Well, we're getting the end of what I have left. Sadly, I haven't done jack on this story in months. So the last chapter I have finished is still chapter seven. :( Sorry guys. Hopefully I'll work on it again soon, but right now it doesn't seem very likely. I've become wrapped up in a new original novel idea and need to get to work on that. We'll just have to see what happens.
Upon entering Deningrad they are met with a most wondrous sight. Naturally the palace looked beautiful from afar, but this close the beauty is amplified tenfold. It quite honestly takes their breath away. The palace is made of pure crystal with a few stone attachments periodically up its high reaching neck. The crystal juts up in multiple sharp spikes, especially at the tip. They can scarcely believe such a thing exists.
There are occasional crystal formations scattered in the town from what they can see, but it is nothing compared to the breathtaking castle. The buildings are simply made of stone. The roofs are a blue close to the crystal probably to match the theme of the grand palace.
Miranda notices their captivation and can't help but shine. "Welcome to my home." She grins from ear to ear. "I didn't grow up here, but it is where I've always felt the most loved."
Shana clasps her hands at her chest. Her eyes are wide with awe. "I've seen anything like it." She breathes. "It's magnificent."
"Is it a natural formation?" Albert can't help but ask. It truly is an amazing sight. There is nothing like it in either Serdio or Tiberoa.
Miranda chuckles softly. "No, not at all." She glances back at the palace. "It is a relic of the Dragon Campaign. A home to Winglies that floated high in the sky when they had all that power."
Haschel's brows knit together. "What was it used for?" He frowns deeply. "I can hardly believe they simply lived in such a place. I mean, we do that now, but with all that power they could do so much with it."
Miranda nods. "You're right." She averts her eyes though as she says, "But I never can remember what it is." She half laughs. "My apologies."
Dart shakes his head. "It's fine. It's just interesting information, not something we need to know."
Miranda nods faintly. "Well," She lifts her arms and holds her elbows with her hands. She is suddenly sullen. "I suppose you're going to go on and leave me then." Her eyes narrow accusingly and her mouth curves into a sharp frown.
The shift in attitude surprises them all. So she hasn't forgotten. "You knew the circumstances of the deal." Dart asserts, looking with disapproval at her. "Don't look so upset."
Miranda growls softly. "I helped you so much." She grinds out. "If not for me you'd never have made it here before nightfall!" Speaking of which, she peeks at the sky, darkness is almost fully upon them.
"And we appreciate it." Dart assures. "But we knew you could do it all along. It isn't some surprise that amazes us to the point we suddenly need you. Our deal still stands." His gaze has a cold edge.
Miranda's fists clench and shake noticeably. "You are such a fool." She hisses. She glowers mercilessly at Dart. This is all his fault. Then she sighs furiously. "Fine. Go on. Walk around like chickens with your heads cut off and get lost out there!" She stamps her foot and turns sharply on her heel.
Albert's face contorts in alarm. His brows knit in confusion. He looks about himself fervently in uncertainty. Dart is the leader, it's true. But he can't help feeling this is all a big mistake. "Miranda," His call is almost a whine.
Miranda doesn't stop. She keeps her head down and plows furiously on. She grumbles incoherent words to herself, cursing every last one of them. She swears the next time she even hears about them she's going to- there is a sudden pressure.
Albert has leapt forward. His hand closes around her wrist and he pulls back enough to stop her. "Please, wait. I wish to speak with you more." He stares wide eyed at her.
Miranda jerks her head around, a fire burning in her eyes. It takes her half a second to appraise the situation. "Don't touch me!" She bites back. She slings his hand from her. "No man lays a finger on me. Ever." Her tone is fierce, furious, but there is a faint tremor in her body. The contact has unnerved her.
Albert is bewildered by the stark shift in character. "I…I'm sorry." He draws his hand back. While it is reasonable for her to be upset about being denied, her words and body language now verge on irrationally hostile. "I just didn't want you to run off."
Miranda's face twists in disgust. Run off? The notion brings back memories she refuses to acknowledge, at least not now. "I wasn't running anywhere." She grumbles. Reluctantly she turns to face him. "I do have places to be. So be quick!"
Albert is still not comfortable with her defensive attitude, but he won't let her go without getting this out. "There must be a history about this place – Mille Seseau that is. I can't tell you why, but any information in that regard would help us greatly." Albert realizes he might not have been clear enough and adds, "What I mean is-"
"I know what you mean." She sighs. She lifts a hand to her head and rests her temple against her fingertips. "But if I don't know what this is for, I'm not going to tell you much. You may be the heroes of Tiberoa," Her eyes narrow and the gold pierces his very soul. "But you are simply wandering warriors in this land. You have done nothing to give me reason to trust you farther than leading you out of the woods."
Dart scoffs. "Don't even pretend that's the reason." He looks hard at her.
Shana's gaze shoots over to him. "Dart," She quietly protests. She is surprised by the edge in his tone more than his boldness. Although neither sit well with her.
"Excuse me?" Miranda growls. She lifts her head and folds her arms over her chest.
Haschel leans over toward Dart. "Don't make this into a fight." All the wrinkles leave his face as he gives Dart a hard look. "It's pointless."
There is a sharp pain in Dart's head then. He grits his teeth and closes his eyes tight. Right, of course Haschel is right. "I know." What is wrong with him? Everything seems so much more amplified than it should be. He hears that tortured, vengeful roar again too. Stupid dragon. It has to be all the beast's fault.
Albert thanks the Gods that Dart let it go. "Miranda," He tries again. "I'm not asking you to give up the secrets of the castle or your home. I simply want to understand history. After all, can't even a criminal find such things out?" He holds his breath.
Miranda brings her eyes back to him and stares intently into his green orbs. Her fury slowly seeps out of her. Her body loses a lot of tenseness and her expression lifts noticeably. "I suppose." Her mind has forgotten the bitter memories brought up by the idea of running away and she even smiles. "You sure are an information leech, huh?"
Haschel laughs out loud. "That's putting it lightly." He grins from ear to ear. "Al is a regular bookwork. He could talk all night about this country if you gave him the chance. He could talk about just about anything that way actually."
Albert shoots Haschel a look for the butchering of his name. He realizes it is for Meru and a way to fill her absence, but it does not stop him from being annoyed by it. "I just want to be prepared for anything."
"Albert's right." Shana nods. "Who knows what might turn the tables. Anything helps."
Miranda sighs, but it is a sound with little aggravation. More than anything it comes off as amused because of their perseverance. "Alright." She smirks. "But it's late now. So let's meet later. Tomorrow – at the library."
Kongol frowns slightly. "Where is it?" He thinks to ask.
Miranda looks to him. It seems for the first time she sees that he is not like the rest. She blinks twice as she stares up at his large form. Still, she finds herself smiling even as she faces a Giganto. "It's back a ways." She points in a straight path, but they can not see the building from here. "It's the biggest one back there." She chuckles to herself. "Besides the castle of course."
"What about a place to stay?" Haschel looks curiously at her.
There is a beat of hesitation. For an instant she contemplates letting them come with her. Then she remembers their leader's words about her as well as sees him looking uncomfortably at her even now. "There's an inn just across from the library." Her smile widens slightly. "Pretty convenient, huh?" She aims her stare right at Dart.
Dart raises a brow. He, however, can not deny it. "Yes, it is." He even finds it in him to smile back.
Confusion suddenly rises on Miranda's face. "Say, what are your names anyway?" She was so caught up in the very idea of them as well as the notion that Mille Seseau could be in danger that it had slipped her mind.
"Dart." He nods to her. Then, as if on cue, everyone else rattles off their names. "And thank you." Dart smiles with much more sincerity. He feels much calmer now. Whatever was driving the power, or the dragon or whatever, it has ebbed.
"It's nothing." Miranda shrugs. She then gives them a pointed look. "Just don't be late." She laughs faintly. "Or else I might not tell you anything."
Albert chuckles in return. "We won't be." He's too excited to be. He probably won't be able to sleep anyway.
"Well, see you." Miranda turns smoothly. She waves over her shoulder. Once she is sure they can not see her, her smile becomes devious. The more she is around them and the more information she gives, the more likely she is to find her way into their ranks. She hasn't given up. Not even close to it.
…
The next day is chilling. It is the kind of day Mille Seseau is used to. It is also what Rose is very accustomed to when it comes to this place. She walked almost all night to get here, resting only briefly before she found her way to the scorched gate of the town. The town of Neet.
It is dead silent here. Not even birds dare breach the looming despair of the ruined town. Or can it even be called that anymore? The buildings that weren't turned to ash and scattered by the wind have collapsed in on themselves. Pieces of stone are even severed from the wholes or cracked, a result of a weakened structure from the flames.
"Nothing has changed…" Why would it have? The Black Monster's passing is a curse. Once it annihilates a place, no one wants to do anything there, especially not rebuild. Instead it fades into oblivion. The best it can be is a bitter reminder of the past. That is Neet's role.
There is one thing that catches Rose's eye as she slowly moves forward. There is a single lamp hanging from the remains of a wall. There is no flame, probably never was, but the sturdiness of it is enough to make her smile. It is one thing that was no destroyed at least. Still, the symbolism is hard to miss and even harder to swallow. While things touched by the Black Monster may survive unscathed, the light they once held will never shine again. "Dart…" She can't help but think of him.
She stops suddenly. A grimace spreads clear across her face. Her eyes shine with indecision and even a little bit of fear. Her muscles tense and she half turns around, trying to look away from the ruins of the town. Was she…hesitating? Really? She scoffs at herself and faces the place again. "It's silly." She strides confidently down the path littered with rubble, the snow beneath her feet crunching with every step.
As she approaches the center of the town she hears someone. She freezes. She peers quietly around the corner. There, in front of the only structure built after the terrible incident, is a woman. She is wearing dark clothes as she kneels down before the shrine. Names are scribbled in mass on the big pointed structure.
Guards stand at either side of her as she speaks. "Mother…" Her voice is soft as it reaches Rose. The woman smiles faintly. "I am back." She touches the stone affectionately.
Another woman is just at the edges of Rose's sight. She is standing. Rose has the feeling she does not truly know of the things that happened here. Perhaps she was told, most everyone is, but she does not know with that chilling certainty. Otherwise she too would be on her knees.
The first woman, Luanna is her name, speaks again. "Mother, it's been a while." Tears fill her eyes. "…Since the day I lost my sight." She stands then. She drags her hand up the stone. It is rough and provides much resistance. "But, I am able to see today." She looks to the woman with her, her smile growing. "Thanks to the love of many people like Setie here."
Setie nods to her. She smiles with sympathy and understanding. She has come here with Luanna for years now. She learns a little more every time.
She clasps her hands before her heart and bows her head. Everyone else bows as well. "May the Divine Tree bless all the victims of the tragedy." She lets her hand fall back to her side. She sighs softly.
Rose moves in closer. Her feet continue to crunch on the ground. It seems to be even louder than before. Or perhaps she is imagining it because she is afraid of their reaction. Again afraid. Why?
Luanna starts. She swirls around, her eyes wide with alarm. "Who is it?" She manages to say firmly. She is shaking furiously on the inside and even trembling faintly on the outside. Setie too draws near on instinct.
The knights jump to attention. They spin around with the speed of lightening. They move in front of both Luanna and Setie, their swords at the ready.
Rose barely reacts to their drawn blades. She stares emotionlessly up at them. "I didn't mean to surprise you." Rose motions to the women. Her gaze wanders back to them, specifically the woman in dark clothes.
Luanna nods slowly. She doesn't look at Rose, but her mind peers deep within her. "You are?" What she sees just at the surface of Rose's heart tells her that it will be all right to ask this simple question.
Rose finds it in her to smile. "Just a traveler." She isn't sure she likes the way this woman is looking so intently at the ground. "Please don't be alarmed." It appears as if she is just like any other blind person, staring anywhere because she can not see anything. However Rose feels like she is being prodded, like her inner thoughts are being sifted through.
Luanna nods slightly. "I see." Her expression relaxes as she ceases searching. She taps the knights on the shoulder and motions them to the sides. They immediately obey. "Well, there are people of Neet sleeping here." She motions to the shrine. Then pain flashes across her face as she whispers, "My mother too."
Setie takes a tentative step forward. "Are…are you here to visit the grave too?" She bites her lip and tilts her head to the side slightly.
Rose's expression hardens and she averts her eyes. "I guess so." She shrugs. Did she really come here to, as they say, visit these people? She came here to see if it looked the same as before, that much she knew. But did the desire to pray for these innocent victims subconsciously propel her as well? More likely, was it Dart that made her want to come? She really didn't know.
Setie's face lit up with a sudden thought. "Then you know about Neet?" She gasps. Her eyes are wide with something between shock and excitement. Perhaps this woman was a survivor too, or at the very least knew someone who died here.
Rose frowns deeply. She drops her gaze to the ground. "Yes…" She breathes. "Unfortunately."
Luanna steps forward. Her eyes are just as sad as Rose's. "I understand." She nods. "I lived through that horrible event. I lost many things too." She bites her lip to hold in the pain. "But none more so than my mother…"
Luanna slips back in time. She tells the story of the destruction of Neet. Her mother and she are running. The flames engulf the town and screams reign over everything. Everyone is trapped within. So they are running – anywhere!
They pass unsettlingly close to the Black Monster. The creature is covered in dark matter. It emanates from its body, rolling off in waves. Luanna can't look long, but she swears wings spread far out on the creature's back as well.
"Where is Princess Louvia?" The monster grits out. Its voice is thick and low. It orders the answer from the knight it is holding. Its hand curls around the knight's throat tightly, only giving enough room to allow the man one chance to answer.
The knight stares determinedly back into the creature's bottomless black eyes. "I will never tell you!" He bites back. "The princess will be-" His defiant words erupt into a scream as his body is engulfed in a black flame.
"Useless." The monster growls as it drops the knight. From the corner of its eye it notices a flash of movement. The doors to a house are swinging back and forth on their hinges. Someone just went in. It does not waste a moment, it hurries to the building.
Inside Luanna and her mother crouch down in the back. It is a barn and beneath them is a blanket of hay. Still the familiar texture brings no comfort. A fire burns fiercely overhead and smoke fills the area, nearly blinding them. "M-Mom!" The four year old Luanna whimpers. "I-I can't see!" Tears well in her eyes.
Her mother draws her near. She wraps her arms around her daughter and holds on for dear life. "Shh…" She sounds almost pleading. "It's alright. It'll be alright…" She rests her head on her daughter's as she pats her back.
Luanna does not feel much better. She leans heavily against her mother, but her fear continues to rise. "M-Mom! I'm scared!"
Her mother hushes her again. "It'll be alright." Her voice wavers and she feels tears of her own fill her eyes. "Just be quiet."
Suddenly there is a flash of darkness. As it fades the Black Monster appears before them. "Get away!" The mother shrieks. She jerks her head up and glowers mercilessly at the demon. She clutches her child even tighter.
The monster ignores her command. "Where is Princess Louvia?" It steps forward. It towers menacingly over them. "Where did you hide the Moon Child?" It lifts its hand open palmed, ready to dispose of them in an instant.
Luanna's mother's expression intensifies. "We don't know!" She insists, shaking her head furiously. "We're just a tiny village on the edge of this continent! What kind of spitefulness do you have toward us!?"
The Black Monster's face, obscured by the darkness veiling its body, twists in outrage. "Do you want to die with your daughter?" It seethes. A ball of energy forms in its open hand.
Luanna shakes terribly. The monster's threat strikes a chord of fear like none other. "M-Mom!" She blubbers. The tears spill down her face in a rush. "I'm s-so s-scaaared."
The mother's intensity fades. The fire in her eyes and soul slip away. All she feels is weak surrender. "Princess Louvia…" Her resolve crumbles. "She has left for the sea." A brief fury ignites. "This must be enough to satisfy you!" Then it's gone again. She hangs her head and holds her child with all her might. "So please," She begs. "Leave this village…let us be."
The Black Monster stares pitilessly down at the pair. "The chance to eliminate the Moon Child comes only once every hundred and eight years." A wicked grin flickers across its face. And it now has the knowledge to do so. "It's the time of birth when the moon glows a blood color."
"Then go." The mother's lip trembles. She has a sensation deep within her that she knows what the demon is talking about. "Go kill her. Be a devil and kill an innocent child."
The monster does not acknowledge her. "The newly born Moon Child has a magic power." It explains, almost like a recording. Then a sudden darkness comes to its eyes, a darkness so powerful it breaks through the veil and anyone looking could see that it is the oval shape of eyes. The eyes of a devil. "That magic power changes everyone around into an evangelist for the god, a servant to help prepare for the descending of the god." It shoots the dark energy at the woman.
The woman lets out a strangled cry. Her body is engulfed in a dark flame just like the knights. She releases her daughter instantly and her body stiffens. Her eyes roll back into her head and she crumples backward in a heap. Her breath is gone forever. Her body is still as stone.
"So no." The Black Monster shakes its head firmly. "I won't leave in peace." It turns away. "My objectives will not be satisfied until I kill every single person who was present as the Moon Child passed through." Then in another wave of darkness, it is gone.
Luanna is startled by the sudden absence of her mother's unyielding hold. "M-Mom?" She chokes out. "M-Mom! Answer me!" She feels the air around her desperately. "It's hot!" Her desperation turns her cry into a scream. "It's burning! M-Mom!"
Luanna's shaking is so much worse now. She throws herself on the ground. She buries her face in the hay and her hands. "Mom…" She moans. "M-Mom…"
The darkness left behind by the monster creeps toward her and into her eyes. It takes only a minute and then the blurry vision created by the smoke goes completely dark. While her life is spared, she knows she will never see again.
Luanna settles back into the present. Her eyes are full of tears as she looks in Rose's direction. "It was a miracle that I survived." Despite the pain twisting her face she smiles. It's a smile Rose has seen on Dart's lips many times over their journey and she recognizes it to be bitter relief.
Rose bows her head slightly. "I see." She can't find it in her to smile back. "Then…you were blinded back then?" The monster left a trail of despair even for those spared. It was a miracle Dart left with nothing more than a burning hatred.
"Yes," Luanna nods faintly. "However, the God imparted me with something else." Her smile grows and she looks right into Rose's eyes.
Rose feels a shiver run up her spine as Luanna's milky, colorless eyes pierce her. She had no idea someone so unseeing could have a glance so unsettling.
Setie takes advantage of Rose's silence. "Sister Luanna can see peoples' souls!" She pipes. She grins at Luanna before looking to Rose. Her smile dims, but her eyes still hold much life. "But…she can feel their pain too." She drops her eyes. "Because of this, Sister Luanna has suffered."
Rose stares intently at Luanna. See…peoples' souls…? She can't help but be a little uncomfortable. She is sure that as long as Luanna looks deep enough it won't be an issue. Still…she can never be too careful.
Luanna notices the shift in Rose. She has thrown her defenses up. So she looks away from her. "Now I can appreciate this power I have." This is a perfect example. Her eyes might have deceived her. "Because, it allows me to heal the pain in peoples' hearts."
Rose frowns noticeably. "Heal peoples' hearts, huh?" She murmurs to herself. She finds herself unable to stifle a smile. "It sounds interesting."
Luanna smiles at Rose's new tactic of hiding. She is obviously very adept at such constant switches. Looking into her heart, even just the surface, she sees the reason for it to be intolerable amounts of pain. So she offers, "If you need to heal the pain in your heart, please tell me." She brings her eyes back to Rose, looking right at her again. "I can help you."
Rose's expression shows a flicker of disgruntlement. "That's…not necessary." She tries to ignore the implications of Luanna's words. She does not need healing. Her heart is fine. "By the way," She quickly moves the spotlight from herself. "Are you leaving?"
Luanna pretends not to see what Rose is trying to do. "Yes," She answers as anyone blind to the truth might do. "We will be going back to Deningrad soon."
A trace of a smile twitches at her lips. Deningrad…that's where Dart and everyone is. She knows she can make it there easily on her own, still, "May I join you?" She asks her anyway. "Even if you are with knights, the forest is filled with dangerous monsters." She smirks faintly. "I can protect you from them."
Luanna notes Rose's sudden lift at the mention of fighting. "I see." It is a coping mechanism. At a glance of her heart she sees it well. "Then I will ask you to come with us." She bows slightly.
"It would be my pleasure." Rose turns slowly away from the women and the shrine. She starts walking in a similar manner. She waits until she hears their footsteps before she takes up her usual speed.
Luanna and Setie look to one another. They silently come to a consensus about the woman walking away and follow quickly after her. They split to either side of Rose. "So, what is your name? I don't think you said." Luanna asks, but she already knows. It's more for Setie's benefit.
Rose glances over at her. "It's Rose." Her gaze wanders to Setie then. She has a feeling they are not simple townsfolk. "What about you?" She raises a brow. "Why do you have knights escorting you?"
As if on cue the knights hurry after the three. Their armor clanks annoyingly as they form a triangle at the rear of the women.
"Oh, right." Luanna lifts a hand to her mouth as she half laughs. "We are two of the Sacred Sisters of Mille Seseau." She smiles warmly. "We have knights follow us no matter where we go."
Setie's eyes grow large. "You're not from here then!?" She bends forward to better see Rose's face. "Or did you just leave a long time ago?" Fear shines in her eyes at the prospect. It must be so, if she were coming here for Neet. How strange if she really did come on a whim!
"No," Rose shakes her head. "I just know someone who lived here. That's all." Silence descends on them after that. Even Setie can't find anything more to say. So they make the trek back with only the sound of their thoughts as conversers.
…
Meru stands at the back of the forest. She stares intently at the mass or trees and brush that mark the end of the path. She spent the night there, just watching the greenery. She had been nervous and uncertain of herself. She knows the rules. Despite how much she pines for her home and the faces of those she's missed for her few year absence, she can't be sure she will get such a warm greeting.
Now, in the morning, she is sure of what she must do. She takes in a deep breath. She lets her eyes fall shut and she touches her chest lightly. It is not necessary, but it gives her strength. Suddenly translucent wings shoot out from her back and the wall of forest reacts.
There is a whirring sound and the greenery is replaced by a light blue wall of energy. Meru smiles faintly at the sight. She quickly retracts her wings and steps through the barrier. "It's been a long time." She breathes as she steps into a world apart from the humans. "I wonder if everybody is doing alright?" Her thoughts fly to her childhood friend, Guaraha.
As her thoughts wander her eyes rove over the familiar scenery. It is far different from the forest. The footing is pure rock. Masses jut out here and there and a tiny cave-like structure leads deeper into the area. The cave glows a comforting blue too, a result of the magic of the area. From memory she also recalls there is a green warp pad at the end, a reminder of how far their mighty race has fallen.
She walks farther in, to the edge of the rock formation. The sound of running water reaches her clearly now. It relaxes her further. "I wonder if they feel lonely without me?" She stretches her arms up behind her head. Her tiny smile spreads into a large grin. She even laughs softly. "I bet they-"
An unnatural sound catches her ear and she moves instinctively. She jumps back, narrowly dodging a ball of fiery energy. "H-Hey!" She shouts. She turns around sharply and glares daggers in the direction of the blast. "Watch it! What's the big idea!?" She plants her hands on her hips.
The person scowls right back. He can not see Meru, but following her voice is enough. "Who are you!?" He yells back. "How did you come through the boundary!?" His heart pounds in his chest and his muscles are tense. His hands lift and arms extend to throw another blast if he need to.
Meru's face very nearly turns red. "Who are you!?" She snaps. She lifts her hands and prepares to shoot this idiot right back. She refuses to be made an enemy in her own home. "Some little brat!? How can you not know me!?
As he prepares to fly down, a chord of memory strikes in him. Realization sweeps over his face and the sweetest relief overcomes his voice. "Meru?" His heart skips a beat and he feels suddenly weak in the knees. "I-Is that you?"
Meru's eyes grow ten times larger. Her mouth falls open and her hands drop to her side. "Guaraha?" Her voice is a laugh. She smiles in relief and fondness. "I can't believe it…"
Guaraha's wings shoot out from his back and he quickly flies to her. He lands a foot from her, a warm smile on his lips. "Meru…" He sighs. It sounds almost bitter beneath the happiness.
Meru runs to him and wraps him in a tight embrace. "Long time no see!" She grins brighter than ever before. She quickly pulls away and steps back. "You look great." She nods and clasps her hands behind her back. "I missed you."
Guaraha's face becomes cold. He scowls down at her before quickly looking away. "Really?" He growls lowly. He walks over to the edge of the footing. "Do you really think I am 'great'?"
Meru ducks her head slightly. Her smile slips into a frown. "Guaraha-" She can barely get his name out before he is talking again.
Guaraha spins around. He stares her down. "How could you leave without telling me!?" He demands. He walks quickly back in front of her. "Huh!?" His eyes burn with even more intensity. "Where have you been!?" His voice very nearly cracks as he asks.
"He-Hey!" Meru stands as tall as she can. She glowers right back at him. "You don't need to yell at me!" She crosses her arms firmly over her chest. "I came back, didn't I!?" Then she is suddenly very weak. She slumps noticeably and the fire drains from her expression. There are even traces of tears in her red eyes as she whispers, "Aren't you happy to see me…?"
Guaraha sighs in defeat. "Of course I'm happy to see you." He reaches out and wipes the tears from her eyes. "Meru," He drops her hands down around her and closes the space between them. His embrace is gentle and affectionate. "I love you."
Meru reaches up and hugs him back. "I love you too." She breathes. Over the years she grew so accustomed to thinking of him as her childhood friend that she nearly forgot how much more he meant to her. In a way it was easier to pretend he was just a friend. That she hadn't left behind her fiancé.
Guaraha loosens his hold and backs up a space. He tilts her head up toward his and plants a soft kiss on her lips. "But I don't know if everyone else will forgive you so easily." His smile is sad. He takes another step back and lets his hands leave her. "After all, leaving the forest is our taboo. You know that."
Meru's shining eyes dim with the harshness of reality. Her soft contentedness transforms into angry defiance. "Who cares about taboo!?" She stamps a foot and scowls up at him. "Everybody in this forest? The humans outside?" She sighs in utter aggravation. "Both of us are living in the same world! Why do we have to draw a line and lock ourselves in like this!?" It just isn't fair!
Guaraha shrugs weakly. "I wish I knew." He hangs his head slightly. "I have been living in this forest forever. Yet I've never understood why." He lifts his head to look straight at her. "It just is."
Meru snorts loudly. "Fine, then I'm gonna ask the Ancestor! He has to know!" She stomps forward, stopping just beside him. She turns slowly, getting a good look at his now sad face. "But, even if it's true…please don't be so sad."
Guaraha manages a tiny laugh and even smaller smile. "You always were so happy." He turns to face her. "And brave too." She runs his fingers across her smooth cheek. "It was something I never could bring myself to be."
Meru smiles halfheartedly. "You could be." She reaches up and curls her fingers around his hand. "If you wanted to." He never did try very hard. That's why when she left she didn't ask him to come or even tell him she was leaving. She just left.
"Maybe." He twists his hand around and locks his fingers with hers.
Meru holds his hand for a minute, but unfortunately she doesn't have time for such a thing. She needs to see the rest of her home before returning to her friends. "I'll be back." She pulls away and heads into the blue lit cave.
At the top she sees the green warp pad. She also sees Guaraha watching her from below. She quickly steps onto it and a tiny orb of green light captures her within. It takes her to the stone path below. There she is directly besides the gently moving water.
As she walks she takes note of the columns which appear every so often on either side of her. Some are broken off while others are perfectly intake. None of them actually support anything. A minute later she comes upon the magnificent structure built as part of a large tree. Now, after being in the human world, she can't help but compare the houses to giant mushrooms with a large entrance carved in the side. The doorways even glow green, as if they were poisonous, like so many mushrooms were.
Winglies fly all around the structure. There are even a couple of children down above the water. Meru smiles at them, but she does not know them. They must have been born while she was gone. Still, the sight of them fills her with the courage Guaraha is so fond of and she proclaims, "I'm home!"
The moment her voice reaches them they react. A pair of Winglies talking just ahead of her go silent. They back up quickly, but they do not fly away. They keep a wary eye on the traitor.
The children who were playing suddenly freeze. For a moment they hover there, but they soon disappear. They fly up and into one of the buildings on the tree. The go immediately for the Ancestor.
Perplexed sadness flashes across her face. "I guess Guaraha was right." She says to herself. A deep frown mars her face. "It looks like I'm not that welcome."
The pair before her whisper to one another. "It's Meru." One says. He purposefully makes it loud enough so that she can hear
"I can't believe she came back." The second looks disapprovingly at her. Meru thinks his expression even verges on hatred.
Meru sticks her lip out and glares heatedly at them. "This is my home!" She places her hands on her hips and leans forward. "I can come home any time I want!"
The first scoffs loudly. "How dare you." He hisses. "I don't know what those horrible humans taught you, but such selfishness is not tolerated here!"
The second nods firmly. "There is no place to come home to, Meru!"
Meru's anger is wiped clean off her face. Her eyes widen in hurt disbelief as she stands straight again. "But…" Her shoulder's sag and she drops her gaze to the ground. Her energy dims considerably.
"That's true!" A voice from above her yells.
Meru starts. She looks up to see who it could be now. Descending around her are two faces she knows well enough to remember their last name. It's the Bardel brothers. She has a bit of hope for them, but based on their tone she isn't too sure.
The younger one sends her a nasty look. "You are the black sheep of the proud Winglies!" He snaps. It takes everything in him not to reach out and punch her right then and there. Instead he settles on screaming, "How dare you shamelessly come back!"
The older one's eyes are full of just as much hate. "I thought you were satisfied with your decadent human life." He sneers. "Weren't you?" He raises a brow. "Otherwise you wouldn't have disgraced your family and race by running off like a child!"
Meru stares blankly back and forth at them. "Bardel…" She opens and closes her mouth around empty words. Finally, "What are you talking about?" She croaks.
The eldest points with all the harshness he possesses to the entrance of the forest. "Go back to the Humans." He orders through clenched teeth. "Don't make me say it twice."
"Yeah." The youngest growls. "And wait there for the moment we destroy the humans!" A chilling excitement fills his expression. It unsettles Meru to the point she very narrowly turns and leaves right then.
Despite the fear their expressions give her, she refuses. She slowly shakes her head and stands strong.
The Bardels are filled with a wild fury. They tense and look as if they might pounce any moment. The only thing that stops them is a commanding voice, "Stop it!" In a flash of light a Wingly appears at the end of the path.
Meru jerks her head around. She gasps at the sight. "Ancestor!" She runs forward a few steps, past the Bardel brothers. This is her last chance.
The Ancestor is a very old man with only trace amounts of hair left on his head. He wears a more regal suit than the other Winglies. Most notable however is the air of authority he puts off as a result of the large amount of magical power he still possesses. He is the strongest of them all, even though he is not incredibly strong at all.
"Ancestor," Meru says his title again. She bows her head slightly to heighten her chances.
The Ancestor's gaze is not cold like the others, but he looks down on her all the same. "You left the forest on your own volition." He reminds her of the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. "So why have you come back?" He raises a brow, waiting patiently.
Meru feels the sting of his gaze even when he is acting leniently. She ducks her head as she stares meekly up at him. "I just wanted to see everybody." She manages to say, her voice soft.
He shakes his head slowly back and forth. "Leaving the forest is an unforgivable mortal sin." He reminds her of their rules. Still, he sighs despite himself. "Didn't you know that when you left?" His eyes shine with pity. "Breaking this rule meant you could never come back here."
Meru lifts her head slowly. "Yes, I did. But…" Once she is looking straight at him the light has returned to her eyes. Her expression is fierce and she stands tall. "It's so stupid!" She surprises even herself by challenging the Ancestor and his law.
She feels the air around them thicken with tension. All the Winglies watching are holding their breaths. The Ancestor shows even a little bit of surprise in reaction to her rebuttal.
Meru quivers on the inside, but she doesn't back down. "The world is one hundred times bigger than this forest!" She spreads her arms out to indicate the size. "Why keep ourselves locked up like this!" She sighs irritably, dropping her arms. "I mean, yeah, there are bad humans! But there are many good humans too!" Her friends faces flash before her eyes and give her more strength. "You've never met them and you shouldn't hate them!"
The Ancestor smiles faintly. "Meru," He is half amused by her, half sorry for her. "There are people who hate and detest humans just because they are humans, but their number is few. You know that." He thinks of the Bardel brothers. "But we just want to protect our life. That's all."
Meru shakes her head in disbelief. "Is that what you call it?" She barely stops herself from rolling her eyes. Maybe time with the humans has taught her to be a little too free. This is the Ancestor. Such disrespect is unacceptable. "I call it being cowards."
The Ancestor hardens at such a disrespectful accusation. "Humans have always been afraid of the magic power of Winglies." His voice has a cold edge to it now. "The fear eventually turns itself into a need to tyrannize us, and take some action." A fire flares in his usually calm eyes. "Either to subjugate or kill us."
Meru can't help but cringe. She swallows hard. "You're…wrong." Her conviction is fading. She knows her friends would never do that. Or…maybe she doesn't. Otherwise why would she have hid it from them all this time? Maybe she's just as much of a coward as everyone else. Worse…maybe her friends would turn against her once they find out.
The Ancestor sees her weakening resolve and eases up. "That's why we need our own world, like this forest, where humans cannot enter." He explains gently. "Now, please go back to the other world." His eyes flicker to the growing number of Winglies around them. "Your existence angers the others."
"My…existence…?" She says it under her breath. It makes it sound as if they want her to die. Then again, maybe they do. "I understand." She mutters weakly. She hangs her head and slumps noticeably. "I'll leave." She turns slowly to go.
"Meru!" A woman's cry reaches her.
Meru catches her breath. She yanks her head up and spins around. Up on a walkway in the tree stands a woman who Meru could never forget. "Mother!" Her voice cracks at the edges. Her lips curve up in a broken smile.
Her mother lands and rushes toward her daughter. "Meru!" She says again.
From the side another Wingly comes and lands directly in front of her mother. He crosses his arms firmly over his chest and blocks her path. "Leave the girl alone!" He orders, staring her mother down.
Meru's mouth falls agape. "Father," She says in utter disbelief. "You must be kidding." A hurt anger swells with in her. Her fists clench and shake faintly. Her lips curl into a snarl.
He glances fleetingly over his shoulder at his daughter. Only coldness shows in his eyes. "That's the rule." He growls to both Meru and her mother. "We are going." He nods up toward the houses. Then he quickly takes off.
The quickness in which he dismisses her destroys her fury. All she feels is betrayal and heartache.
Her mother activates her wings, but she lingers. She floats just above the ground. She stares longingly at her only child.
Meru stares back. She wants to run to her mother and hug her like she did when she was a child, but she can not move. All she can do is silently beg her mother to come to her, just for a moment.
Her mother drops her gaze. She turns slowly and follows after the father. Her heart aches terribly.
Her mother's heart aches, but Meru's snaps right in half. "Mother…" She breathes in a wavering tone. "Father…" How could they?
The Ancestor frowns deeply. "It must be hard for you." He stares pityingly at her. "But you must go back, Meru." He feels the other's reactions before they come.
"Get out of our forest now!" The younger Bardel snarls viciously.
Meru hangs her head. She does not breathe another word. She simply turns and goes back the way she came. Guaraha was right. Not even her own father wants her anymore. How can this be happening? She is so absorbed in her thoughts that she barely notices when she transports and completely misses the sound of wings above her.
Suddenly arms close around her waist and she feels her feet leave the ground. She gasps, her eyes widening in fear. She immediately thinks of the Bardels. "L-Let me go!" She screams, thrashing about.
"Calm down." Guaraha whispers in her ear.
Relief sweeps over her. "Guaraha?" She sighs heavily. Despite her relief at it being him of all people, she manages to be curt. "What are you doing?" It is the only way to hide her despair.
"Quiet." He urges. He flies to the entrance and sets her down gently. He circles to her front and retracts his wings. "I want a talk between just the two of us. I can't do that if you attract a bunch of attention. I shouldn't be talking to you at all really. You know that."
Meru lets her irritated front drop. She falls into silence.
Guaraha sighs heavily. "It seems you received a horrible welcome." He knows not just because of the law, but by the shattered look to her features. This is not the Meru he is used to. This Meru has almost no life, and certainly no courage.
Meru forces herself to meet his eyes. She scoffs. "It's nothing to me." Her eyes narrow as she tries to pull off anger mixed with disregard. She knows she is failing.
Guaraha frowns disapprovingly at her. "Stop talking tough."
That look makes her shrink. It is just like the Winglies from before. She feels her throat constrict and her eyes widen in fear.
Guaraha's brows knit together. He knows the others upset her, but he is not prepared for such a reaction toward him. "What's wrong?"
Meru's throat opens just enough for her to squeeze out, "Don't…look at me like that."
Guaraha blinks in confusion. "What?"
Meru starts to shake noticeably. It is somewhere between misplaced anger and hurt. "I said don't look at me that way! I didn't do anything wrong!" Her breathing hitches and her lip trembles.
Guaraha's expression softens. He understands. He looks sadly down at her. "Meru," He moves closer and reaches his hands out to grasp her shoulders. "I don't think like the others do. I don't think you're a traitor or anything like that. I wish you could just come freely, I really do."
Meru doesn't try to fight it. She falls into him. She latches onto him and buries her face in his shirt. "T-They wouldn't even let me see my parents." She whimpers as the tears rush down her face. "And daddy…he, he looked at me so coldly." Her hold on him tightens. "My own father…"
Guaraha slips an arm around her and lifts the other to her head. He pets her gently. "It's not your fault Meru." He promises. "Really it was just bad timing." He almost laughs. She always did excel at bad timing, even as a child.
"Bad…timing…?" She lifts her head to peer through clouded eyes at him. She continues to tremble and tears fall without end.
Guaraha nods. "Everybody is feeling tense lately." He brings his hand to her face and wipes at her tears. "So please don't be so upset. You don't have to cry."
Meru slips a little farther back in his hold. "Is that my fault too?" She asks bitterly. She holds her breath despite how ridiculous it is. After being so harshly rebutted she can't help but be afraid.
Guaraha shakes his head. "No, of course not." He tries to smile for her, but the situation is too dismal and quickly becoming serious as well. Instead he simply explains, "Recently, the earth is surging. Don't you feel it?" Even now in this moment of peace he can feel the danger.
Meru frowns deeply. She looks to the side, thinking. "A little." She remembers Kamuy. "The animals in the forest are all acting savage." Maybe it wasn't Wingly tricks after all. Still, it was a source that Winglies especially could sense.
"Really?" Guaraha can't help but be alarmed. It's so much worse and far along than they feared.
Meru wipes the back of her arm across her face to rid it of the tears. The conversation is slowly pulling her mind away from her personal troubles. She is no longer crying. "This must be the cause!" There is even a little life in her voice. "But…" She looks with uncertain confusion up at him. "What is it?"
Guaraha steps back from her. He is content with how she is recovering. "Ancestor Blano said that it is the omen of a dragon coming back to life." A grimace stretches clear across his face. "And, it is not the usual one. Even our ancestors who had much stronger magic power couldn't defeat it."
Meru gasps. Her hands shoot to her mouth. "No…" She shakes her head slowly. "It can't be." She remembers well all the times she was told about this dragon.
"Yes," He nods stiffly. "It's the King of dragons. The one with seven magical eyes – the Divine Dragon." Fear creeps in at the edges of his voice.
"But how?" Meru searches his face frantically for some sign of a lie. There is nothing worse that can possibly happen. "It's not possible!"
"The Ancestor says that the seal has half dissolved." He merely relays what was told to him. He has no control over the truth of it. "That is why everyone is nervous. Trust me, it's not because of you."
Meru's thought are in a frenzy. She looks intently at her hands as if they somehow hold the key. Then she suddenly jerks her head up. "B-But…what about the Dragon Buster and Dragon Block Staff!? We have them!" Her heart skips a beat as a horrible thought occurs to her. "Don't we?"
Guaraha shakes his head bitterly. "The sword for killing dragons, the Dragon Buster, has been lost."
Meru's eyes widen further and another wave of fear snakes through her. "I-It wasn't me!" She insists. "I haven't been anywhere near here for years!"
Guaraha laughs softly at her worry. "We know." The humor quickly gives way to more tension. "Because it was hidden with the staff in a place that only the Ancestor can open." The implications with this information are staggering. Did that Ancestor have something to do with the loss of it then? Was he hiding something from them?
"So…" Meru breathes deeply in and out to calm herself. All this information is just too much on top of being so thoroughly rattled by the denial of seeing her own home. "…the talk you wanted between just the two of us, it is about the dragon?" Besides being punished if others knew about it, it doesn't seem like something that needs to be spoken of in private like he has implied.
"Sort of." He says slowly, carefully. "But, what I really wanted to tell you is something else."
Meru knows that look in his eyes well. He has something important to say, something intimate. She stares with wide eyes full of anticipation. She waits in perfect silence.
Guaraha takes quick steps toward her. He reaches out and grabs her arms. "Meru, don't leave me!" He begs. His eyes are wide and even a bit wild. "I want you to be at my side!" He moves his hands up to her face and cups each cheek. Suddenly his voice is softer, tenderer. "I can protect you. Even if everyone else opposes you…"
Meru smiles warmly. She reaches up and lays her hands across his. "You are kind, as always." She whispers. Her eyes shine with love and true appreciation. "But, if you do, you will be hated as well." She slides her hands up his arms to his shoulders and raises up on her tiptoes to kiss him.
Guaraha lets his hands fall down to her waist. He pulls her body flush to his and kisses her back.
In a moment it is over. She steps back, lingering at the edges of his embrace. "I can't let that happen to you." She looks back at the entrance. "And…I've got to go because…" She looks back to him. Her smile stretches clear across her face. "Everybody's waiting for me."
Guaraha is stunned. "You…have friends." It sounds dumb out loud, but he truly is surprised. Even he has biases against humans. He can't help but think of them as savages to be avoided at all costs.
"Yep!" Meru grins, showing teeth. "They are all cool!" She steps completely out of his hold. Her skin pulses where his hands once touched, but she ignores it. Besides, this isn't goodbye forever. She has to tell herself so in order to make herself leave.
Guaraha stares blankly at her.
Meru sees the confusion and fear in his eyes. He thinks she is choosing them over him. "They show me and teach me many things." She steps further away. "But don't worry." She dials back her smile so it is soft and overflowing with love. "I think of you every day."
Guaraha's mind is eased very little. It is not his jealousy which drives him most. It is her safety. What if these humans are tricking her? He could lose her. The thought very nearly paralyzes him. "Meru," He walks forward and reaches out for her.
Meru shakes her head slowly, regretfully. "Goodbye, love." She turns sharply on her heel and charges through the barrier. She doesn't dare look back. She knows to see his desperate face will mean to lose what is left of her resolve.
"Meru!" He calls uselessly after her. He even runs a few steps as if he will really pass through the barrier to bring her back. He knows he won't. He can't. He hangs his head. He is too much of a coward. How can she even like him knowing that? What is she thinking?
Meru hears the whir of the barrier closing behind her. Still she stands there waiting for a minute. When nothing changes she crumples. Her knees go weak and tremble fiercely before she sinks to the ground. She draws her knees to her body and presses her face hard into them. Even Guaraha is a coward. He might be willing to fight for her within, but he won't even step one foot outside for her.
In the end though she knows it has very little to do with his lack of action. Ultimately she hates herself for refusing and for letting them tell her she can or can't stay. Really she is just as much of a coward as the rest of them. The only thing that keeps her from sitting and crying all day is the thought of her friends waiting for her.
Even then she waits for thirty minutes. Then she slowly gets up, wipes away the tears, and trudges back through the forest. Even as a coward, she must be brave for her friends. With the Divine Dragon threatening them too it is especially important. She is their only lead.
So what did you think? Meru's section was my favorite to write. I hope you enjoyed it and everything else as much as I did! :) Please review!