a/n: Hey guys! How's everybody doing? :) Just want to let you know that I've decided not to put OF on hiatus since every now and then I get ideas about the next chapters and I feel the need to jot it all down. Of course, I can't really help it (as much as I want to) if my updates will be slow (ranging from 2 weeks and more) since this semester has proven to be a lot tougher compared to the previous one. But anyways, I'll continue to write this fic 'till the very end (hopefully)... so I am asking for inspirations as well! *wink* :D Again, thank you so much to those who have been reading and reviewing this story until now. Thank you for the support and I love you guys very, very much. I am really sorry if the slow updates bugged anybody and if the plots/twists confused you. Hope that you'll all enjoy what Oblivious Fate has to offer towards the end. -roru
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in Regius University, 2nd sem (aka final sem, for its senior students) begins in Spring and ends in Summer.
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"Oblivious Fate"
By: rorudesu-chan
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Chapter 32: Comeback
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The hot breeze gently shook the tree branches, swaying the leaves in delight. Spring was over and summer was slowly warming up the school grounds of Regius. The season reminded its students of the upcoming three month vacation and of course, the graduation day of the university's beloved seniors.
A woman with a familiar face which her students came to love, or rather, hate, came inside the classroom with a crooked smile plastered upon her lips. The students quickly poised themselves properly in their seats while some hurriedly scurried back into theirs. Everyone in the room wondered why Mrs. Mulier had that rather creepy expression on her face. It either meant half of the class had failed in the last Physics exam and she was highly disappointed in a sadistic manner because those who flunked wouldn't be eligible for graduation. Or, she might have just felt like smiling because her morning coffee wasn't too bitter or too sweet.
"Good morning class," greeted the red headed teacher, wryly. "I'm pretty sure that everyone here is quite excited for this week, no?" Her eyes beneath her thick framed spectacles gazed around the room. The faces of the young sovereigns-in-training sparked in delight as they were reminded once more of what the week had in stored for them.
A Prince began drifting off into his usual classroom boredom buster. But this time, it wasn't a pointless drift away from reality. His head was clouded by thoughts of his dear friend who has gone missing since the past week. Together with Lacertus and Celer, they asked the other people who were closely related to him since his parents and his grandfather had already passed away. They also did not hesitate to include the people who last saw him, like his classmates and the neighbors of his condominium unit.
Just last night when they were drinking away their worries at the Seventh Heaven café, Noctis reminisced about the first time when he met his grandfather whose incurable sickness was healed miraculously by the Crystal's technology. The man's name was Qovid Faust and the child of his only son was Salsus Faust.
Struck down by a stage four cancer, Qovid was losing the hope to live and was seeking the company of his favorite grandson during the weeks he had left. The kingdom of Pantera was slowly preparing themselves for the nearing death of their Grand Duke. But because of a dear friend who offered a hand to help, Qovid was saved from his miserable fate. From then on, he was forever grateful to the curing technology that the Crystal possessed and of course, to the man who opened the path of healing to him—Sir Arkenis of the Caelum Kingdom, a close friend and a research colleague.
In order to celebrate his successful recovery and the discovery of a cancer-curing drug, the Caelum Kingdom threw a party. It was in that celebration when a certain bond of friendship began.
"Mr. Caelum!" a voice exclaimed, startling the Prince from his seat. His pensive, cobalt eyes hurriedly looked at the red headed teacher whose beady eyes shot him a glare.
"Did you hear what I just announced to the class?" she investigated. "Do you realize that the cotillion is this coming Friday already? Every bit of information about the event is important, especially to you, one half of the class' dance representatives. Which reminds me…"
Noctis listened keenly to Mrs. Mulier, not wanting to infuriate his Homeroom-slash-Physics teacher even more. Somehow, he felt as if he knew where Mrs. Mulier's sentence was going.
"Where is Miss Fleuret? She isn't around here." Her eyes darted towards the empty seat beside Lacertus. "I hope she brings with her an excuse letter when she comes back."
Mrs. Mulier's comment made Noctis wonder deeply. When will she come back? Or perhaps, he thought that the question should be: will she come back? Things have gotten awkward between them. He had no idea at all what to say if ever he sees Stella again. But, should he really say anything, he asked himself. Noctis felt that a part of him hasn't forgiven yet what she did to him. However, the other part of him thinks that she has already suffered enough to outweigh her sin. After all, he himself witnessed how Stella painfully recovered the 'lost' part of herself through the Crystallite.
"Mr. Caelum!" Mrs. Mulier called, pulling Noctis from his train of thoughts again. "Well then? Where is Miss Fleuret?" she asked, crossing her arms before her chest. "You're probably the only person who can answer the question, considering the fact that you are almost always together, isn't that right?"
"No, Mrs. Mulier. Stella and I are not always together." Noctis firmly replied. He saw two kinds of reaction at that moment: a questionable look from the teacher and a victorious look from his female classmates.
"And no," he added. "I can't answer your question because I have no idea where she is."
"Hmm… That's rather disappointing. Anyhow, since she isn't here yet, you might as well take the responsibility of telling her the details about cotillion night. You are her partner, after all."
Noctis nodded slightly. He wondered if he could ever tell her the details, much more talk to her.
"Remember," Mrs. Mulier said, gazing across the room, observing the attentiveness of her students. "This year's senior dance theme is royalty. Everybody is required to have a mask also, as part of the Regius dance tradition. The venue will be at the Dance Hall. Oh and yes! Be here by six in the evening. No one should be late, alright!"
A chorus answer in agreement was replied by the students. Mrs. Mulier grinned at her class' understanding. Turning around, she picked up a chalk on the blackboard's dusty ledge. She was about to begin another Physics lesson when suddenly, three loud knocks was heard. The whole class, including Mrs. Mulier, drew their attention toward the classroom's front door. Everyone was shocked to see who came in very late.
"Ah!" said the teacher. Mrs. Mulier was wondering where her favorite Physics student had gone off to. It had been days since she last saw that pupil present in class.
Noctis poised himself up in his seat. His dark cobalt eyes shot wide open at the sight of the person standing by the door. Lacertus was very much surprised as well. He looked immediately at Celer, demanding any possible explanation for that particular classmate's sudden comeback. But to his dismay, Celer returned to him a troubled shrug. He too, did not know the answer and was also demanding a completely rational reason as well.
"Sorry I'm late for class, Mrs. Mulier."
"That's alright as long as you have an excuse letter with you."
"I do."
"Very well then, take your seat, Mr. Faust."
The students trailed the boy as he approached his seat. Everyone was curious as to where that classmate had been since the past week. But the class and its teacher weren't as curious as the Caelum Prince and his posse.
Noctis wasn't sure if he was seeing things right. He had no idea about what was going on. Noctis questioned himself of every possible explanation he might have as to how the very person that they were looking futilely for was there, sitting with them in class.
Salsus Faust felt the stare of his three close companions, upon him. He has always considered those people important since the day he first he got to know them more. But among the three, Salsus only returned a look at Noctis. Pushing his glasses close to his eyes, he greeted the Prince with a rather mysterious smirk.
The following class hour was spent by Mrs. Mulier on Light Refraction. For sixty long minutes, Noctis jotted down the notes without fully understanding what he wrote. His mind was filled to the brim with questions he badly wanted to ask to Salsus. Was he alright? Where had he been? What was he doing during his absence? Why didn't he tell his friends anything?
The shrill of the school bell was the only thing that snapped Noctis out of his deep thoughts completely. Shoving his notebook and pen back into his sling bag, he waited for the rest of the class to leave the room. Both Celer and Lacertus had the same thing that Noctis also had in mind. Salsus already knew what it was so he decided to stay in his seat until the last person walked out of the classroom.
"Mr. Hadrian!" the teacher called. "I hope you're studying well. I still haven't gone through your exam paper but I'm expecting good remarks from you. Is that clear?"
"Yeah, Mrs. Mulier!" Celer replied. "I've been studying well so you can expect a passing score from me!"
"Are you sure about that?"
"Yes! Yes, I'm sure!" answered Celer who was in a hurry to get rid of the Physics teacher out of the room. The boys wouldn't need her to be around when they interrogate Salsus.
"Hmph." Mrs. Mulier picked up her things from the table and made her way toward the door. "I really will not like the idea of having you as my student again for next year, Mr. Hadrian."
"Yeah! I'm cool with that too! Bye, Mrs. Mulier!" Celer briskly stood on his feet, waving at the woman who finally exited the classroom.
Salsus realized that everybody had left except for the four of them. He pushed his hands hard against the table, feeling the presence of someone fast approaching. From afar, Lacertus wondered why he looked as if Salsus was struggling just to stand up.
"You!!" A hand grabbed Salsus' collar. "Where have you been, huh?!"
"Celer…" a voice said.
"Do you have any idea how much trouble we went through just to look for you?! We were worried sick!" he growled.
"Celer…" a voice said again.
"Why didn't tell us anything?!" Celer angrily pulled Salsus close to his face. "Is that how worthless we are to you now?!"
Lifting a fist in the air, Celer was about to punch Salsus right in the face when a hand quickly grasped his arm, preventing him from doing so.
"Enough."
Celer glared to his left. "Don't stop me, Noct! I have every right to sock this idiot in the face!" he exclaimed, trying to pull his arm off Noctis' strong grasp.
"It's not worth it." Noctis shook his head. Lacertus noticed how Salsus winced awkwardly at the blonde's grasp.
A low chuckle was heard. "It's alright, Celer. Go on, hit me. I understand how you're feeling."
Celer looked at the boy whom he held by the collar. Glaring at him for a few moments, he tightened his grip before shoving Salsus away from his face.
"Tch! Coward!" Celer exclaimed, distancing himself away from him. Salsus pushed the glasses upon his face, poising himself properly. He fixed his collar and straightened his creased uniform.
"Sal," the Prince said, kindly. "What happened?"
Salsus smirked. "Nothing,"
"Stop lying," Noctis said. "You're not hiding anything from us."
"Oh?" Salsus chuckled, walking away.
"You disappeared without a trace and then you just came back all of a sudden." Noctis' forehead creased. "And now you're talking to us as if everything is alright."
"That's because nothing's wrong, Noct." He replied, heading towards the door.
"Sal!" Lacertus stepped forward. "Where are you going? We're not finished yet."
"If you want to know what really happened," Salsus halted in his steps, looking over his shoulder. "Come to the fencing building after school. I'll tell everything that you need to know."
The three boys were surprised by his words. Not only was Salsus a bit unresponsive to their questions, he also sounded as if he wasn't the Salsus they knew right before he disappeared.
"Ah! And when you do come, Noct," Salsus eyed the Caelum monarch. "Please don't forget to bring your Hakai."
Noctis' eyes widened. He clenched a fist, wondering what he meant by his strange request. Celer and Lacertus were also caught off guard by his statement. Both feared what would happen if Noctis complied with their friend's words.
Salsus flashed a perplexing smirk before them. Realizing that Noctis understood what he said, he stepped out of the classroom, disappearing from their sight.
"Noct," Celer asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you really going?"
Noctis nodded. "I have to… Are you alright now, Celer?"
"Yeah, I guess." Celer brushed his blonde bangs off his forehead. "Man! I wish I knew what was going on though."
"Me too," replied Noctis.
"Hey,"
The Prince and the air soft lover looked at their scar faced pal who had a dubious expression on.
"Isn't it weird?" Lacertus asked. "It had only been a few days, but it seems as if Sal has forgotten that it's already summer."
"So?" Celer questioned without the faintest of clue.
"So, why is he wearing our winter uniform instead of the one for summer? That blazer's bound to make him sweat so much on the inside."
Noctis agreed, observing the difference between what they wore and what Salsus did. During the summer season, the boys of Regius lose their blazer and replace their white, long-sleeved Polos with short ones. Keeping the blazers on wasn't only breaking the school's uniform rules but it was also self torture in the midst of the hot summer season.
Celer slightly leaned backwards in air, positioning both of his palms behind his head. "Bah! Who cares? Whatever kind of fashion show he's trying to pull, we'll find it out later, eh Noct?"
"You're coming along?" Noctis raised a brow.
"Sure! He didn't specifically say that the two of us can't come, right Lacertus?"
Lacertus laughed. "Yeah,"
"Alright then, I'm off to my next class," Celer informed, walking away.
"Me too, Noct." Lacertus said. "See you guys later, then."
"Yeah," Noctis grinned, heading off as well to his next subject. The sooner his classes finished, the sooner he'll be able to talk to Salsus. There were many things he wanted to ask and he hoped that he wouldn't need to use his weapon in order for his questions to be answered.
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A man in a military uniform approached the body lying helplessly on the cold floor. Stripped off of his upper clothing, the man saw the bluish-purple marks marred on his chest, back and arms. He pitied the poor boy who suffered that kind of fate. But the man simply couldn't allow traitors lurking around the palace, spilling his plans. Anyone who would eventually do so would be gravely punished even before his secrets are leaked out.
Bending down, he reached out a hand to touch the boy's neck. Feeling a faint pulse, the man smiled and laughed darkly. The officer looked upon those olive colored eyes which stared blankly into space.
"Playing possum, are we, Salsus?" Arkenis asked, standing up. "There's something I need to tell you."
Hearing no response, the short tempered man decided to kick the boy's stomach hard with his left boot. His plan of getting attention worked as he saw Salsus coil himself inwardly, moaning in pain.
"There we go. Ready to listen to me now?" he asked.
The boy opened his mouth but no words came out. Fearing that Arkenis might think he wasn't listening, Salsus struggled to lift his face off the floor and looked furiously at the brutal man.
"Did you know?" Arkenis smirked. "Prince Noctis is looking for you."
Salsus' olive irises widened. His sudden reaction to Arkenis' words caused a twinge of physical pain in him. He groaned as he heard the Caelum military officer talk further.
"Sooner or later this kind of thing was bound to happen." Arkenis bent down again, squeezing the boy's face by the jaw. "That's the reason why I never allowed my men to strike at your face… Because I'll need you to look alright when I release you."
Arkenis retrieved his hand, allowing Salsus' face to hit the ground with no support. He moaned painfully, wanting the suffering he felt to end.
"Of course, there's a certain price for your freedom," he said, standing up. "All you have to do is kill the Caelum Prince."
Salsus groaned in disagreement. Arkenis ignored his reaction and went on.
"I've been meaning to find a way to end his life without doing it myself. I thought I'd have to hire an assassin to do it for me but Salsus… you're the perfect pawn for the job."
The Caelum officer walked towards the soldier who was guarding the room from the inside.
"You might be wondering why I wish to kill the only heir to the Caelum throne," Arkenis flashed an evil grin. "You see, Prince Noctis is a huge hindrance to my plans. That's why he needs to be removed from the list of my obstacles."
Arkenis brought his hand between him and the soldier. Understanding what the officer meant, the man drew out his sword and offered it to him on bended knees. Arkenis took the weapon from his hands and went back to where Salsus weakly laid.
"You already know my true plans so I think you can clearly see how Prince Noctis doesn't fit in the picture well." Arriving before Salsus, Arkenis flashed another evil grin. "So are you prepared already or do you still need a bit of time?"
Moaning in pain, he mustered the strength he had to push himself against the floor. The officer watched as the tortured boy struggled to hold his weight on his arms.
"I… will… not kill… him," the battered lad said, his lips trembling in an effort to say his answer. He slowly lifted his head, glaring at Arkenis with hate-filled eyes.
Infuriated with the boy's reply, the officer did not hesitate to give him another hard kick on the abdomen. Salsus roughly fell down on the floor, curling up to his stomach.
"If you do not wish to go back to this place, then do as I say. You cannot escape this task, Salsus! You will go back to the outside world and you will kill Prince Noctis."
"And if… I refuse?!" he questioned, wincing at the pain he felt from where Arkenis hit him.
Bending over, the officer quickly grabbed a handful of his hazel locks. He leaned close to his right ear andwhispered, "If you refused, wouldn't you be breaking the promise you made to your late grandfather? Qovid should be ashamed of you!"
"I won't be breaking the promise… because I will be serving the son of the man who had sacrificed his life for the Crystal!"
"Fool!" Arkenis laughed, tightening his hold on Salsus' hair. "Do you still truly think that this is about me acquiring the Caelum throne?! I no longer wish for such a pitiful desire! Ever since Neleus committed his untold sacrifice, I have thought about things clearly and I have seen them in a much better perspective… To rule the world…" he whispered. "With the help of the Crystal's power… That is a more preferable ambition that I wish to fulfill in this lifetime."
Arkenis briskly shoved the boy's head away. Salsus winced, struggling on his arms to keep himself on his knees.
"Your plan will never succeed old man!" he spat. "I will not allow any of that to happen!"
The officer twisted the sword, looking upon his reflection from the steel blade. "Do you remember what Qovid said to you on his deathbed?" the man asked, ignoring what Salsus strongly assured him.
"I have never forgotten my grandfather's words."
"Oh? Hmm… I could've sworn I heard him tell you to follow whatever his 'savior' asks of you."
"You are not my grandfather's savior, Arkenis! His life was prolonged because of the Crystal and the Crystal's owners and protectors are none other than the Caelum family!"
Arkenis' forehead creased. Turning around, he swiftly pointed the sword at Salsus, tilting his neck withthe blade's tip. "Don't pretend like you don't know anything, boy! I saved your grandfather's life! I told Qovid about the healing technology of the Crystal! If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be able to spend a little bit more time with your beloved father figure… Even if he still couldn't escape death a few years later."
Salsus lowered his head. Deep inside, he wished his grandfather was still alive to give him advices which had always lifted his spirit a long time ago. But the great Duke was no longer with his people or with his grandson. Salsus was left to figure things out for himself, taking the sacrifices needed, to heart.
"Now," Arkenis bent on his knees, bringing the sword horizontally between them. "Do what you have to do for Qovid's wish."
Salsus raised his head slightly. Gazing upon the sword's sharp blade, he reached for its bronze hilt. Salsus has never thought of taking his friend's life. Not even once. But Arkenis had successfully convinced him simply by changing his mind using his grandfather's memory against his reluctance.
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From within the shadows of the half lit gymnasium, he heard footsteps coming to the center of the building. The figures of three students stopped a foot away from him.
The boy grinned and asked, "Why didn't you bring your weapon, Noct?
"It's quite troublesome to ask somebody to bring it over here, you see."
"Well, if that's the case then you should've considered bringing some other weapon."
"Any particular reason why I should do so? Sal?"
He smirked, stepping out of the shadows. Noctis' eyes were immediately drawn to the item which Sal held by its leather sheath.
"There's going to be a game tonight, Noct." He pushed his glasses closer to his nose bridge. "But it would've been more interesting if you just did what I asked of you."
Noctis' eyebrows met in the middle. He clenched a fist, glowering at the boy before him. What had truly happened to his dear friend during his mysterious absence?
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a/n: Everybody wants to kill Prince Noctis. Who else wants to? LOL. How was this chapter? Any good? Want to read the next one? :D Please Review/Comment/Criticize! THANK YOU!!!!
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~*REVIEW REPLIES*~
(31. Burdened Hearts)
Bmonti: LOL. Yeah! :D I know! I only realized it now that I should've made their drink stronger than wine. But you know, I don't really drink any hard liquor (just red wine) so I wouldn't know much about it. But anyways, I think wine would still make you drunk right? Especially if its alcohol content is big in percentage... O_o
Iris: *squeals* Yes! Noctis needs to be alive so that he and Stella will be able to build a relationship! But... we'll see if they'll be able to really form a relationship especially now that Stella has decided not to attend Regius anymore. :(
SilverIceDragon: I'm glad you liked how I ended the chapter. Hopefully, this one cleared things up even a bit. :D LOL. Writer's block sucks! By this time, your inspiration or muse must've gone back to you now, yes?