Okay So I posted this right after 16 I had it ready 18 I will start a lil tonight but Question, Are you guys liking any of the new characters, are you feeling like your getting to know them a lil bit, Im trying to get you into them because we had a whole season to learn the basic characters but Again Im imagining this as like a season 2.
I know no one likes Orinia but come on whats a anime without more than one love triangle haha!
Ok well Enjoy! Look forward to the reviews!
I had a muse song Its kind of strange song and doesn't really go with this chapter well if you listen to the words but the tune was what I was looking for when I wrote it
Butch Walker – The best thing you never had
Weird right? I know
Van stood alone in the garden, Hitomi was gone, his friends and fellow leaders argued with him for the better part of the day about their next move, and the city celebrated its victory unofficially. The Taverns flowed freely with vino and winron while the leaders debated the better part of the day away. Typical Dryden wanted to move on as if nothing else awaited in the future for them, but find answers to where Hitomi was and then act. He was always a procrastinator, that's how it had originally come to this even if Van wouldn't say it out load, Dryden knew. Chid was torn, Van hated trying to get him to see his way, the young ruler was always so wise and calm, but throw him in a room with snarling nobles fighting over the next step to do and he became quiet and reserved, only spoke when he was placed on the spot.
At least Mellerna tried to help Van, she was as confident as him when it came to finding her. She had summoned a mass of allied dragons, which slunk back into the forest after the battle, leaving a majority of the soldiers dumbfounded as to how their luck could possible get this winning hand. To place Hitomi's power at the hand of Dilandau was foolish, and he wouldn't have it.
He wished Merle were here, she would find a way to make his hurting chest to seem slightly better. She would encourage him, and though it wouldn't make this pain disappear it would help him find the hope he needed to see her again. It was like fate was playing with him, he would have her, and she would be gone. No matter how many times he told himself he wouldn't leave her side this is what is came to.
"Van?" A soft voice interrupted his thinking.
"Chid?" He turned and faced the youth trying to bring composure to himself.
"I can't imagine what you're going through, I've seen love countless times, I am alive because of it… You know she's okay right?" He placed his hand on Van's shoulder.
"When you find love Chid, it's like you had been walking in the dark your entire life up until that point, and the minute you find her, your world lights up and you see everything for the first time." He gave a smirk, he didn't want to seem too sappy.
"A feeling like that runs deep in the soul right Van?" He looked up at him but Van couldn't tell if it was a question or a statement.
"Yes." He said not sure what to make of it.
"So you can feel her no matter how far away you are?" Chid pulled a small book from his satchel and placed it in Van's hands.
"We seem to hold a lot of artifacts and texts from our past. I found this, and I think you might want to take a look, it might provide you with answers. I never had a moment to give it to you before." Chid turned and walked away leaving Van staring at the old tattered book.
He traced the burned indentions on the front of the leather case, it was exact to Hitomis ink symbol that was on her forehead. He pulled open the book, to see the contents and the pages creaked with stiff age.
I witnessed the change of Gaea. I am not a scholar or a seer, it was not something I dreamed in an unmanageable slumber one night in the mid of summer. I lived it, I met the people, I walked besides the individuals that changed our way of life as a whole, and putting Gaea in turmoil until the day I pass.
But to tell you of the happenings now would be getting ahead of myself. It all started with Cimedian's Kings' Advisor Kegran and me… his brother. I altered history; I changed it in a way that I will die regretting to an extent. I live a good life, a happy life, and full life, but because of my greed and want it became what it is today.
I am King of Palas, and though I lay on my death bed knowing what I know now, I write to ask for whom ever reads this in the future has time to change my mistake. My brother Kegran granted me what me and my queen couldn't conceive, a child that - wasn't mine, but had no living family. He sent him to me, he was the King and Queen's son of Cimedian, a nation ruled with peace by the Draconian creators. I do not know what parts of history will remain, or if there will be a Gaea to know history after my death, but it was a marvelous nation.
Very rare was it to have a child and even more so that my precious son should be a Draconian, a god among Gaea. His father fallen ill, and his mother died at what I could only speculate was lost love, but bore enough time to make it through the birth of her son, whom she called Leeran. Kegran requested that we raised him as our own, his knowledge of our circumstance was sympathetic, but to never tell him of his true heritage.
We were skeptical at first, but as the baby grew to child, he took our hearts away and never once did we not think that he was never ours. We showered him with love and affection, raised him to be the strong prince of Palas, but one thing we didn't comprehend, was the power of true love and fate. My brother's sympathetic jester gave him the Throne, and for the first time since the creation of Gaea, there was not a Draconian ruler. Again, I get ahead of myself, but as some events I have not learned until late, make my text more plausible now.
I want to say that the Draconian King's illness was not foul play, but in recent events I learned that his sudden illness that dragged into many months were that of dark magic. My brother entrusted a woman, foul in her ways, to govern the responsibilities while the King's life slowly withered away. Her name was Zeyran, and she was a temptress to the likes I have not seen in all my years I spent on Gaea. I dare say she was Quartz.
If the King's love may have lived, things might have been different and the sad history that I write here today might be different and the future of you who read this might be happier, but that was not the case as I have said. The Tsuni Queen died, her fate and soul willed to her love died, and took her with him. With her death after child birth being her last act to Gaea, the world began to die with her. Gaea needs a Tsuni and my brother aided in the death and destruction that massed years later in these simple turns of fate.
Van closed the journal. He wasn't sure about this, his time frame of events that happen in history were all mixed around, and he would read more later. However, Kelta would be able to help him out with time frames but he was back in Fanelia, where Hitomi should have been. It would at least have a first account of what happen to a Tsuni, unsure of what it had to do with Hitomi, he went back to his room to finish reading the old text.
It was late, the full height of the two moons in the sky proved such. He made his way back to him room, dreading the night sleep. He dreamed of her, but she was not in his dreams the way she normally was. She was in pain, alone, and frightened. It hurt him to the deepest extent to see her that way, he just wanted to hold her and comfort her, but anytime he did, his brother Folken stopped him. He was surprised the first time he had seen his brother in his dream, he hadn't dreamed of Folken for a long time, but he was there. Van tried to pull away from him to go to Hitomi, but instead Folken went, he went and wrapped his arms around his love and soothed her. He was jealous, enraged, and he would try to reach them, every time it was the same ending. Their lips would meet and he would awake with the sweat rolling from his brow and all the feelings swimming through him like poison. He wasn't sure if he could take a third night of this, but he was weary enough to try.
Zeyran had waited patiently for Dilandau to answer her, but again she stood at the bowl with nothing appearing. Her anger boiled over, she was sick of this. She had to sit in this forsaken kingdom seducing a pompous king and finding a way to cause a diversion while Dilandau entertained himself with that girl. He had gotten her back, she scolded and be-litted him for using so much power to escape, but frankly she suppressing her surprise. To bring through the field of magic in the manner he did, was astounding. It did take a toll on him, she expected more, but he was ok in a sense that a small amount of relief grabbed at her.
She couldn't explain but something was off about him. It might have been his drained state, maybe his appearance of serious mal-nutrion, but she waved off the thought. He hadn't contacted her in days and she needed to know his next course of action, he lost the battle at Austria. As disappointing to her ego as it may have been, she still knew there were other opportunities and at least Dilandau got the Tsuni back.
A knock came as her door and she quickly pulled a small silk fabric over the bowl. She called out for their entrance and sat in the chair next to the desk. Dohn had taken an afternoon stroll in the garden, watching Rentra and Merle. Merle wasn't very stealthy, anyone could tell that Rentra knew of his new best friend, and was doing everything he could to keep her clear of his plans. At least other conspirators could tell.
A young maid came through the door bowing deeply "His Majesty King Rentra requests your presences in the garden M'Lady." So he can run his rough dirty hands all over me she thought in disgust.
"Tell him I will be there shortly I must change." She didn't need to change but she did need to buy some time, Dilandau had only a little bit more time before the magic waned from the bowl and their portal for talk wouldn't come again until this time tomorrow, and she wasn't sure she could wait that long.
The maid bowed out of the room, the door click in her absence and Zeyran returned to the bowl uncovering it.
"It seems your affect on him is taking hold nicely." Dilandau's face was milky in the bowl but visible. Zeyran studied it carefully, his still long and feminine features were there but his white hair seemed to be shading to dark silver.
"Enough Dilandau, I need a diversion, one that could cause enough to let me go unseen for a good amount of time." She bit back at him. She was frustrated and his coy games weren't going to cut it today.
He simply looked back at her, and she paused; waiting for his remark to the one she had just made. Nothing came, her fingers dug into the wood desk, etching marks into them. Something was not right, he might be drained from his power he had placed into the magic he used, but he should not have lost his nature.
"I will send your diversion Zeyran, but I better get what I sent you for." He was at least threatening her, this was a better sign.
"Don't worry about me, you don't lose the bitch again." She bit back at him waving the reflection of him from her sight. Something was not right. Dilandau was losing Dilandau, after all this time she had made sure her pieces to keeping him who he was now were all complete. He shouldn't be reverting. He was though, he was becoming him. She feared he would no longer be a failed experiment if he stayed with the Tsuni any longer. She might bring him forth who he was created to be in the first place, and that could mean loss for Zeyran. Hitomi would be begging for mercy at her knees before Zeyran would let that happen. That diversion had better arrive soon, or she would have to leave unfinished business behind.
She threw her cape over her shoulders to prevent from getting a chill with the cool morning air and headed from her room. She might have to forget the diversion and just carry out the plan, regardless if it exposed her or not.
Zeyran spent the afternoon walking the gardens with Rentra and listening to his pointless conversation, but she acted interested. She fluttered her eyes, and pulled into him teasingly when the time called for an opening, trying to pull him further into her trance.
"Would you like to return to my room for Lipson and crumpets?" He looked at her with a smirk spreading across his face.
Finally she thought silently returning his gesture with a nod and smile.
He waived over a hand servant who had been waiting and following from afar, she clamored to him anticipating his needs. "We will be heading to my room for Lipson and crumpets, do make sure to bring extra cubes this time, it was remarkably bland last time." He scolded her. He sure was arrogant, and needy, all the makings of a king that shouldn't be a king. His position on the throne for the last 400 years had been a fraud, and he abused his privilege, every one of his fore fathers did.
Only a matter of time Zeyran thought quietly as they walked back to his room. Dilandau would rule his country, and soon Gaea with her help. She had failed once, and she would not fail again.
They entered his room, and to Zeyran's pleasure, there was no one occupying it. No servants or hand maids, and none of his other acquaintances that accompanied him to Fanelia. Just him and her, she had her opening, she wouldn't need Dilandau's diversion, if it ever got here.
As they seated themselves at the small table on the balcony, the hand maid entered promptly setting up the tray and cups for the two. She shuffled around for a few minutes; making she it was perfect before exiting the room without a word. Zeyran waited for the door to completely click before she started any conversation.
"How much long will you be staying in Fanelia M'lord?" she thought of the most appropriate question, not trying to seem too eager, but it is the one thing she didn't know about his plans.
"I will be departing by the end of the week what about you M'lady?" He said tipping some of the steaming brown Lipson into his fine Fanelian etched cup. Zeyran didn't like the way he sarcastically implied her title, but figured her was being manipulative.
"I am awaiting passage to Austria, so when word comes that it is safe, I will continue as you know." She pulled her cup up to her lips and sipped trying to enjoy the taste, Lipson never was a drink she acquired a taste for, but she had endured worse under other circumstances.
"At least your story stays the same." His sarcasm was thick, and a mischievous grin pulled across his face.
Zeyran set her glass on the table, trying not to be taken off guard from his comment. What could he possible know? She thought trying to pull back to her time spent with him to see if anything had come out giving her away, but not one slip could she remember.
"I wish you would let your face portrayed the confusion you are obviously going through at this moment… Zeyran." She couldn't tell if he was savoring her name on the tip of his tongue, but she was surprised to hear it from his mouth.
Her body tensed, he knew, she didn't know how he knew but he did.
"If you know me, then why do I sit here in your presence?" She collected herself quickly and baited him back for answers.
"I know who you are, just not why you are here…" He said placing more cubes in his drink and eyeing her cautiously.
He didn't know she was here because of Dilandau, but he knew who she was, which was less probable than him figuring out about Dilandau. She gave him a icy glare, unsure of what to ask next, instead waiting for him to open up to her.
"I knew who you were the first night, when I held you closely to me; I saw your mark, as plain as day." The small inking below her shoulder blade on her back, the mark of the Quartz.
"Its good you know your symbols Rentra, but how do you know who I am?" She adjusted herself, she was calm and collective, and the most suave she could be even if she was half way caught.
"I've read about you, I know your life never changes, but I didn't expect to see the failed Zeyran pursuing me. Do you really think you can still seduce your way to the throne after 400 years?" His smirk brought fury to her eyes.
She tried pulling her thoughts together but the memories of her failure flooded her. She was angry, and bitter. She glared at him.
"I came to offer you a proposition." She said simply running the instance scenarios through her mind. She was taken off guard but she would use this, use this to hopefully her advantage.
"What could I possibly need from you, you failed before." He waved his hand at her, his smirk now shining his arrogance.
"Do you think it's going to be as easy as slapping those bracelets on you two and her heeding to your will Rentra?" She baited him back, of course he thought that, but even she knew better.
He straightened a little at her remark; he was nervous good she thought.
"I don't want your power Rentra, I want Dilandau, I think we can help each other out. Beside I have knowledge beyond you of those bracelets." She smirked; he was taken off guard for a moment by the name, if she didn't know what she knew now she could clearly see through him.
"Dilandau? I would ask, but trying to figure out the mind of a Quartz, well let's just say I would rather stay sane. Really what power does Dilandau have that you seek? He has a scattered beaten army and no nation to country to rule over? Either you are no longer a Quartz or you have lower standards, to say one you can achieve?" He mocked her, this tyrant fool mocked her!
"He has your precious Tsuni." She spat at him, she would have him at her knees giving her the bracelets if she would just go and get that girl and bring her back.
"How do you know?!" He stood in fury, she could see his assumptions growing as she stayed silent.
"Im a Quartz Rentra, my powers have grown beyond your wildest dreams, I know a lot." She stood and walked around the table, this was her chance he was vulnerable. She pressed her body against him and traced her fingers along his face.
"Even if it is not you that I want, I will help you get what you want, in return, you get me what I want." She could feel him quivering against her as she continued on with her proposition. It was so simple for men to give into the wills of women, for the one thing they ever truly desired was only what a woman could give them. One simple act with Zeyran and Rentra would be but putty in her hands.
His lips met hers with fierce passion, all the need she had given him over this time frame was enough for him. He was rather powerful, it took him awhile to get to this point, but he was hers now.
"You will give me what I want now, and we will talk about the other wants later." He pulled and carried her over to the bed. Zeyran wriggled against him as she pulled a pin from her hair, letting her hair fall over her body loosely. While Rentra's mouth ran the course of her body, she responded to him in moans and pleases he wanted to hear, she opened a small compartment on the pin she pulled from her hair. A small thin needle appeared from it and she slightly pricked it against Rentras back, he was completely occupied as he pulled her dress down exposing her breast.
She smiled deviously against him while she returned the needle to the pins compartment and let it drop to the floor. Rentra's attention was occupied and she returned back to the task at hand. She had what she needed now, and thought Rentra thought he had the upper hand, he couldn't be more wrong in thinking he had her where he wanted her. He would soon find out, and regret his inability to with stand the most lustful side of himself because that was now his undoing. Finally she thought.
Van had given Storius all the time he needed to receive word on where Dilandau was now. He was tired of watching, he paced without cause, and his anger grew with every passing minute. He needed to make an effort to find her, more than waiting around the palace like the other suggested. Even if he put aside the fact that he loves Hitomi as a reason for her rescue, she was simply powerful and Dilandau would use that against them somehow.
"Storius, is there any word?"
Storius folded the same weathered parchment in his hand and looked at Van.
"They are at Lake Boren, 5 days from Fanelia Sire." He said straightening to Van's increasing glare.
"Then we march home." Van turned and headed to the Austrian council room, there was no way Dilandau was getting Fanelia again, that's probably why he ended up so close there, how Van was still not sure.
"What do you suppose we do Allen; start combing Gaea in search of him! We don't even know where to start." Dryden threw his hands in the air; he was tired of arguing over a mute point.
Van slammed his fist into the table, brining all the leader and commanders in the room attention to him.
"He is at Lake Boren, I am taking my armies and marching to Fanelia, I request the same armies that fought bravely here follow me to battle there." He peered around the room meeting the gaze of only a select few people.
Dryden began to shake his hands and before he could open his mouth Van interrupted him.
"Your procrastination led us here Dryden, now I suggest you stop coming up with passive excuse on how you want to avoid this war, and help with it. It's not knocking on your door anymore but it is your allies." Van was smug, he was angry, and frankly he was tired of Dryden begin a shake hands and make peace king right now.
"You're never going to get peace with Ziabach or Dilandau out there finding ways to attack us." Chid quietly reinforced Van both meeting Dryden's gaze.
"I guess it's inevitable." Dryden sat in his head chair with a slumping defeat. He didn't want war, but it did seem as if recent events were because of his passive gestures to delay anymore battling after the Great Gaea War. He had to know when there was a time to stand and be proactive, and everyone in this room was telling him now was this moment.
"We leave at the break of first sunlight, get the men ready." Van turned and exited the room.
Storius gave Allen a glance, which seemed to be looking after Van with a certain look of disapproval on his face. Allen wanted to go, he got his wish but he seemed to not look any happier about it. Storius shrugged it off and headed to the barracks there was a lot to do, but not enough time and the men would be working through the night to get everything in order.
Orinia he shook his head, he was returning home, and when he got there he would be digging into a Fanelia turkey that's for sure. Austria did have good food since he had been here, but the spices of Fanelia could be enough to drive a man insane without the food. He wondered though, back to his original fleeting thought, how Orinia was handling things in Fanelia. She probably had everything handled and things went smoothly in the absence.
He had felt rather confined since leaving Fanelia, having no one to banter, or even speak with. Orinia's presence and friendship he found himself missing these last few weeks. Between her and the lack of women on this journey he felt as if he was starting to lose his mind. It was rather odd that he found himself missing her company a little more every day; all she ever did was find new ways to call him an arrogant womanizer anyways. If she gives me any lip I'm going to his thought met with a kiss he imagined. He stopped in his tracks, he didn't want to kiss her, as a matter of fact if he did do that where was the slap and beating that would come afterwards. He wouldn't mind kissing her he thought smugly, he's always willing to kiss a woman, but that probably wouldn't be for the best.
He continued down the hall as if his thoughts hadn't made that large of an impact on him to take away his attention from Fanelia turkeys and taverns full of beautiful women to his heart's content. He could almost could taste the Vino and imagine the warmth of the woman he would compliment and adore that night; it brought a grin to his face that quickly disappeared when his thoughts pulled back to Orinia.