Jade sighed in mild frustration from where he sat in Daath's archival library. Since it was only accessible to the Order's higher-ups, it really got very little traffic. This privacy was exactly what the fonist lavished in as he looked into the issue surrounding Asch and Luke. Unfortunately there was little to see. Few records had survived from Yulia's Day, and her words held a lot of merit as she had been the only known human to ever come in direct contact with Lorelei. Even rarer were records surrounding the Fon Belt itself. Trying to research both with any degree of solidity was worse than searching for a needle in a stack of needles.—a specific needle, mind you.
The fact that he gave little to no credit to secondary writings was not helping Jade's case either. Yet he knew it would do him no good to find some else's interpretations of Yulia's work. If they misinterpreted something it could prove disastrous. That was why he trusted only himself.
Shoving his collection of scrolls and books aside, Jade opened yet another thick, leather-bound tome. Flipping steadily through its musty pages, he allowed himself a brief glance back to the first time he had attempted researching the Fon Belt to this detail. Granted he now had access to Daath's archives, yet even that saving grace seemed to be only helping him kick up dust—as apposed to dirt. Yet so far he had only been in Daath for two days, so who could say what he might find in time, it was the place where he was most likely to find any writings done by Yulia herself; providing, of course, any such writings existed. However, it had been over two thousand years, it was doubtful the originals would have survived for so long even if they did exist. All in all, it looked to be a very fruitless search that would simply end in fieldwork anyway. Although a very dangerous type of fieldwork.
Shutting the musty book in a cloud of dust, the caramel-haired colonel rose from his seat and stretched. He had been down here for goodness only knows how long, it was high time he let his brain think more, and stomach do some of the work. Pulling his glasses off, Jade calmly wiped them free of dust using the corner of his uniform as he made for the long staircase that would take him back to the civilized world of Daath's Cathedral.
Pausing part of the way up the stairs, the fonist glanced back to where his documents still littered the desk. Pivoting on his heel, he descended the stairs once again and reopened to tome that he had been reading. Flipping several pages ahead of where he had closed it, Jade quickly began scanning the page. Something that he had read had suddenly hit him. At first it had only tweaked his interest, but now he suddenly realized what lay in the implications.
Scanning further down the page, the colonel smirked triumphantly as his eyes settled on one paragraph in particular. Why oh why had he not seen it sooner?
"I think I'm going to need to pay Gailardia a little visit…"
Luke paced the manor is frustration. He had barely been home a week, and already he was bored. Tear had decided to go back to Yulia City when Noelle had departed to take everyone else home. Now he had nothing to do, even despite the newfound freedom that had come into his life after the events of the past two or so years. Over the months of his disappearance, it seemed the life had settled down to its normal flow—without Luke fon Fabre. He had begun to even feel like he had no place in this new world; a new world that had been built at his fault, in part by him…and then without him.
Even Pêre was now gone, having left to live with Guy in Grand Chokmah. As he gazed around the now-empty garden, Luke sighed, maybe he would have to take up gardening…
Walking over to one of the wilting flowerbeds, he gazed down at it dubiously. Maybe this really was not such a good idea after all. He had absolutely no idea what anything was, beyond a few dead plants. How much water did they need? Did they prefer sun, or shade? Why did plants need sun anyway? Did they really need it, or was it just for aesthetic purposes? Selenias did not seem to need the sun, so maybe it really was just for looks. Then again, Selenias were really pretty in the moonlight…so would not other flowers be too?
It was all way beyond him.
Ramas stood stock-still in a doorway leading out to the courtyard, watching as You-Master Luke—he was never going to get used to dropping the 'young'—paced about the area, eventually stopping by a dead flowerbed.
Seeing as the young man had yet to notice him, the serving man smiled sadly, holding his peace. Clearly the boy was preoccupied with his thoughts, as it was not like Luke to miss another's presence.
"Master Luke?" he finally asked, stepping further into the manor's yard.
Luke jumped visibly at the sudden voice that cut through his thoughts. Turning hurriedly, he laid his eyes on a sheepish Ramas.
"Oh, R-Ramas!" he blurted out, blushing slightly at being caught so spaced out. "What is it?"
"We have just received word that your father would like to see you."
"Oh, okay. I'll go to him now, where is he?"
"He has gone to speak with his Majesty, you're to go meet with them at the palace."
Nodding, Luke began walking away from the wilted bed. "Okay, I'll just go on over then," he stated, mystified, walking through the door without even waiting for Ramas' bow of acknowledgment.
As he made his way to his current destination, Luke could not resist a slight frown. Whatever it was that was going on that his father had had to send a servant to get Ramas to get him had to be big.
Then again, everything was big these days.
Natalia sat rigidly to attention as her father and Duke Fabre sat discussing the events that had transpired over the past few days. A servant has been sent just a few moments before to retrieve the person in question: Luke fon Fabre. His disappearance, and sudden reappearance, had posed a lot of questions to the newly-reformed world.
Blinking her bright, hazel eyes, the princess allowed her own thoughts to wander in search of an answer. Luke's return has been so sudden and unexpected, especially since it was known by a handful that he was, in fact, dying before Eldrant anyway. Yet now he was back, but at what cost? This question plagued the minds of many of the world's most knowledgeable scientists, and its rulers. Somewhere, something had happened, yet nobody really knew what, how, or why. All that was known was that it had happened, somehow, and was nothing short of a miracle.
The blonde princess was shocked out of her thoughts by the sound of the door to the small sitting room opening. Glancing up, Natalia smiled in welcome.
"Luke, how good to see you."
Glancing up from his earnest discussion with Duke Fabre, King Ingobert VI nodded, motioning for Luke to come in.
"Luke, good of you to come, I'm sorry for sending for you so suddenly, it's just…"
"You want more detail, right? About what happened to me?" interrupted the redhead, smiling sadly.
Nodding in confirmation, Duke Fabre allowed a slight frown to grace his lips. "Yes Luke, if you could."
Shaking his head, Luke walked forward and seated himself on one of the room's plush chairs. "Unfortunately, I'm not sure what else there is to tell you…" he admitted with a slight shrug. I don't really remember too much more myself."
"Then why don't you retell the story, not leaving anything out."
Nodding in acquiescence to his uncle's wish, Luke sucked in a deep breath and once again launched into the narrative he had told so many times already.
"As you all know, we fought Van atop Eldrant, and then I remained behind to free Lorelei. Once I had done so, Eldrant began to disintegrate. On further hindsight, I suppose it was because of the sudden imbalance in the fonons in the air that Lorelei caused. Anyway, I just kind of thought I was going to die then and there, as the ground was quite literally crumbling beneath my feet. It was at this time that Lorelei appeared before me and encased me in some sort of protective bubble that it lowered down amidst the wreckage. It was during this time that Asch…joined me. His body began to fall from above and hit my…shield, if you will. I guess Lorelei knew what was going to happen, so it allowed Asch to enter my shield so I could catch him.
Anyway, it was during this time that I realized that my body was also starting to vapourize. It wasn't like before, either, this time I could feel the fonons of my body physically leaving me. It must've been at this time that Lorelei…transferred my soul into Asch's body.
"All I remember after that is waking up in Tataroo Valley with Asch's clothing on and a few new scars; and the memories…
"Then you guys came," he finished, looking pointedly to Natalia.
"But why didn't you come back sooner? You had several months to do so," shot in King Ingobert, an eyebrow slightly raised.
At this Luke just shrugged, a distant look on his face. "See now, that's the funny thing. I only woke up the same day you guys arrived…"
Frowning, Duke Fabre glanced sharply over to his remaining son. "And you didn't tell us this before because…?"
'I…didn't really think it was all that important," replied the redhead in a soft whisper."
"Not that important?! How is you being unconscious—and surviving no less!—for three months, not important?!" Duke Fabre growled out, his irritation mounting.
"Well…it's just that…it was…"
"Luke, is something bothering you?" asked Natalia, her voice quiet.
Shaking his head, Luke spoke quickly, eyes shining with unease. "What? Huh? No! I-I'm fine, really. It's just…you're right. I guess I really never gave any thought to the timing."
"Luke…" Duke Fabre stated calmly, his voice low and dangerous, "you had best not be lying."
When Luke remained silent, staring at the floor, Natalia decided it would be a good time to cut in. "Father, I do believe it is time for lunch."
Immediately sensing his daughter's intent, Ingobert nodded. "Yes, I think you're right. So what do you all say we drop this depressing talk and take get our midday meal?"
Jumping up, Luke nodded eagerly; glad to have an escape route. "Yes, please."
Nodding his agreement, Duke Fabre stood with a small bow to his brother-in-law. "Excellent! I'll get the servants on laying us a spread immediately!"
Hey guys…I'm sorry about the long wait, but there has been a lot going on lately. I'm not even going to try to launch into an explanation on it all, just trust me when I say my life likes to fall apart sometimes. And my computer broke too. So yeah, there's a lot going on now, especially since my father was diagnosed with cancer yesterday, so don't expect quick updates. Sorry,
Hannah
Oh, and I'd like to take this time to say a special thank you to Ashley for…well, you know what girl.