and life still in his throat a single breath after. "Save her."
His hand went slack in the king's glove hand. Van sucked in a deep breath as his mentor's face lolled to the side. Everything around him grew mute as he stared at the person who had guided him throughout the years of darkness and heartache. His confidence was abruptly snatched from his heart when the young ruler realized he would have to do this alone.
Everything was tumbling in one great disoriented mass as his teeth clenched together. When had the world spun so out of control? What small detail had he overlooked that could have prevented all of this? Surely, he had missed something.
"My lord you must come with us!"
How was he to fix this? He had done it once before, but did trust himself to have enough strength to do it a second time. More so, he didn't trust he had the power to save it. Everything was tumbling out of control. Or had he already lost his reigns over the castle?
He was only half-aware of the hands dragging him away. His eyes stayed on his foster father's pale face until he was pulled through a doorway and a treacherous wall blocked his view. The heavy door banged shut, blanketing the crashing and screams behind its thick body. He blinked into the presence, his men's voices slowly registering in his ears.
"My lord!"
"All is lost!"
"My lord, please!"
"What shall we do?"
The wheels in his head began to turn as he saw the distraught faces surrounding him. His grief would momentarily have to be pushed aside to save his people. Or else he would have more bodies to grieve over. Even if he wanted to disappear into his grief, he could not ignore the fleshy bodies crowding him.
"Enough!" he shouted, jerking around. He immediately pulled into the tallest pose his body allowed as his handful of soldiers froze into silence. Even if he was covered in blood, dust, and still wore the clothes of commoners, he portrayed authority with the same passion his men had ever witnessed. They waited eagerly for his direction.
Van looked squarely at each man in turn. "I will not stand aside and wait to die. I am a King of Fanelia."
Since his sword had been left in the hands of the Head Priest and forgotten in the fray, Van reached towards the nearest soldier and yanked out the man's sword. Pulling the flat of the blade to his face, he rumbled stonily, "I have a responsibility to the people of this kingdom, and because of such I shall fight until the last breathe in my lungs is spent.
"When you took up the armor of this kingdom you took up the responsibility as I to protect the citizens of Fanelia." He gradually rotated, letting every face take in his determined expression. He could feel the tension setting in, the thrum of blood pumping through them. His grip tightened when he saw light sparkled once more in their eyes. The panic was leaking away from their courageous hearts.
"Follow me," He stated heatedly. He brought the sword over his head like a flag in battle. "Follow me like you have done before. Lean me your swords once more."
Chests heaved with excitement, the taste of sweat heavy on their tongues. Cries of agreement flowed through the group. Van smiled grimly as an unchecked tear slid down his face. "For Fanelia!"
'Together…'
"For Fanelia!" the soldiers shouted in unison as their sword rang out of their sheaths and joined their king's. Van shuddered with tumbling emotions as he saw the blades thrust up into the air, his heart stolen by some unknown devil. Even though his words had been full of passion, he felt no hope blossoming in his chest. There was only cold acceptance for their fate. His mind wanted to believe there was hope for, but his heart was unable to lift itself again from the rubble. It had endured too much, too long.
'I'm alone…'
Even with the shouts and the eager faces watching him, the young king felt divided from his soldiers. They would follow him into the pits of Hell, but they had never known their king's heart. They would lend their swords, but they didn't realize they were leaning on his shoulders instead of him leaning on theirs.
'I'm always alone…'
"Van-sama!"
A flicker of fire sputtered in his chest at the sound of the small, familiar voice. His eyes frantically sought out the speaker and easily spotted the bouncing patch of pink heading in his direction. "Merle?"
She was covering in dirt and dust, her clothes ripped in more places than one showing how lucky she had been to survive the avalanche of stone. Her hair was matted to her forehead, sweat dribbling down her face, even though the cold from outside had seeped into the halls. Her eyes were bright with panic as she lunged into his arms. "Van-sama, you have to stop her!"
"Huh?" he asked stupidly.
"Hitomi!" she cried loudly, her fingers digging painfully into his forearms. "She went with Folken to stop Dornkirk!"
"What?" he exclaimed, caught between joy and distraught. There was joy to hear the seer was alive and distraught to hear she had blindly gone into lion's den with a viper. He had to stop her.
Yet, before he could even ask what direction he should head in, his soldiers parted to reveal three men full dressed in battle armor. Van waited patiently for their approach, recognizing the figures as his remaining generals. Markus, a bearded man wearing fire red armor, nodded to his king. "My lord, every representative has called on their available guymelefs. There are hardly enough between the countries to match our army, but with this invisible enemy were unable to execute a proper defensive strategy."
"What has been done?" Van inquired automatically.
"All available guymelefs have been boarded and attempting to make their way to the castle to stop the unknown enemy, but the countries are making it difficult. Every guymelef out there is lashing out at anyone who doesn't bear their emblem. It's a dog fight out there." The general grumbled in frustration.
Van nodded, eyes off to side. "That was their plan…to scare everyone into a fight. But for what? To destroy the treaty? To kill all the rulers? Or they just after Fanelia?"
"My lord, no matter why for this chaos we must defend the castle and you, first and foremost."
"My people are first," Van immediately replied. "They are the priority. A castle can be rebuilt, but not the dead. I want the army to focus on protecting the homes of Fanelia. Pick off the guymelefs, but I want no pilot of the treaty killed. This invisible enemy, however, is fair game."
"My Lord I request you take refuge in the cliffs with a small party of soldiers. If you should die in battle—"
"I will not hide while my people lay in danger!" Van answered hotly.
"But you cannot lead a people if you are dead, Van." The young king swung around as the princess of Austuria followed by her special bodyguard stepped out of the soldiers.
Van's face brightened. "Millernia, I'm glad to see you and Allen are alright."
"Same here," she replied wearily. "Van, it's best that you let your general handle this situation."
The king scowled. "I would never have thought you would tell me to hide, Millernia. You and I have always shared a similar concern to the citizens of our countries."
"But I am a royal daughter of three children," she answered firmly. "I do not have the responsibility you bear."
Her blue eyes softened with sorrow. "I know you want to be out there fighting, but Van, what will happen if you die?"
Van's mouth flapped closed. His heart thudded painfully against his chest as he sucked in a frustrated breath of air. What would happen if he died? Without an heir, a kingdom went to the next immediate family member, but the castle would fall before anyone would be able to arrive. The kingdom would go under the control of this battle's victor—no, there was a relative. Van's eyes widened as his heart stopped. 'Folken!'
The king whirled and grabbed his foster-sister's startled form. Merle blinked rapidly in surprise as her brother's nose came inches away from her face.
"Merle, where did Hitomi go?" he asked evenly.
The she-cat stumbled for an answer, "Um, the temple. She went to the temple!"
He straightened and looked to his generals, "Take the men and defend the city. I shall go with Merle, Millernia, and her bodyguard to the cliffs."
Markus hastily pounded his arm across his chest, "Yes, my lord."
With a loud shout, he and the rest of the men poured out of the room into the heavy sound of battle. Before the last man could leave, Van headed off to another door, one that was concealed behind a woven tapestry. Pushing open the block of stone, he revealed a narrow passageway that led beneath the feet of Fanelia. Van waved his hand at the entrance, "Inside."
No one moved. Millernia gave him a pointed look, "You're going to the temple."
The king glanced at the others and realized they had already surmised the same.
"Yes," he stated hastily, waving again. "Now hurry to the cliffs. You have a better chance surviving this if you hide."
"Van—"
"Hitomi is going face Dornkirk," he blurted, quieting the princess's retort. Van stared straight into his childhood friend's face. "Folken must be leading her into a trap."
His chest heaved, "Besides, Dornkirk is the key to all this. Only Zaibach would plan this mess!"
"My lord," Allen suddenly stepped in, his voice ever cool and calm. "What do you plan to do? From what Hitomi has spoken about the man, I don't think this will be a fight won by a sword."
The king's face became shadowed, determination visible in his features. "I know, but I will not let her go to die."
Merle unconsciously tightened her grip on her brother's arm. The knight grimly nodded. "I will go with you."
The king shook his head. "Thank you my friend, but your first priority is to Millernia. Watch over her and Merle."
Allen glanced to his princess, ducking his eyes in shame for forgetting his place. He had always been a man to see the bigger picture beyond the regulations of his position. Might be the reason he had never become a general. Bringing his face back up to the king, he tugged a long item from his side. Van stared in surprise at the royal crest of Fanelia held up to his face. The knight smirked. "Even if a sword might be useless where you go, a king still needs his blade."
The king grinned and lightly took back his sword. "Thank you."
'I shall save them, Balgus. I shall save her.'
..
Reaching the doors of the temple, Hitomi wasn't surprise to find the doors firmly locked. She stared up the length of the stone plane with a small sigh. "What do you suggest we do?"
"Let me," Folken replied evenly. Stepping forward, the man placed his transparent palm against the cold door. Hitomi's face pinched with curiosity as she watched. Her eyes immediately noticed the wave of energy expelling out of his fingers across the white surface, exactly back when he had saved her from under the collapsed roof. As she waited, she wondered if his magic was connected to his Mystic blood or his involvement with Zaibach. Before she could decide, she heard a steady groan lift and the doors lazily swung open.
"Quite helpful," she commented lightly as she walked inside. "Must remember you if I ever lock myself out of my room."
She snapped her head to side when she thought she heard the prince chuckle. Seeing only a blank face, she brought her attention back to sanctuary. She frowned when she saw it was empty. Even if the room was spotless, she could still see the emperor's dark magic crawling across the floor and walls, tainting the holy place. She coughed lightly on the stench filling the air. There was no incense burning today, only the festering odor of his dark magic clinging throughout the building. "Wait a minute."
Abruptly, the doors slammed shut behind them and the duo snapped around in surprise. Two sentinels stood directly in front of the exit, faces unexpressive beneath their hoods. The blackness clung to their forms just like the night she had gone to the emperor's room.
"Perfect."
Hitomi slowly turned towards the sound of the emperor's rough voice and found him standing magically in the center of the sanctuary which had seconds before been empty. There was no sign of his chair.
"I knew you would come," he drawled. "And you brought my traitor. I was wondering how my loose ends would be tied back into place."
Hitomi noticed the last two sentinels solidifying from the shadows beyond the emperor. They leisurely made their way closer to the emperor. The seer inhaled deeply and took a steady step towards her adversary, the blackness hissing and rolling away from her. "If you knew I was coming, then you know why I've come."
He nodded with a giddy smile. "You've come to stop me."
She took another step, her heart racing.
"But what do you plan to do?" he inquired innocently, unfazed by her approach. "Do you even know what I plan to do? What I am already doing?"
She distinctly noticed Folken keeping behind her, watching her and Dornkirk. She prayed she wasn't wrong about him.
"You have come here to try and awaken Escaflowne," she replied loudly, thinking her courage would rise with her voice. She was disappointed when she realized she was still very terrified. Dornkirk's smiled grew sinister.
"For what purpose?" he daunted softly.
Hitomi swallowed. "I-I don't know."
She flinched when the man reared back his head and laughed. His battered vocal cords howled out a manically laugh, its echo bouncing across the ceiling. Hitomi tensely waited for his odd merriment to subside, her mind racing to figure out what was going on.
"To think!" the emperor cried stonily. "A woman with the power of foresight and she still doesn't understand."
The dark magic screeched and crawled forward, tightening the circle around her. Looking through the corner of her eye, she saw the magic swarm over Folken, tugging at the black aura that surrounded him. The sight made her stomach flip. Dornkirk still had a sort of control over the prince, to what extent she could only guess.
Her eyes went back to emperor. He was watching her intently like he didn't believe she was ignorant of the situation. The inky blackness pulsing from his body was darkening with each second, preparing for something. She needed to stall.
"Are you a Mystic?" she blurted out.
Dornkirk's eyes narrowed, but he didn't loose his smile, "Yes, I am a Mystic. I grew up in the valley."
"Were you an Elder?"
He waited a few seconds before answering. "No."
Hitomi frowned.
"You broke the law." She stated slowly, her mind quickly catching up. "You used your powers for personal gain so you were refused—"
"And what power is that?" he inquired, tone cold like the air outside. His gaze was penetrating, like he could look straight into her soul. Her heart was racing, but she kept her breathing slow.
"I'm not sure," she answered honestly, unable to offer any other reply. "But I'm guessing you had something to do with the blizzard."
His teeth flashed. "My power does not reside in the weather, but I did have some influence in the storm. Do not think I conjured it. The storm was already on its way, I just hurried it along."
"Were you also responsible for the change in Zaibach years ago? I heard when you arrived the country was suffering from starvation and repeated invasion. But after a short month, the country's fate took a dramatic leap upwards."
"Oh yes." He replied proudly. "I saved those people from their cursed fate. I gave them crops, rebuilt their city, gave them a chance—"
"You ruled over them," she interrupted coldly. "They became your pawns. They gave up their lives for your selfish desires."
"I gave them life!" he thundered, his voice taking an unnatural volume. She flinched as a blast of hot air burst through the room, an effect of his anger. His eyes burned into hers while the blackness writhed at his feet. "They were dying. They would have been wiped off the face of Gaea in a few short months if I hadn't intervened."
He swung out his arm in emphasis, a body hand appearing. "Now look at what I've done. They are one of the greatest nations ever standing."
"But at what price?" she retorted, her confidence growing. "You were the one to order the attack on Fanelia years ago. You broke apart a family, another kingdom to bring your country into power."
Warmth swelled in her chest as she remembered she had come to Fanelia on a similar crusade. "You had no intention to save them for some righteous cause. You wanted their obedience to pursue your own uprising status."
He chuckled lowly, his face void of the merriment she had seen earlier. His expression had taken a colder turn, making him appear dangerously psychotic. There was a hunger in his eyes that made her heart cold. "A great person once said 'absolute power corrupts absolutely.'"
His head tilted and his eyes glazed over. "I was exiled from the valley because I stepped on too many toes. They thought the Lord would let me die in the wilderness, but my powers kept me alive long enough to make it to Zaibach.
"For a time, I thought I had been delivered to help the citizens of Zaibach, but after the country rose in strength, I realized I was on a greater mission."
His chin lifted. "I wasn't born to save Zaibach. I was born to save this world."
The seer stared incredulously at the man. "Save the world from what?"
"From fate."
Her eyes widened, her mouth flapping open. "What?"
"Fate!" he grew louder, his eyes rimming with a glowing red light that made him appear like a devil. "Fate is the factor that determines us all. No matter what we want in life it is fate that shall condemn us!
"You're not making any sense," she yelled back. "You say you have been fated to stop fate!"
"Fate is what has tormented this world, pulled it into the sorrow and suffering," he continued, too driven for her words to reach his twisted mind. "We have struggled to bring our desires and wishes to life, but fate strikes us down repeatedly!"
"Not everyone's fate is full of sorrow!" Hitomi shouted back. "There are some who have blessed in their life!"
"But what about the others?" he roared. The blackness grew thicker, stronger and began to fill the empty spaces in the room. In one eye, she saw the spotless white walls while in her other eye she saw the temple smothered in darkness.
"What about the rest of the world who are doomed to suffer the worst of fates!" he ranted, his voice sounding not like the wither old man he was, but a younger, more powerful man. "The majority of the lives on this world have been forced onto a path of heartache."
"So you blame God," she retorted shrewdly, her hands curling at her side. "Not just for being exiled from the valley, but for every ounce of suffering on the face of Gaea."
"Isn't fate his tool in ruling over us?" he rumbled.
Her eyes followed the magic beginning to swirl around his body, watching how it began to solidify. Even though his energy remained transparent, it became so thick that it no longer passed ghostly through his body. Instead, his magic began to roll across his body, shifting his clothes and combing through his long white hair. It was if he was creating his own wind. Hitomi had never seen anything quite like it in all her years living in the valley.
She swallowed in apprehension.
"He is the one that torments us," he said darkly. "He is the one we spend praying to for hours, only to be refused any happiness!"
She shook her head as her mind began to comprehend what he intended. His face pulled upwards. "Watch as I do what He refuses. I shall rid the world of suffering and give the children of Gaea the happiness they beg for."
"But what about all the people you have sacrificed for this mission?" she exclaimed in exasperation. "People have died so you could make your way here!"
The candles began to flicker and the drapes tangled as the wind grew stronger. Hitomi had to squint against the blast of air as her clothes pressed against her skin. She was beginning to have trouble staying balanced on her feet. There were too many wild blasts of air plowing into her.
"If I could have, no life would have died for my cause," he stated firmly. "But it takes time to change a country. Imagine what it costs to change a world."
"But how?" she shouted against the roaring twister he was creating. "How do you plan to change the world's fate?"
"I shall strike down God himself."
Hitomi jerked backwards, nearly causing her feet to slip out from under her. "You can't be serious? You think Escaflowne is the same god we worship in the valley?"
"Don't you?" he replied coolly, his voice surprisingly carrying with ease along the currents. "Didn't you come here multiple times to pray to Escaflowne?"
She glanced at the sentinels, wondering if they had spied on her for him. "I-I—"
"It doesn't matter what I think or you think." He hurried to interrupt. "Either way in a few moments we shall know whether or not, the great legend is true."
Her heart began to hammer in her chest as her ears caught the faint hum of something stirring. She looked past the emperor and stared at the white statue of the enormous dragon. It wasn't moving, but she was fearful of what the next few minutes would unfold.
"I have spent my years searching," he explained. "For years, I have willed my powers to explain the workings of the universe."
Her focus darted back to his face.
"Yes, Lady Kanzaki," he chuckled darkly. "I can see the future like you. The difference between us is that I have power over my foresight. I can will myself to see when and what I want."
"How?" she mumbled in astonishment, the wind ripping the sound from her lips.
He answered her whether or not he heard her question. "My power is the ability to transform energy into will. I can put energy into the ground to make plants grow. I can put energy into the air to make wind. I can even steal the energy from others and use it to my advantage. To see the future, I used the stars."
"You couldn't have enough power to restore crops to entire city," she cried. "That's impossible."
"Oh really?" he chuckled. "All I had to do was use the energy stored in each individual Zaibach citizen and then transferred it into the ground."
Hitomi's followed the strains of blackness crossing the room. They were linking Dornkirk to the spiritual energy of his sentinels. He was feeding off his men.
"Oh my god…" she mumbled.
"There's only one problem when using the energy of others. They must give it freely, if it be subconsciously or literally," Dornkirk commented dryly. "In Zaibach, it was easy. Those people were so close to death when I arrived that they were ready to sell anything, including their souls, for survival. I made a few speeches, sprouted a few trees, and then suddenly I had a well of energy at my command."
He strode forward, his robe tossing like a cape in the wind. "With time, I realize I Mystics were blessed with more energy due their special gifts. Thus I rounded up the men and women I favored and began to teach magic. They were no Mystics, but with the sharing of my blood, magic manifested in their bodies."
Hitomi looked to Folken and saw the expression of disdain directed at the emperor. She guessed Dornkirk had realized the prince's origin when he had attacked Fanelia years ago.
"That's why you left Fanelia with only Folken as your prize," she stated numbly. "You realized he was different from the people of Zaibach. You wanted to study him."
She gave the prince an apologetic look. "And you gave him your soul in exchange for Fanelia. You just never understood the danger of what you were doing."
Folken remained silent, his eyes weak as he looked away.
"Yes, through Folken I have learned a great deal about the blood of Mystics," Dornkirk boasted. "I have come to find out that even if the same blood runs in a hundred veins, the magic that manifests in each individual will be different. In fact, they may never acquire a gift at all."
"Most became servants and sorcerers." He waved a hand towards his nearest sentinel. "But, the strongest ones were picked from the crowd to one day fulfill my mission."
His feet stopped, leaving a short distance between them. His eyes began to brighten with that unearthly red light. "Today is that day."
Abruptly, his magic became opaque to the naked eye, flooding the room in darkness worthy of night. Energy raced through the black fiber, pouring into his body. Her hair and clothes whirled up into the air as the pressure filling the air thunderously clapped. The pressure was pushing against her cheat, making it difficult to get the needed air into her lungs.
'What is he thinking by putting so much energy into the air? You can't manifest a god!'
Even so, she reached deep into her soul for the energy she held. Though she doubted his intentions, she wouldn't give him the chance to ruin the world anymore than he had. His eyes narrowed on her, but his smirk only grew.
"Do you actually think you can stop me you weak, foolish girl?" he laughed, his body beginning to glow a frightening rose color.
"I honestly don't know if I can," she mumbled, almost to herself. "But I will regret every day of my life if I don't try."
"And she is not alone." Focus traveled quickly to the prince who had remained quiet up until that moment.
"Folken?" the seer whispered as he came to her side.
His black cloak swept up in the air, revealing the lengthy blade resting against his hip. His eyebrows dipped low as his nearly invisible hand curled around the hilt. "I've allowed myself to be your pawn for too long."
The other sentinels stepped closer, intentions clear. Hitomi swung back and forth, trying to decide who to face first.
"Your madness stops here, Dornkirk," he proclaimed callously. His sword rung loudly as it slid out of its sheath. Her eyes followed the polished blade as it rose. Dornkirk's light danced across the silver length.
Hitomi gasped as she was flung into a vision. She saw a red splatter fling across the floor and then Folken's lifeless face pressed against the marble.
"No!" she cried when the prince rushed passed her. "Folken!"
The prince roared a warrior's challenge as he crossed into the massive winds. His eyes held the same fury she had seen in Van's eyes. Tears flew down her face as she screamed his name again.
When he was in range, his other hand clamped over his sword's hilt and brought down the blade of Zaibach on its emperor. Dornkirk laughed loudly as he formed an ebony blade from his magic and countered the fatal blow. The two glared at their opponent while their swords remained locked and shaking.
"I was ready to change the world," Folken hissed. Hitomi's hands flew over her mouth to hold back the sobs/.
"I was ready to make dreams come true," he shouted fervently. "I was sick of death and torture. I was sick of everything I couldn't have."
"A family?" Dornkirk taunted. "When will you understand, Folken, that it takes sacrifice to make a world new."
"To make you a God!" the prince shouted. He quickly pushed off the elderly man and the two stumbled back with their swords ready. Hitomi's eyes darted between the men and the circling sentinels. Her heart hammered like the heels of a galloping horse. Folken glared at the emperor and yelled, "You poisoned my way of thinking when I was younger. You made me believe this world needed a chance to be reborn."
"Don't place all the blame on me," Dornkirk responded coldly. "Everything you have done was choice."
"Was I the one who killed my parents? Did I storm into my home and yank down my house?" he hollered. "It was you! Everything was your doing!"
"But you chose to become a sorcerer. You chose to follow my commands. You chose to murder when I asked."
"And I regret every action," Folken hissed. He exhaled deeply. He acted as if he was expelling something from his body, but she could see no magic leaking out. His eyes slid closed and his words grew soft. "I never blamed myself for my parents' death. I wasn't the one to storm in and decide to take their lives, but yet here I am doing exactly what I had hoped to stop years ago."
Hitomi couldn't help, but voice the single word blaring in her head, "What?"
Her stomach flipped when his eyes lazily rolled open and locked on her face. His tongue darted out and wet his chapped lips before hoarsely speaking. "When Zaibach invaded years ago, it was the single purpose of acquiring the temple. He murdered my parents so he might reach the Power Spot."
"The Power Spot?" she whispered dumbly.
"The place most holy. The spot that has been blessed by over a thousand High Priests and Sages. The spot that is considered the heart of Gaea. Few call it by such a vulgar, twisted title, but its name hardly changes the power within these walls."
"It is rumored," Dornkirk interrupted loudly. "That the Great God of the Skies visits this place once at least during each king's reign, the day of the Blood Rite."
Hitomi abruptly stiffened, her lips slowly mouthing soft words. "That's it. That's the real reason you took Folken away long ago. It was for some measly study."
"Of course not," Dornkirk retorted. "It was because only a king can call forth Escaflowne."
"But Folken is no king," Hitomi grumbled, eyes narrowed with suspicions and a hint of triumphant. "Folken cannot call on Escaflowne as you had hoped for."
"True," the elderly man shrugged. "But there is another who was foretold to have the ability to call on the great dragon."
His red eyes pointed sharply in her direction. The seer shook her head feebly, her feet nervously shifting backwards.
"I won't," she sternly replied. Dornkirk casually strolled forward, his sword keeping between him and the prince. At the same time, his cloaked followers tightened their circle. Hitomi's hands slid to her chest as her heart skipped. The emperor stared at her, focusing all of his magic to swirl into her direction.
"A woman born under the Half Moon. A woman with wings down her back and eyes that see things throughout the measure of time."
"I will not destroy this world!"
"A woman who will beg for salvation."
"You cannot make me do it!" she shouted.
"The Winged Goddess will resonate with the Dragon."
"No!"
His smile pulled higher. "You are the key to all my desires. You are the key to the world."
A/N: Not sure when the next chapter will be up. But I am aiming for the end of December or early Jan before I get started on my first semester in grad school. Hope this shone a little light to the mystery of this story.