The Forest of Purity

by PurificationArrow

In the time spent together, Nausicaä and Asbel’s feelings for each other start to grow. They also find a strange tree that is protected by an electric barrier. Suddenly, new problems begins to stir: someone is also after Nausicaä's heart, but who?

10. Never Ending Story, Chapter 10

February 11, 2008

Disclaimer: I don't own Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. I own Than, Aden, and Adena. And the kingdom Than rules. Yes! Step one towards world domination, complete! The format of this entire section previous to the actual story itself is based off of a product from Kita.Kyoko. I thank her for allowing me to use this.

Title: The Forest of Purity

Author: PurificationArrow

Rated: Teen

Genre: Romance/General

Summary: In the time spent together, Nausicaä and Asbel's feelings for each other start to grow. They also find a strange tree that is protected by an electric barrier. Suddenly, new problems begins to stir: someone is also after Nausicaä's heart, but who?

Notes: None.

Italics - Thoughts

Bold - Emphasis on a word

Bold and Underline - author's note

Normal - Well, everything else

Chapter 10: Never-Ending Story

--- Nausicaä's POV ---

Aden's stern face began fading away as he stared at me.

"Princess?"

I shook my head. "It's nothing." I replied. "I'm sorry Aden. You're right. I'm acting foolish."

I gave a great sigh, drawing in strength with every large breath I took. Finally, I had gotten control of myself again. "We will keep searching. Is that alright?" I asked Aden. He seemed more relieved that I had gotten back in control. "Yes. Of course, Princess Nausicaä. If that is your wish." He said, bowing to me.

And like before, I saw Asbel through Aden.

Even the way he bowed, his movements all seemed so familiar. Why had I not seen this before?

In the midst of my thoughts, I barely realized that Aden was now leading me down a new hall, carefully looking around the corner before he gestured to me that it was safe. He had just said so himself. This kingdom had been under a time spell for over 1,500 years. It would certainly make enough sense for Asbel's ancestors to be alive. As a matter of fact, I was willing to bet that several of the surviving members of different kingdoms could possibly have ancestors descending from this area.

After all, if it were possible to enter in and out of the kingdom itself like I had before, it was more than possible to exit it.

Perhaps some people had managed to find a way out of this forsaken place, and had actually managed to create a new life for themself. It was possible.

Aden suddenly stopped.

I followed suit, and halted behind the taller knight.

"Aden?" I whispered.

Aden raised his arm, fist clenched. A universal sign to be quiet. So I did. I wasn't sure how long we were waiting there, but I felt more or less awkward standing in the middle of the hall... unprotected and seemingly uncaring. At any given moment, someone could easily walk in on Aden and I and discover that he had set me loose.

It would also prove to everyone that Aden was a traitor. He would likely be the one to pay for this... not me. And that was unacceptable. No matter who it was, or where, I had to be responsible for my own actions. If someone else took the blame, what would I do?

Meanwhile, I realized that Aden had begun muttering something.

It was a strange language, yet strangely and vaguely familiar. Although I knew I had never heard this language before in my lifetime. Had I come through something similar to it in my studies-- I stopped my thoughts as Aden seemed to finish his bizarre chanting.

I soon felt a rush go through my body.

It was strange, exhilarating, and frightening. Prickles raced from my inside and out, rushing throughout my arms and then tingling my fingertips and toes before vanishing as suddenly as it had come.

A gasp rose in my throat, and then I released it silently.

The sensation was gone. And as I had been prepared to ask Aden what had just happened, but the sound of clinking armor stopped me.

That is when it felt like my heart froze. Not good. Turning, there were two silver-clad guards tramping through the halls, and just turned the corner. Their hands were already placed casually upon their swords, no doubt with xerconium ceramic swords. They would have the advantage on us since their weapons were already on hand. I searched my mind for anything I could do or use as a defense.

My flare gun and sword had been taken from me. I had recently been learning to wield a halberd, but I obviously didn't have it on hand.

There was only one thing I could do. I turned my body and kicked out at the guards. The attack on the them was halted however when I was jerked backwards, and pressed up against the wall.

"Hey--!" I cried.

A gloved hand was pressed against my mouth, and a sharp, "Shh!" was hissed in my ear.

I did as I was told, not that I had much of another choice.

The guards walked past us, so closely that I could even hear the one yawn. The two were engaged in absolutely meaning banter, and didn't react at all as then continued down the hallway, and eventually went out of sight.

At last, Aden let me off the wall.

I stared down the hall where the guards had gone, and then whirled around to face Aden. "What just happened?" I asked, ignoring how bewildered my voice sounded.

Aden paused before answering. He then sighed. "They're gone..." he murmured to himself. This irked me slightly, and I glared at his back. Aden turned back to the back to the wall, and began muttering again. His gloved palms were pressed against the wall, parallel to each other. Irritation and exasperation flashed through me. A corner in the back of my mind realized that I was acting like a haughty, bratty little princess, and I tried to listen.

And listen I did.

Words began to echo in my mind, like long forgotten memories. They were threads, straining at my memories inside the vast spaces of my mind, tugging, pulling, and then drifting away. Then, they began to make sense to me. I could hear.

"Steal through the darkness like the blade of light. Wrap yourself around freedom, and find the radiance that exists in her. Act through me as a vessel and seek the illumination. Awaken within yourself and locate the one who calls. The one who calls beckons you forth. Reply. The radiance shall find you, and you shall see the light again."

It then occurred to me that I could hear this words. Not within the confines of my mind, but with my actual ears themselves.

Aden. Aden was the one who was speaking. It was in a different language, to be sure, but I understood it nevertheless. However... I had never heard this language before in my life, of that I was certain.

Aden continued mumbling in the language, and I sat there and listened to his words. He was trying to find someone. The meaning behind his words meant that.

'Awaken within yourself, and locate the one who calls. The one who calls beckons you forth. Reply.'

The string of words that Aden had been mumbling broke off, almost abruptly. There was a slight hitch in his breath, but I assumed that to be merely from the lack of breath he had from reciting the strange spell-like stream of words. "Aden?" I asked. "What's happened?"

He turned to me.

Aden's brown hair was plastered to his forehead by a sheen of sweat. His dark brown eyes were tired and exhausted. There was a faint scar on his throat, dangerously close to his jugular vein, that moved up and down on his Adam's Apple every time he swallowed or took a breath. His eyes were warm, and... happy? Had he suceeded in finding what he had been looking for with his chants?

"Princess, let's move. Quickly." he said, his breath gasping.

With that, he began lumbering down the hall. I blinked, and followed him. Where were we headed?

"Aden, explain this." I commanded. I halted. This was one issue that I simply could not ignore. Whether it was for the benefit of my people, this land's people, or myself alone, I did not know. I took in a breath nervously. I did not have any clue why I seemed to nervous. "Tell me what that was before. What happened to you? Why did those knights not see us when they passed by us, just inches from their own noses?"

Aden stopped also, but did not turn around to face me.

This only furthur fueled my rising suspicions. I had an idea about what that had been, but I could not quite be certain. I needed actual proof. And what better proof than straight from the horse's mouth? Rather in this case, straight from the knight's mouth.

"Princess..." he began.

Subconsciously, I leaned forward, awating the rest of his answer.

"If you please... may we continue this conversation while we move? I'm afraid the matter is urgent. It requires Prince Asbel." Aden said. I felt my heart skip a beat. All this while, I had nearly forgotten that I was searching for Asbel. And as soon as I was with Asbel again, we could try and get away from this place. Then again...

My eyes lowered. How could I think like that? Even after Aden has helped me so much, I seemed like whatever decisions I make would be in my best interest. What was wrong with me? I never thought like this before. I know full well that the people of this ancient, long-forgotten kingdom needed help, and desperately. Their people were dying, and they were ruled by, for lack of a better word, a madman.

Perhaps this was petty thinking of me, but I was the one spoken of in the prophecy of my people.

'Lead the people to a land of prosperity.'

Had it specified which people? Whether it had been my own or not? It didn't seem to matter anymore, in this case. I was being foolish. Aden was helping me, and using everything he had. I must return the same courtesy. Then, Asbel, Aden, and I would find a way to save these people. We would.

I nodded. "Yes. Let's go."

We began again.

"Before, when those knights of my brothers had passed us, we were being shielded." Aden explained. "I had been reciting a very ancient spell. It was from before this land was taken over by the Toxic Jungle. A long time before then."

I blinked. From before then? If this land was as old as I thought it to be, then the spell that Aden spoke of now could well be over a millenium old. Perhaps more.

Aden took my silence as a signal to continue. "From ancient times, before the Dawn Age." he said.

It was old. Very old. The Dawn Age had been the times when mankind was the species that ruled the Earth, where there were said to be towers that scraped into the skies, land machines that ran on something called gasoline, and the insects that now thrived in the Toxic Jungle were no more than mere, insignificant bugs. If that spell had been before the Dawning Ages, then it meant that there were no records I knew of or read that would provide me with furthur information. Anything Aden said from this point onwards would be crucial to saving Asbel as well as these people.

I listened.

"I'm certain that this is the first time you've even heard anything about before the Dawn Age. My kingdom was the centerpoint of all trade and industrialization, so whatever documents or facts that were discovered, more or less eventually made their way here. We still have records of all events, big and small inside our record rooms. Your kingdom, the Valley of the Wind, is old. I will give it that. But I'm certain it has nothing from before the period I speak of now. Correct?" he asked.

I nodded. "You are." I replied. So he already knew...

"This is the age we call the Abyssal Era. Back then, there were things called warlocks, wizards, witches, dragons, and monsters... Please don't have that kind of look on your face, Princess. This is true, I swear to it. It may be hard to believe, I acknowledge that, but listen as best as you are able." Aden said.

Guiltily, I quickly put away the skeptical look on my face.

"Back then, most beings were able to chant special words or hymns that would activate spells and special powers within themselves or their surroundings. Mana is what they called it. The spells and incantations would activate miniscule particles of mana in the things around them, including the casters themselves. By using mana, they were able to conjure fire, barriers, torrential rainfalls, mudslides, and even summon demons."

The look on Aden's face was serious, and he seemed lost in his own words. It then occurred to me that he was likely very interested in the history of the world. If he had not lived in this place, perhaps he could have been a scholar, or something of the sort. But not at this point in his life.

"Those words I was chanting previously was a locator spell, to put it in blatant terms. The mana particles reacted to these words, and traveled at great speeds through the very walls and solid beings that inhabit this castle. They located the one I spoke of. The Beckoned. In our own language, that is what your prince's name is translated to. And so, I incorporated his name into my spell, which allowed me to find where he was. Traps and mirages cannot stop my own incantation, because these are ancient magics that can only be defended against by spells of the same sort." he stopped, and looked at me. "Do you understand everything so far, Princess?"

Eagerly, I nodded. I had always been one for stories and listening to new information. Even now, when so many were in danger.

We turned a corner, and Aden continued. "The only problem with using these locator spells is that an experienced caster can also hear the spell..." he trailed off.

This was a sign for me to put two and two together. And it came together, frighteningly quickly. "Than..." I whispered.

Aden nodded gravely. Strays strands of his dark, brown hair fell into his eyes. He flicked his head once, briefly, and cleared his face once again. There was determination in his eyes, and glimmers of fear. If Aden was this afraid of Than, what exactly was Than capable of? Would would he do to Aden and Asbel if he found out that Aden was helping me in trying to escape? The thought of it made my heart flutter with unease.

"That is why we must find Prince Asbel, and then get you two outside of the city. Within the Toxic Jungle is better than in here." he whispered darkly.

I opened my mouth to say something, but was cut off by Aden. He had stopped. There was a door with complicated, intricate locks on it, and with a swirling, indented pattern on it that I had never seen before. Then again, I realized now that I had not in fact seem many things until I had come here.

Aden lay his palms on the door, and put a leg back, as if bracing himself against some unseen impact to come. He began chanting anew. This time, these seemed as though they were words of power and strength, and truth.

The place where his palms had come down began to glow with a golden light. Lights encircled Aden's hands, and began traveling through the indentations in the door, spiraling outwards, and coloring all the designs. By the time it was finished, it had made the impression of a light glowing at the top of the door, and underneath it, there were outlines which I soon recognized to be people.

There was a series of clicks, and groaning, and then there was a sliding sound on the other side of the door.

I gasped. The door slid open at a soft touch of Aden's hand. He entered quickly, and then gestured me inside. I entered, and the door was shut after me. As I stared at the darkness, I squinted all the while. "Aden, is this where Asbel is?" I whispered.

"N-Nausicaä... is that you?" a small, but distinctive voiced breathed through the darkness.

"Asbel!" I cried. I reached my hands out into the darkness, and a gloved hand caught mine. Aden's voice was whispering quickly, and quietly in my ear then. "Princess, you must hurry. I will free the prince, and then my men will escort you out of the castle. They have located your weapons, your possessions, and I believe you will be wanting him back as well." Aden reached into the deep folds of a pocket I didn't know existed, and pulled out a little lump of brown and yellow fur.

"Teito!"

The lump moved, unfurling its small nose from underneath its bushy tail. He gave a joyful squeak, and leapt into my open palms. Teito scampered up my shoulder, and nuzzled his small face against my chin.

Tears sprung into the corners of my eyes. The feeling of Teito's soft, silky fur was warm and comforting. I had really missed him. Gently, I caressed him with my hand, patting his head.

"Princess..."

I turned. Aden was coming towards me in the darkness with Asbel's arm limp over his shoulder. I knew it was Aden because of the glimmering of his silver armor in the almost nonexistent light. I knew it was Asbel because... I simply knew. I had no justified characteristic to point Asbel out from a crowd of people. I knew where he was, and who instantly. And as I looked at Aden and Asbel, side by side, the countenance was remarkable. Uncanny. Frightening.

I released Teito, and went to Aden and Asbel.

Aden was muttering something in Asbel's ear, and Asbel seemed to be quietly listening. As I approached, I put my hands out for Asbel. I was half afraid that it might be a trap like the last time, but I had been told by Adena to trust him. And I did. Even if I was simply fooling myself, I hadn't any other choice.

Aden ducked his head, and transferred Asbel to me.

I forgot my doubts about Aden then. I bent my head to Asbel, listening to the whispery quiet breathing he was emitting. I couldn't see any visible wounds on him, so I assumed that he was more injured mentally, which is probably also why he seemed to be in an almost comatose state. "Asbel..." I whispered. I didn't trust myself to say more. My voice felt like it was getting choked up, and I instead bit my lip, and pressed my head to his.

I had nearly forgotten how warm I always remembered Asbel to be. While his name was the Beckoned in Aden's home language, I knew his name in common tongue for my people meant 'Sun'. And he was. He was the sun that saved his people, warming the hearts of those who needed him.

The door creaked open slightly, and I jumped.

Aden laid a hand on my shoulder. "Princess, it's alright. It's just my men. They have come with gas masks, one for Prince Asbel and one for you. They have also located your gliders. They are beneath the lake where the Ohmu reside. Follow one of my men, and they will lead you to them." he said.

"You aren't coming with us, Aden?" I asked.

I found it strange indeed that the one who had helped us would not be accompanying us.

Aden shook his head. "I'm afraid I will be unable to. You see, the Prince Than was preparing to introduce you to the remaining public of our kingdom as his new..." he trailed off. I saw anger flash through his eyes. This puzzled me. "Bride, the one to rule beside him in the new era of our kingdom."

So that was it. I was glad Asbel was still unconscious, otherwise I just know he would have had a fit. The knights had come forth, and one was holding his hands out to take Asbel. I shook my head in refusal. I wanted to hold Asbel with me, if it was only just for a little longer. We walked towards the door, Aden following behind us. He was muttering quiet instructions in my ear as we went. "As soon as you reach the edge of the lake where your gliders have been hidden, you must somehow rouse Prince Asbel and escape. There is an open canopy of trees that will allow you and the prince safe passage out of this kingdom... and one last thing."

I blinked. What else was there?

"When you are leaving, ignore the slight tugging you may feel. Please keep in mind that this place is being protected by our mages.The spell will merely be stretching on your forms, as it was not originally designed to have solid beings pass through it." he explained. "It should hold."

I nodded. It made sense, at least.

I paused. There was a momentary awkward silence, but it felt surprisingly long.

"So I guess this is good--"

Warm breath hovered by my cheek, and soft lips pressed against it and then came up off it. "Goodbye, Princess of the Valley of the Wind." Aden whispered in my ear. His voice had pain filling it up. "Take care of your prince. He is as dear to you as you are to him. Please don't ever forget that feeling." He paused. "Describe that feeling to me now, before it is too late."

My mouth felt dry. What was Aden talking about? Describe what? The feeling of Asbel and my closeness?

"I..." I began, and failed. "I..." I swallowed, and tried again. And again. Why was this so difficult for me? I remember the children of the Valley asking me similar questions, and I had answered them as truthfully as I knew how. But this was different now. I couldn't tell it straight to Aden's face, for some strange reason. Perhaps it was the desperation and strange longing in his voice as he continued to hover by my ear which, by the way, made my face glow red with blood.

He chuckled, and then backed away from me.

The air where he had been then felt strangely empty. "You cannot put it into words yet?" he asked. Then, without waiting for the indignant reply I had been prepared with, he spoke again. "You have time. You and Prince Asbel are young and strong. Believe in that, believe in each other, and your people as well."

This confused me. Aden looked no older than we did. Perhaps a bit more mature, by gazing into his dark brown eyes perhaps, but definitely no older in terms of age. "What are you--" I started.

"Go. You have very little time now." Aden said quickly, turned me around, and shoved me at a knight waiting with his arms open.

We were hustled out the door. I turned one last time to try and look at Aden. "A-Aden!" I cried.

He was smiling back at me, though in a sad sort of manner. Why sad? The corners of his mouth were tilted upwards slightly, his eyebrows were furrowed some, and his eyes were kind and sad. There were creases at the edges of his eyes, which furthur enhanced the false aging. His hand was trembling as well. Fear. Then, realization hit me like a brick. He was sending Asbel and I away now before Than could figure out that we were loose, and that we were trying to escape. Aden was to stay behind without the aid of his men to hold off his brother for as long as he could. That is what the smiles, and the trembling meant. "No..." I whispered, trying to fight back against the strength of the knight.

That is when the knight leaned down and whispered in my ear. "Princess, please let Prince-Commandant Aden go. He understands what it is he must do, and he will fufill his goal as best as he can. If you remain here and try to oppose the Prince Than, then his efforts will be in vain. I beg of you, do not forsake his final mission."

This stopped my struggles. So he had been planning this. I tightened my grip on Asbel.

No... I refused to accept the fact that because of me, someone so kind and innocent was do die. I refused to accept it.

I yanked away from the knight. The door was shutting now, and I opened my mouth quickly. "Aden!" I shouted. He looked up at me, startled slightly. "I'll come back. I swear! I won't let you die because of me. I'll save this place and your people!"

Surprise raced through his handsome features, and then he settled on the emotion of a warm smile. He nodded.

The door shut with a bang.

It hurt to leave him like that. But as we ran down the halls, I resolved to myself that I had to come back. Even if I loathed this place, the place where I had been separated from Teito and Asbel for what seemed like such a long while, I had to return. For Aden's sake, and the sake of his people. And perhaps, just maybe, Than's sake. Maybe he was suffering just as much, if not more than any of the people living in this small, long-lost kingdom. Even if I wasn't the one spoken of in this land's prophecy, I would play my own individual part, separate from what was expected.

"Aden, I will come back." I said.

Then, unbeknownst to me, Asbel's eyes blinked quietly as his feet moved somewhat sluggishly. An emotion that would have registered as jealousy flashed through the eyes of the young man who was leaving his counterpart behind. It was a frightening emotion, a vengeful one.

---

(A/N:) I'm so sorry for taking so long to update this story. I really am. Please review if you feel obligated to, and I swear I tried my hardest. It isn't very long, but I worked hard on it. Just as a side note, the whole mana, spell thing, that is simply due to my rising obsession with the 'Tales of' games. That whole mana deal is pretty much based off of Tales of Symphonia (which I have a story for), and perhaps a little bit of Tales of the Abyss. So um... yeah. Lastly, Aden's title that the knight used: Prince-Commandant, it is sort of a spinoff of Tales of Symphonia as well. There is someone called the Governer-General there, so hey, it makes sense for there to be a Prince-Commandant... right? Yes, no? Whatever.

And yes, Asbel was conscious that entire time (if only minimally), and he is getting freakishly jealous. More of Asbel next chapter since I've been seriously neglecting him too. Eh, same with Teito... maybe.

-PurificationArrow