Sorry I haven't updated in a while, stories been giving me trouble a bit, that and lack of sleep I can't seem to concentrate recently...
Disclaimer: I do not own The Last Story, Pandora's Tower, Xenoblade Chronicles or any of characters belonging to them.
~Introductions~
Dagran awoke early the next morning, and decided it'd be good to look around town before Jirall awoke. He walked carefully through the streets, trying to avoid anyone that he knew, he paused down the way from Ariela's tavern, looking at it with a bit of longing. He missed hanging out in the tavern with Zael and the others, and he wished to know how much it had changed.
He paused as he saw a young woman with long black hair come out of the shop, wearing shorts and a blue shirt that showed her stomach underneath a red vest. She ran in the direction of Horus' shop, Dagran noted and he was interested in what she was doing. He saw her meet up with a blonde man before they both began to head towards the castle together, Dagran just rolled his eyes at the two kids obviously close relationship.
He debated on looking around town some more before he decided against it, it wouldn't do for him to get caught by his old friends now. He turned and headed back to the tavern in boredom to see if the stupid lord was awake. Once there he wasn't surprised to see the lord up and getting ready to head out to the castle.
Dagran just waited for him and once Jirall was ready they headed out, Dagran ignoring him as much as possible. As they reached the gates and entered the castle, Dagran was surprised no one had stopped them yet. As they actually reached the entrance hall they were stopped by a group of guards.
"What is your purpose in the castle," One asked.
Dagran spoke up, silencing Jirall, "We're here to see about getting a job from the Countess, we're mercenaries."
"Mercenaries?" The other guard asked.
"Yes, may we enter?" Dagran asked.
"I'll go clear it with the countess," The first guard told the second one.
"You two will have to wait here," The second guard told Dagran as the first walked away.
Quite a while passed until the guard returned, but Calista wasn't with him, a young man was following the guard, his stern eyes trained on Dagran. He had short silver hair that came to his just above his shoulders and blue eyes that seemed to analyze every part of Dagran's being. He wore the normal military uniform, but his seemed a bit higher up then a mere guard, from the state of the armor.
"You're dismissed," The boy spoke to the guards who bowed and left the man.
"Who are you?" Jirall asked.
"I am Captain Kallian, Lady Calista has had no request for mercenaries and I am here to see why you have come," The boy explained.
Dagran straightened though it didn't matter because the kid was slightly taller than him, "Well we were hoping to get a job from her."
"Now isn't the time to have mercenaries working for Lady Calista, if you were invited by one of the family for a job then I'd let you in to see Ser Zael but since you haven't been..." Kallian began before he was interrupted.
"I asked them to come by about a job yesterday," A female voice spoke behind him.
Kallian turned to the girl and Dagran froze as he laid eyes on the young girl. It was Fiora, her hair done into pigtails and she wore a beautiful lilac dress with designs in different colors on it, and short white lace leggings that stopped at her mid-upper thigh. She looked beautiful all dressed up, but just like Calista all those years ago she looked trapped as well.
"Lady Fiora," Kallian bowed to her.
Fiora smiled, "I invited them to see father about the special event coming up, it's not that uncommon from when my father and your parents were hired for mother's ceremony."
"I suppose that's true, but..." Kallian began.
"But what? " Fiora questioned giving Kallian a look that said don't mess with me.
Kallian sighed, "Fine...take them to Ser Zael, immediately!"
"Will do!" Fiora replied as Kallian turned and left them alone.
Fiora smiled at Dunban before she turned and began to head to the courtyard. Dagran and Jirall followed her, not sure exactly what to say in the situation. As they entered the military wing they continued to remain silent, walking towards the elevator. As they all filed on and the doors began to close Fiora finally made to speak.
"I bet you're surprised," She began.
"That's how you knew all those things yesterday?" Dagran asked.
Fiora nodded, "I just don't like admitting I'm a noble because I am afraid people will treat me differently,"
"I wouldn't have," Dagran began.
Jirall scoffed, "A noble woman should not be allowed to run around outside acting like a heathen."
"Aren't you two mercenaries?" Fiora asked annoyed at the man's remark.
Dagran interupted Jirall, "We are, this idiot here is a bit touchy, he was forced into the mercenaries after the death of his family, a noble family, long ago. His mind set is always on nobility and how they should act."
Fiora sighed before turning away from the men, "Right..."
Dagran felt the air in the compartment thicken and was wise enough to know not to push the subject any further. The ride seemed to be taking forever and he wondered if he should ask about something else. His thoughts drifted back to the man in the entrance hall who had stopped them.
"When you came and got us you told that man that our situation is no different from your fathers and the man's parents?" Dagran asked.
"You mean Kallian? His mother and father we're members of the same mercenary group my father was a part of," Fiora answered.
Dagran thought to who the boy's parents could be having an idea of the father at least, "And who might his parents be?"
"His mother is Mirania, she runs a shop selling potions and doctors office in town. His father is Yurick, he teaches magic in the mansion on the other end of town to the kids whose parents can't afford to send them to the magic institute," Fiora explained.
"Yurick and Mirania?" Dagran asked in slight surprise.
"Kallian is one of the three in line for the position of knight commander, next to my brother Dunban and Ser Aeron," Fiora continued.
Dagran paused, "It seems weird that there are so many candidates for knight commander."
Fiora laughed, "Well my brother is also in line for the next ruler of this island, as for Kallian he is my father's right hand in the army, and Aeron is because of...various reasons."
"Various reasons?" Jirall asked in interest.
"Not my place to say."
Before Dagran could ask more of her the lift stopped and opened to the observation platform. Fiora stepped out, her eyes falling on her father's back as he stood at the end next to Therius. Fiora held up a hand to stop Dagran from continuing further as she approached her father and the general.
"Father?" Fiora spoke up after a moment.
Zael turned immediatly to his daughter and smiled warmly at her, Dagran could see how much he loved his children just from that one look. Therius also turned though he paused as his eyes landed on Dagran and Jirall, Dagran could see his shoulder's tensing.
"What is it?" Zael asked, a hint of worry in his voice.
"I brought these two mercenaries up to you, they're looking for work," Fiora explained, waving her hand at Dagran and Jirall.
Zael's eyes moved to Dagran and Jirall and the man froze. Dagran wasn't sure what to expect, anger, happiness, or sadness from the man. Zael stood there stunned and Dagran wasn't sure how to proceed. The man held up a hand to stop Dagran or Therius, who had moved to speak at the same time, from speaking.
"Fiora, I wish to speak with alone, and no you don't need to worry I will give them a job since you seem personally interested," Zael spoke to his daughter.
Fiora smiled, "Alright, if you need anything just send someone for me."
Fiora walked past Dagran and Jirall and there was silence as the lift doors closed and it began to descend. Zael walked forward towards Dagran and looked him in the eyes, as if searching for an answer to something. Dagran didn't move or say anything as Zael stood there quietly.
"How is this possible?" Zael spoke finally.
Dagran sighed not wanting to lie to his friend but knowing he had to, "Believe me if I could tell you I would, all I know is I woke up some place with this idiot and a note saying that we would be asked to do something later in repayment for the second chance we were given. Nothing more than that, not wanting to be stuck as someone's pawn I came here hoping to meet with you, this idiot followed."
Therius watched Dagran, and he could tell he wasn't believed, "Zael I suggest not trusting these men, I understand why you would wish to believe at least one of them, but I would not recommend it."
Zael looked back at Therius and Dagran knew that Zael trusted the other man's judgment. Dagran remembered Zael acting that way around him, and he felt bad for betraying the boy. Zael had changed a lot since then and Dagran had been the cause of so much pain for the man. Still the man wanted to trust Dagran, he could see that quite clearly.
Therius seemed to read Zael's thoughts before the commander spoke, "Then again there is the saying keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. So if we let them have some work we can keep our eye on them both."
"That sounds like a plan," Zael agreed before turning to Dagran, "Well job wise there is my youngest daughter's coming of age ceremony in a few days, I will hire you both as guards."
"We will not fail-" Dagran began.
"On one condition I will hire you," Zael interuppted.
"What is the condition?" Dagran asked with no complaints.
Zael sighed, "You need to complete some missions around town, you're best place to look would be the Mitra Atar, a tavern in town where mercenaries can also buy all their adventuring supplies."
"Alright," Dagran agreed.
Therius moved forward, "Also you are to meet with Lady Calista and Lady Trista, they are very good judge of characters and will see if you two can be trusted."
Dagran remembered who Lady Trista was and knew this to be Therius' test for him. The man watched him coolly, and Dagran knew that if he didn't agree he would be cut down now. Trista was Asthar's daughter, if Dagran refused to atone to the women then Therius would never trust him.
"I will," Dagran promised.
Therius seemed a bit surprised but said nothing, turning away from the group. Zael nodded accepting the terms and looked Dagran in the eyes once more. Dagran could tell how much the man wanted to trust him and nodded before turning and leaving, dragging Jirall with him. He had to complete these tasks, just so he could talk with the man again if nothing else.
~End ch. 4~
I hope you all liked this chapter! Sorry for the late update, been busy with school and tests for getting into my college again.
Explanations:
Kallian - The prince of the High Entia in Xenoblade Chronicles, and the leader of the armies in that game.
Reviewer's corner:
Lopmion-12: Sorry it took so long been having problems with school and stress in general blah. Anyways finally got the characters to work for me also so I'm happy.
Cormag Ravenstaff: Yes Dagran will meet others soon! And I chose Ser because I play too much dragon age and that is the title they used for the knights in the game and it just stuck. Thanks for the review again and sorry for the wait!
Linn: Thanks for the review.
Emil C: First off love your name, fan-girled when I saw it and you're picture. I will try to get each character time for their thoughts on everything, so far it's been a lot of Dagran. I can keep up with this many characters, I'm mainly a Kingdom Hearts fanfic writer so a lot of characters is not new to me. The magic I am still playing with but I will get it figured out soon enough. Shulk's partner? Well I will tell you this you won't be able to guess one of the stories pairings easily, or a couple of them. Where's Melia well I hope you know now where she'll be. I'll try to not leave it unfinished, I think my writing mood is finally returning. Thanks for the lovely review!
Cucco Tetrazzini: Thanks for the review though you lost me on that very last sentence about ignoring past actions.
Thanks for the reviews see you till next time!
