Author's Note: Gah! I so sorry, guys. I meant to get this out on thanksgiving day as a present, but I failed. *sigh* anyway, I'm counting on you guys! R&R!
Once upon a time,
There existed a giant tree
That was the source of mana.
A war, however, caused this tree to
wither away, and a hero's life was
sacrificed to take it's place.
Grieving over the loss, the goddess
disappeared unto the heavens.
The goddess left the angels
with this edict:
" You must wake me. For if I should
sleep, the world shall be destroyed."
The angels bore, the Chosen One.
who headed toward the tower
that reached up onto the heavens.
And that, marked the beginning of
the regeneration of the world...
" Lloyd Irving, wake up!"
Silence replied for the said boy, making his classmates snicker softly in amusement at him.
" LLOYD!"
The female voice sounded out again from across the room with slight more volume then the first time; when the teen failed yet again to respond to his teachers callings, a chalkboard eraser was thrown with great accuracy and smacked him in the face.
" Gahh!" The brunette gasped as he awoke from his fitful slumber. The woman came to a stop and front of him and crossed her arms angrily, staring at her student with the unmost annoyance.
" How do you manage to sleep standing?" The bluenette asked with disbelief and humor at the same time. Upon hearing his's teacher's voice, the teen looked up.
" Oh, Professor Raine. Eh.. Is class over?" Lloyd Irving answered with a question of his own, traces of hope could be heard in his voice. Ignoring the younger boy, the elven woman turned heel and began to walk back up to the front of the classroom.
" Never mind. Let's have some else answer the question." She sighed in fustration, and glanced a small, elven boy that looked very similar to her in every way as she passed.
" Genis, how about you?"
The twelve year old automatically stood up in attention. " Yes, Raine." Genis Sage replied dutifully, then continued on to explain his answer to the original question. " Mithos, the hero, brought about the end of the Ancient War in the Holy Grounds of Kharlan."
Raine smiled proudly at her younger sibling as he sat down in his seat again, then turned her attention back to the rest of the class. " Correct. Afterwards, Mithos the hero, formed a pact with the Goddess Martel," She continued, heading up the conversation. " To seal away the desians whom caused the war."
This piece of information caught Lloyd's ever drifting mind, and brought it right back to the present. " But the now the desians are back and are causing everyone to suffer!" The swordsman exclaimed out right, causing a few people to glance back at him momentarily.
Professor Sage shook her head. " We covered that in class last time, remember? When the Seal weakens the desians reappear, just like the have now."
Lloyd felt his face heat up from embrassment from being reprimended yet again. Indeed, even he remember that they did indeed, cover that in class the other day. " I-I knew that." He stuttered slightly, turning his blushing expression to the side. " I-I just forgot."
" Today is the Day of Prophecy." Raine pushed on in a calm tone. " It is a very important day, which the Chosen of Regeneration will receive the Oracle from the Goddess Martel."
*~*~
While this discussion went about in the school house, villagers were busily striding around the village, talking excited amongst themselves every so often about the how the awaited day had finally come about.
In the most south-eastern part of Iselia, the Cresecent Inn was also bussling with much activity to rival those outside. Hired help went about, busily doing their indiviual tasks as well as other small jobs, all to give the Inn a much more brighter and welcoming image.
It was finally the promised day. Visitors were sure to come from all over different parts of Slyverant to see the destined chosen one.
Meanwhile, upstairs a certain girl watched the villagers move around outside from her bedroom window, a grim and apprehensive expression.
(1ST POV)
' So, the time has finally come..' Feeling weak in the legs, I leaned against the window frame for support as I continued to gaze outside with weary eyes. Lifting a hand, I lightly grasped the sapphire cross my beloved father had sent me for my 17th birthday.
' I can only pray I'll get through this..' I moved my eyes toward the sky, feeling sadness as well as home sickness raidate from inside me. ' Kami-sama.. Please watch over me...'
" Bev, are awake little one?"
I recongnized that voice as Selena Olathe, my current guardian for the few weeks that had passed. " Ah, just a minute!" I answered back. Sliding the window closed, I moved away from it and began for the door, but halted when I came across the mirror on my wall.
Looking in it, I saw that traces of my depression still remained. I furiously scrubbed my face with the palms of my hands. A day or two after the meeting, both Selena and Professor Raine had given their permission for me to officially get off bed rest. The first thing I had done was get back the feeling in my legs. Resting in that bed for so long had taken it's toll.
I felt like a newborn baby, completely weak in the legs when I tried to stand up for the first time, so Selena had suggested that I take it a day a time. On the third day of my road to recovery, I had come across this same mirror, as I had been using the wall as my support as I practiced walking around the room.
Looking into the divine looking glass, I scared my own self when I saw a completely different looking person reflecting back:
My hair was naturally blond when I had been born, but darkened over the years growing up. Now, it was supposed to be a dirty blond with a slight red sheen to it, but now it was a unnatural red-golden shade, flashing red when the light hit my head whenever I turned it.
And the light-brown eyes I had inherited from my grandmother had drastically changed to a dark grey. At first I had thought about calling for Selena, but decided to keep quiet after much debating with myself. Perhaps I would find the answer of my new sudden appearance sooner then I thought if not now.
Snapping out of my hazing memories, I crossed the rest of the distance to the door and opened it, allowing entry to the person on the other side.
" Good morning, Selena." I greeted the older woman warmly. Spending so much time with her and her husband Taka, I had come to cast aside my shyness and interacted more normally with the couple.
The blond elf smiled back, but it seemed a bit more strained then her usual happy grin she greeted me with everyday.
" Taka is waiting for you in the back outside." She informed me briskly. " Go meet him. I will join you two shortly."
And before I could get a word of protest in, the inn-keeper quickly turned around and strode down the hall at a brisk pace. I stared after her with a pout.
' But I wanted to help everyone else..' I sighed out, rubbing my head. ' Oh well. I go see what Taka wants. Hopefully it won't take too long and I can get around to helping with the inn.'
I turned away from the entry way and walked back into the room, but left the door open. I picked up my boots from against the right side of the doorway and sat down on my bed with a healthy plop, immeditaly sliding one of them on and tying it tightly (if it was too loose I would trip everywhere, being the klutz I am) before pulling on the other one.
Finished with the task, I stood up and headed towards the door once again, this time closing it behind me as I left.
*~
Back In The Classroom Of The School...
" Chosen One.. Colette."
Out of the group of students who ages ranged from 6 and higher, a young woman who looked like she was about in her mid-teens stood from her seat in the same manner Genis had done before.
She was pretty thing; standing a height of 5'3" with a long mane of sunlight hair cascading down her back. Her sky-blue eyes retained a form of seriousness when her title had been called.
" Yes, Ma'am." Colette Brunel answered cheerfully, acting quite the exact opposite of her destined role that was cast on her at birth.
" Tell us about the Journey of World Regeneration." Raine instructed, watching her student carefully with cool violet-blue eyes.
" It is a journey to seal the desians." The blond repiled immeditaly. " Upon passing the trials of the Goddess Martel, the Summon Spirits that protect the world awaken. And mana, is restored."
" Correct. I suppose we should expect the Chosen herself to know the answer to that one. Mana depletion is the cause of the current food shortages and droughts."
The Professor found her eyes wondering back to her difficult student as she spoke, taking in the sight of the boy who was currently brooding with his eyes shut, a serious expression crossing his face.
" It is said that this occurs because the desians consumes vast amounts of mana in their human ranchs."
Feeling eyes on him, Lloyd allowed his own to open to the world and looked up just in time to see Colette smile briefly at him before sitting back down in her assigned seat.
" The Chosen's journey has two purposes– to revive mana, as well as defeat the desians."
Raine straightened her profile, regaining her stern tone as she continued on with her lesson.
" Now, for the next question–"
But it never came. A blinding light flashed through the windows of the small classroom, cutting the teacher off and rounding up everyone's attention.
*~
Meanwhile back at the inn, I had just stepped outside (in the inn's backyard. If you would call it that), and crossed the lawn over to a tall, brunette-haired elf that stood on the other side of the fenced area, staring up and towards a certain direction.
" You wanted to see me?" I inquired as I came up beside the silent weapon-smith. Taka Olathe did not answer right away; he merely glanced down at me from the corner of his eye before going back to staring at whatever had his attention. I followed his example. But the moment I turned to look, I was blinded by light, the same light that everyone else was surely experincing.
*~
' Wh..What was that?' Was the first thing the came to Lloyd's mind, gazing out the window in shock as the light retreated as quickly as it came.
" Settle down. It would seem the time for the oracle has come." Professor Raine ordered sharply to her overly excited students without taking her own eyes off of the window. " I will go and check on the chapel. Everyone, stay here and study on your own. Understood?"
And with that, she began to stride out of the room as fast as her legs could carry her, leaving the room to eurpt into many different conversations, making the once silent classroom very noisy.
Now that the danger was gone (for now), Lloyd took this chance to set down the buckets he had been instructed to hold while standing up at the back of the classroom. His punishment for slacking off in class yet again. But, we already know that didn't work, don't we?
" Ow.." The swordsman groaned, allowing his body to hunch over as soon as his butt hit his seat; the area of his forehead that had been damaged by the flying eraser had begun to throb dully.
" It was your fault, Lloyd." Genis informed his older friend with a sigh, hands on his hips as stood beside the boy's desk.
" What if I get dumber then I already am, because of this?" Lloyd complained, favoring his head while his chin rested on the smooth surface of his desk.
" It was your fault, Lloyd." The small elf repeated in exsperation, but that feeling left quickly when he realized the swordsman was staring at the vacant seat in front of him. Colette's desk.
Genis let out a second sigh, this time of defeat. " Though it can't be helped.." He murmured quietly.
*~*
Outside of the school, Taka and I stood in front of the gate of the north entrance of the village, both of us observing the thin but bright beam of light coming from the Church of Martel. The sword-smith beside looked on with a hard expression, while mine was one of sadness. ' Colette...' That was the one single thought that ran through my mind before Taka nudged me back to reality.
I glanced up at him, while at the same time he stared down at me.
After moments of silence, the tall elf broke off the staring contest and looked up at the sky for the several time now. " It's seems that Oracle has finally arrived." He stated in quiet and harsh tone. " The Chosen has already departed for the temple moments earlier."
" Then, what do what me to do?" I frowned, now feeling completely confused. Although I wasn't from this world, I already knew the duties of the Chosen. So why..?
" It seems someone else followed them," Taka continued. " It could very well be an assassin, come to kill Colette before she has a chance to receive the Oracle. " He looked back down at the young human beside him, watching her even as she had her attention captured by something else.
" I want you to go and watch over them."
Startled, I broke eye contact with the beam of light and switched to Taka. His face was completely serious and grim, it scared me.
" Selena is strong, but she will need my help if trouble comes." The sword-smith said, answering the unspoken question. " She can't handle both the villagers and the desians at the same time."
He turned his body and placed his strong hands on my shoulders, gripping them in reassurance. " Don't worry. I know you'll be fine. Just believe that you'll pull through, and you will."
And with that, my guardian turned heel and headed back towards the inn, his gait rather quick even though he looked composed.
I looked down at the sliver bow in my hand, once Taka had disappeared from sight. ' Taka's right, I shouldn't think so negatively.' Although I had never fought before in my life, some part of me knew my confidence would make up for it.
The hand on my bow tightened, and I began to take steps foreward, my expression set with hard determination.
" Bev!"
' Uh-oh..' Was the first thing that crossed my mind when I heard Lloyd call out to me from behind. Knowing it was inevitable otherwise, I turned to face them as they came to a stop.
" Both of you, you should head back into the school!" I exclaimed, looking at my two friends with seriousness reflecting in my eyes.
I wasn't much older then some of her older students, so I was probabley flaunting my luck here. Oh well, had to give it a shot sometime.
" But–!"
" Lloyd, Genis!" I snapped. I knew he wouldn't listen. But hey, couldn't blame a girl for trying.
Genis flinched when his name left my mouth and stood back, afraid I would use the same method his sister always used to punish disobedient students. Lloyd however, continued to lock eyes with me, his red orbs mirroring my own emotions right back.
Finally, I gave in.
Sighing, I turned and began to head towards the Church again. " Alright. But if something happens, I'm not responsible." I called over my shoulder as I left.
Lloyd grinned down at his younger friend, already knowing that I could never say no to him. Genis smiled right back, and then the two followed after the retreating girl.
*~
In the Martel Temple, Colette stood in front of the alter where the Oracle had appeared. Behind her, the priests the guarded her during the trial stood at her back, alert for any sign of danger.
The blond girl stared up in wonder at the angelic being that had arrived with the Oracle: He wore the appearance of a middle-aged man, lines forming at the corner of his mouth.
His hair was the same shade as Colette's, although his emerald eyes were different from her blue ones. Above all, his appearance itself looked majestic.
" An.. Angel?" Colette whispered, her innocent eyes wide with wonder as she stared up at the being.
" My name is Remiel." The angel began, his voice booming out at every corner of every
corner of the room. " You, who have been decreed the chosen.. I ask thee-" He looked down at the girl. "-Are you prepared to go on the Journey of World Regeneration?"
The young girl blinked at the simple, yet complicated, question. To find the answer, Colette allowed her eyes to close for a brief moment. Memories of her time together with Lloyd flashed through her mind's eye.
" Yes." She replied, revealing her blue orbs to the world again. Upon hearing her answer, the angelic being lowered himself until the tips of his feet nearly brushed the alter.
" Very well." Remiel held up a single hand, which in turn began to glow an unearthly light. At the exact moment, Colette felt something slip from her neck; the pendent Lloyd had made for her fell to the ground with a ping.
But as the blond went to pick it up, surprised it even fell in the first place, she favored her neck instead, feeling white-hot pain arise from the area.
A glamerous light shone through her fingers which clutched at her neck, and the pain went away as quick as it came. Colette lifted her hands to reveal a beautiful red gem that appeared at the base of her neck, not having to have been there before.
" This is..?" But before she had a chance to ponder it, the angel began to speak again.
" I hereby pronounce you, Colette, a Chosen of Restoration." Remiel stated in a grave tone, suited for his appearance. " The angel's shall bless you, and grant this world a Tower of Salvation."
This time the being lifted both his hands towards the ceiling, and the ball of light he had come from shone brightly, forcing Colette to shield her eyes from the light with her arms.
Outside however, a thin but tall building appeared in the distance. Looking quite plain yet majestic as the angel. And, just as discribed in the books, it did indeed reach the heavens.
Spotting this, Lloyd halted his footsteps and stared at the new building with eyes full of awe and disbelief. I stopped by his side, following his example to look up at the tower.
" That must be the Tower of Salvation." I murmured out loud. " The final destination of the Journey of Restoration." I glanced at the silent swordsman. " The place the Chosen must reach."
I took a step further so I could get a better view of the astonished teens. " Don't worry. Colette will have an escort. Professor Raine will be accompanying her as well."
They snapped out of their daze and turned to look at me upon hearing ' Raine' Come out of my mouth.
I smiled encouragingly. " She'll bring her back without a scratch."
Lloyd frowned and looked away, glancing up at the tower again before he took off, startling Genis. Worried for his best friend, the small elf called out his name and ran after the older boy. I followed as well.
*~
" Travel to the Tower of Salvation, unleash the seal, and climb the stairway to heaven. We angels will grant you with a portion of our power, every time you break a seal."
Colette clasped her hands to her chest. " This Chosen has accepted her duty." She answered formally.
" When you are reborn as an angel, this withered world will be restored." Remiel explained further. " First, head to the Seal of Fire, due south of here." His pearl wings flapped out, and he began to rise towards the ball of light towards the ceiling, making Colette gasp.
" Pray at the alter, and unleash the seal!" And with these last words, the angelic being disappeared in the same form of light he had arrived in, leaving the blond Chosen with her thoughts.
" Chosen One."
Colette turned, and let out another gasp of surprise when she found the three priests on their knees, bowing at the same time. " High Priests!"
She stepped foreward, nervous about their sudden new behavior. " P-Please, stop that."
The young woman requested somewhat frantically. " I haven't changed at all, so you can treat me just the same.." Her voice trailed off and her eyes lit with sadness, knowing very well the priests couldn't do that.
" 20 years ago..." The head priest began. " The Oracle descended in the same manner. And the Chosen One went on the journey. She never returned. I am sorry, leaving this heavy, important reponsibility to you." Beside me, Colette just shook her head and smiled. " It's alright," She said reassuringly. The head priest looked up. " I leave it up to you." He said solemnly. " Yes." The blond girl murmured. " This World, I will defintely--"
Then Colette was cut off by the shattering of the windows above; Dozens and Dozens of windows flew through the broken windows at an amazing speed, intending to hit their target with full force. Gasping in fear in surprise, Colette threw herself to the ground and shield her head with an arm. A couple stray arrows hit the ground inchs from her but, the on slought never came.
The blond girl looked up hesaitently, and the sight that greeted her enticed another cry from her mouth. The three priests which had accompained her to the Martel Temple had stopped the barrage of arrows: with their own bodies. " L-Lord Priests!" Colette cried out in anguish. " P-Please hide yourself.." The head priest pleaded with a weakened voice.
" Protect this world..." But Colette could not bring herself to answer him, overcome with grief and horror at the events taking place.
The sounds of yelling brought the young girl to attention. She quickly turned around to see a group of at least four armored men, desians, come charging in with swords drawn.
Colette hid herself behind the alter as quick as she could, only to peek out to see the last guard run through; Flinching at all of the blood that spurted out from the dying man's wound, she turned back to hiding. Fear rooted her to the spot.
But it was at that moment the priests words came back to her. Determination renewed itself in the girl, and she stepped out of her hiding place, her chakrams at ready.
The desians didn't seem the least bit imitidated. They just grinned maliciously and stepped forward.
" Colette!"
Startled at the sudden calling of her name, Colette looked past the gap of desians and smiled with relief. There at the entrance of the stairs stood her closet friends, Genis, Bev, and of course, Lloyd.
The duo swordsman, spotting the fallen priests and guards, fisted his gloved hands in anger towards the killer desians, who had been responsible for the deaths.
" Take care of the injured!" Lloyd ordered me before darting forward. He dropped his body and slid along the ground in time to avoid a dangerous swipe from one of the desians, grasping the fallen swords before taking stance of front of Colette.
Lloyd glared, seething with anger as the desians snickered at the boy who so foolishly stood against them.
" Sorry, I'm late."
' I know that voice..' Genis and I looked up to see a man around his late twentys standing at entrance, dressed mostly in purple with a shealthed, double-edge sword at his side.
" You've come, Sir Kratos..!" The remaining priest rasped weakly, his head in my lap.
Kratos walked foreward, passing Genis and only stopping untill he stood in the middle of four desians; He unshealthed his sword and pointed it slightly at him, cocking his head in a let's-see-what-you-got fashion while keeping his unhindered eye on the enemys. The desians seemed to heasitent a bit, then let out battle cries and charged foreward, swords raised to strike.
With one move of his sword, three of the desians fell to the ground with crys of pain in defeat; one soldier who had survived the attack turned and charged towards Lloyd and Colette. Looking to do some damage.
Lloyd quickly blocked the heavy sword with his own two; his exsphere began to glow brightly and tore the bandage that was hiding it in half.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kratos's eye widen in shock in surprise. A faint red aura settled over Lloyd before disappearing, then the duo swordsman darted forward and used a familar move known as Tiger Blade, snapping the enemy's neck and pounding him into the ground.
Lloyd stood back and breathed heavily, glaring down at the dead body. Behind him, Colette was opened in awe, staring at her friend with new found respect.
I looked at the boy from afar, smiling in pride. ' Well done, Lloyd. You should them how strong you are..'
Sighing, I turned my head towards the sunlight that shone it's greeting through the broken windows, welcoming the warmth on my face. But then..
' hm?' Was it just me? Or was I seeing things? ' Is that.. A bird?' Carefully I moved the semi-concious priest's head from my lap and stood up, walking up to the window for closer inspection.
' No.. It's not!' My eyes widened as I recongnized the flying objects as kunai. Kunai were deadly knife like weapons that most ninja and shinobis used in assassinations. But it was too early for–
' Crap!' Instinctively I slipped my sliver bow of my shoulder and took aim, grabbing at least three arrows at a time and knocked them back, pointing the arrow heads at the oncoming leathel weapons.
My actions did not go unnoticed by the others. In fact, it surprised them.
" Bev, what's wrong?" Genis asked apprehensively, startled at his other friend's behavior.
I only pulled the arrows back further, narrowing my eyes in concentration as the kunai came closer and closer.
' Now..!' I released the bolts, watching as they flew out the window and right into the kunai's path.
BOOM!!
" Wha..?!" Lloyd yelped in shock, taking a step back as he watched the arrows explode in mid air. " Hey Bev. What did you just–?"
But before he could finish his question, I ran down the steps and out of the building, leaving behind some very confused companions. Kratos, however, looked after where I had disappeared with what could only be discribed as a indifferent expression.
"............................."
*~*
Outside of the Temple, I continued to sprint along the dirt path that led to the building behind me, one hand slung over my shoulder to grip an arrow while the other limb held my bow at ready.
The whistling of an object flying through the air came once again, this time from my right among the cliffs.
Skidding to a stop, I made my body cartwheel out of the path of the dangerous knife and took aim, quickly firing back from where the kunai had surely come from.
Much to my disbelief, the arrow head began to glow an eerie white aura as it flew towards the direction of the assailant.
The shadow I could barely make out on the top of the cliffs (thanks to the direction of the sunbeams shining in my face) moved a split second before my arrow was able to hit it; instead, it collided with the cliff wall with a burst of flash (think of Kagome's holy arrow).
' Damn, I missed him!' I cursed, gritting my teeth in fustration. Letting out a low growl, I turned away and shouldered my bow.
But since I been so immersed in my anger and irritation, I did not see another shadow, one of a desian lookout, make off along the cliff on my left.
*~*
"..Then, we shall entrust the protection of the Chosen to Kratos and Raine." The Mayor announced in a grave manner as I walked into the Inn.
After searching for the assassin for what I considered a good half an hour, I decided to return to Iselia and tell Taka what had happened. But it looks like I just walked in on a meeting. Can we say, whoops?
The Mayor sat at the head of the table, while Colette, her grandmother and father, sat on the right. Kratos sat on the left, across from them. Meanwhile, Lloyd and Genis stood to the side, next to Selena and Taka.
Colette was the first to notice my entrance.
" Thank you so much for your help earlier!" She greeted me happily. This caught the attention of Lloyd, Genis, Selena, Taka, as well as Frank and Phaidra. Only Kratos remained in the position he sat in.
" Ooh, your back." Phaidra echoed, smiling similarly like her young granddaughter. " I have heard from Colette of how much of a help you have been. Please, if there's anything you need, just let us know."
I smiled back politely. " Thank you." I murmured. " I didn't mean to intrude. Were you talking about the Journey of World just now?"
" Yes."
Before I could ask any further, Lloyd took this chance to input his own desires.
" I want to go too!" He argued, his tall body hunched defensively. " I want to see Colette regenerate the world!"
" If Raine is going, I want to go too." Genis agreed, his cererulan eyes shining with determination.
" No. You'll get in the way." Kratos's firm tone cut through the tide of protests.
' Uh-oh..' I rolled my eyes. ' Here we go...'
Lloyd gawked at the older man like he had gone insane. " Wh..What?" He sputtered, confused what the mysterious stranger had refused so bluntly.
The auburn-haired man stood up, sliding his chair back in the process. " The battles of the chapel are nothing compared to the journey that awaits us." Kratos stated out in a harsh, repriemanding tone. " Children need to stay home."
" Kratos is absolutely right." The mayor added sternly. " Now then. We still have things we need to discuss. You two should head home."
' Oh dear..' I watched with a mental sweat-drop as Lloyd practically stomped out of the house in fustration, while a frantic Genis followed right behind him, attempting to calm the older boy down.
The scrapping of another chair brought me back to attention. I watched Colette run after her two friends out of the corner of my eye, unfortuntely leaving me with the others in uncomfortable silence.
" Bev." Although I knew he would speak my name, my body still flinched like that of a child caught in the middle of a act by a parent. Scolding myself for acting in such a way, I straightened my back and turned to face my guardians.
Taka locked his dark eyes with my light colored orbs for a brief moment before jerking his head, then turned his back on me and strode into the back room without a word.
I moved to follow the elf, but paused in mid-step, turning to face the table of important people and bowed in a polite manner before hurrying after Taka, the echoing of my footsteps down the hall receding as I got further away.
Silence befell the room for a brief number of seconds.
" Such a polite young girl." Phaidra sighed with a pleasent smile. She tilted her head in the direction of Selena. " Haven't you told her there's no need for the things she does?"
" The other day, actually." The blond elf replied with a helpless smile. " According to our little guest though, that's the way her mother brought her up to be. A polite young lady."
" Hmph." The Mayor grunted. " Well, it's good to know there are still some well behaved children out there."
*~*
" Shut the door behind you." Was all Taka said as I entered his weapon-smith room. I did as told, making sure I had closed it correctly before taking a seat at the small table he had on the other side of the room.
I clasped my hands together tightly on my lap (which thankfully was hidden by the table) as I waited for the brunette elf to speak, who was standing by the window as if he were watching the setting sun.
" Well?" That was the only word that came out of his mouth to break the silence that had a continual habit of visiting.
" Ah, well.." I started, wondering how I should explain today's events. " I went to the Martel Temple as you asked. By the time I arrived though, the priests and guards that accompanied Colette were dead, killed by a group of desians."
" Seeing as how the Chosen is back safe and sound..." Taka had yet to turn from the window. " I suppose she was safely rescued by our mercenary guest?"
I made a noise of agreement before he continued on.
" What of our intruder?"
" Well for one thing, you were right about the target being Colette." I answered obediently, now gripping the fabric of my shorts to keep myself calm (for some odd reason). " But he didn't attack us until the commotion with the desians had calmed down. It was if.."
My hands tightened on the material for a brief moment. "..He was waiting for the perfect moment, for us to let our guard down." I looked back up. " Could he be.. weak in a hand to hand combat?"
" Possibly." The weapon-smith sighed grimly. " Or he probabley just wanted to get the job done as quick as possible and wanted to avoid any confrontation that would delay he trip back to his employer."
Finally, he turned away from the window and faced me, his tall profile straightened with a hint of pride. " In any case, it seemed that you handled yourself perfectly out there. Both Phaidra and Frank wanted me to extend their gratitude to you for protecting Colette today."
Taka crossed the room easily within a number of seconds thanks to the assistance of his long legs, and handed me a medium sized, leather bound book titled Monster Book.
" This should give you lists of monsters seen regularly around." The elf explained as I curiously flipped through the book. " As well as their weakness and resistances."
" Okay." I closed the book with a snap, tucking it under my arm as I rose from chair. Thinking that we were done here, I bowed in the same manner from earlier to my guardian and turned to leave the room.
" One more thing, Beverly." I halted in my footsteps just as I reached the door. " The Chosen should be leaving soon. You should go and say good-bye."
" Now?" I felt surprised and confused. Didn't Colette leave early the next morning?
" Due to the restlessness of the desians lately, and given today's events," Taka answered calmly. " Selena and I advised them to leave as soon as possible, so they can avoid anymore confrontations with would-be assassins."
Ah, that made sense.
I bowed once more to excuse myself, then exited the door rather quickly, slamming it on accident due to my hurry and leaving the elf sword-smith to brood by himself.
' Quite a daughter you have there..' He mused, the corners of his lips tweaking into a small smile. '..Frank.'
*~*~
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Ooh, wonder what's going happen next I wonder? =3
Anyway, I meant to get this out a lot earlier, but I've been so focused on classes as well as christmas shopping for my family and friends. Ah, and I've been stuck at home for the past three days! Can you guess why?
....Snow day!
Yep, Yep. It's been snowing down in the part of Oregon I live in. It started on a late Sunday night while I was sleeping. And the next thing I know, Mom's waking me up in order to tell me that I had no school. When I looked out the window it was absolutely gorgeous! In my opinion the scenery outside my house made it felt like I was living in a snow globe.
But I was quite shocked that the snow was actually sticking to the ground. It hasn't done that for the past few years (probabley since I was a freshman). It's melted quite a bit, though. And there's a good chance I have to go to school tomorrow (pouts). And I was really hoping I have an earlier christmas break.. oh, well. If I have to go to school, I will. It's only for two days instead of five.
Jya ne!
Bre17