Chapter Ten: Like Father, Not Like Daughter
Eventually Remona came to an arched-stone bridge, paved smooth by the many paths that had been treaded upon it. The bridge lead over a steadily humming river that produced many sparkling crystals that peaked over the water like islands. In front of Remona, and ultimately at the end of the bridge, stood a magnificent building at least four stories tall, with corners framed in crystal spires. The grandiose arched doors parted as she and her father drew near; deacons of the church held them open respectfully. Remona's lip curled as they entered the enormous church with its many rows of prayer benches and its large wall murals of the divine tree.
Her father on the other hand, paid these symbols no mind, and lead them strait down the center isle of the church, past the alter and out the chapel through a side door to the right. It seemed to Remona like ages as they walked up the stairs and into a papal room, adorned with many various religious objects and a library of books on sacred history and rites.
Henry Nightlark finally stopped at a large oak-wood desk and pulled a large armchair made of fine leather to face the desk. He then walked around to seat himself, facing Remona.
"Please, have a seat," he offered formally breaking the silence at last as he gestured to a plain wooden chair behind her.
Remona glared at him. "I'd rather stand. I might bleed all over your chair," she growled resentfully.
"Suit yourself," her father answered, with that same, false voice. He didn't really seem offended at all. "However, I will ask you to put your weapon away. You're in a house of God," he requested sternly.
Remona blinked, realizing she was still holding her sword in her hand, before tucking it back into her sash. "Fine," she remarked sourly.
"Ah, thank you. Will you have something to eat or drink?" he offered again, more out of formality than anything else. Sure, his family life was in the deep of devildom, but the arch bishop wouldn't have it said that he was informal or impolite, Remona thought.
Remona shook her head. "No, and I'm going to put this bluntly. What exactly do you want?" she replied in loathing.
At least the arch bishop attempted a smile.
"Can't a man merely want to spend time with his only child?" he asked.
Remona turned her back to him. "A normal father could, yes. But only one that actually cares about his family. If you wanted to spend time with me, for once in your life, actually wanted to, you should have done it yesterday. Yesterday was my birthday, dad," she hissed on the last word.
"You had a birthday yesterday? Oh Remona, I'm sorry, I was very busy. So you're sixteen now?" he asked innocently enough.
"Don't worry; I've only been spending alone almost every year. And I'm nineteen as of yesterday. Now, stop pretending to care. That false tone of yours is very unbecoming of someone that's supposed to tell the truth. And unless you plan of giving up your priesthood, coming home to your family, and actually being there for us, there's nothing you can say to make me forgive you. In fact, I wouldn't believe you even if you swore the latter on the divine tree. So tell me, what it is that you want so that I may be on my way home," she growled again.
At this, the arch bishop seemed to actually feel something, though Remona couldn't see his face, she could hear it in his words. Words that seemed very displeased.
"Remona, I am your father, why would you speak to me in such a manner?" he demanded in an unsettled tone.
"Because my father is dead. He died a long time ago. Now, for the last time, what do you want? Tell me now or I'm leaving," Remona snapped.
Henry sighed deeply. "Soa, my daughter doesn't understand. Have it your way, Remona," he said. "I need you to do something for me, no, not just me--- but for the church, and I need to explain it to you first."
Remona turned around to face her father. "Why the hell should I do anything for you? Or for Soa? It is Soa that takes all that I love from me," she whispered angrily.
"We must all serve Soa; if you are dedicated to him, he will not desert you. Sometimes Soa demands sacrifices from those truly loyal," the arch bishop preached.
Remona clenched her fists. Family was too great a price to pay . . . for anyone. Henry noticed Remona's bitterness and hastily jumped to his request.
"Do you know the legend of the moonchild?" he began.
"The 108th species, which is supposed to descend to the earth every 108 years and fill the world with holy bliss?" Remona answered flatly.
"Ah, yes. That is the legend. Do you also know of the black monster?"
"Yes. Every 108 years a horrible demon descends to the earth to kill the moonchild. I know my history, where is this going?" Remona asked icily.
Henry merely nodded. "Good. Well as you assuredly know by now, it has been some manner of years since the black monster's last known attack. We here at the church believe we know why. Several years ago, a special crystal was entrusted to our care, a demoness of great power inside. Well, a few years ago, during the night of the Celebration of the New Year, a stranger, in a midnight black cloak, snuck into the church, killed three deacons and two guards, and broke the crystal . . . "
"So you're telling me that you were supposed to guard the black monster and someone just waltzed right in here and released her!?!" Remona cried in disbelief.
"Well . . .yes. But now she's free and under the control of someone's power. You see the demoness was bound to whoever freed her in servitude," the arch bishop explained.
"How could anyone seal away such a power? What makes you sure this is the Black Monster?" Remona demanded, the doubt in her mind taking hold. She'd read her histories, the black monster was capable of destroying entire cities and leaving nothing but ash in its wake. How could such a power be confined in nothing more than a crystal? Then again . . .the same was said for seven spirits of dragons that lent themselves to humans . . . .
"Because that is the most probable answer. The Black Monster hasn't attacked anything since the village of Neet, and that was about the same time this creature, nearly identical in mannerisms and power, was imprisoned," he explained carefully.
"Then why is the black monster bound in servitude to that crystal? The legends say nothing of that," Remona pointed out.
"It was a powerful mage that sealed her, a wingly we believe, though we would have never believed it at the time. Her captor was the one whom crafted the crystal and the confinement, not I," the arch bishop insisted in his defense.
Remona growled again. "How the hell would anyone manage to be so careless? And why are you telling me this? I mean, what do you want me to do about it?" she persisted coldly. Age-old demons killing supposed Gods held no interest for her.
He father looked at her pointedly, like the answer should have been crystal clear.
"Well imagine it this way. The power of the Black Monster at someone's command . . .with this being true, the moonchild will never descend . . ."
"I don't care about your little holy crusade you are undoubtedly about to ask me to undertake. I don't care that the moonchild will never descend, and I don't care what the black monster does! What do I owe you anyway?" she spat.
This ignited some flare in the older man, making him raise his voice. "Whether or not the moonchild descends is not your decision! I for one thought you'd be honored to serve your God and bring his paradise here once and for all--"
"---Your God, not mine," Remona shouted back at him, however it didn't stop him.
"You will go and kill the Black Monster! Why do you think we held the tournament with such a large prize this year? We were going to ask the champion to undergo this quest! Because you won the tournament in a matter of speaking, and because you are my daughter, you WILL go. It is the will of Soa!" the demanded harshly.
The will of Soa . . .suddenly Remona felt a familiar sensation as if she were being sucked into another dimension.
"WHY!?! Zieg, why are you doing this!?! Came the voice of a woman that Remona knew to be Rose. There was laughter . . .
"It is the will of Soa! Our God wills destruction!" a male voice answered maniacally.
"Zieg come back to your senses!" Rose yelled in horror.
"You have forsaken your own time to stop something inevitable! You cannot stop me! I have the moon objects and the moonchild!" Zieg laughed, as Remona, now one with Rose, felt her heart breaking.
"I'll stop you! I'll kill her!" Rose shouted.
"ROSE! NO!" came a strange, young male voice, which Remona didn't recognize.
Suddenly a flash of her grandmother's face replaced Remona's vision, and somehow, she knew that she was in trouble.
"Grandma!" Remona whispered quickly, and, completely disregarding her father, ran swiftly out the doors, back through the chapel and threw open the heavy doors with a strength she didn't know she had.
There was a fire . . .an ominous plume of black smoke was rising from her side of town. Her grandmother had gone back to the house!
"Oh God!" Remona yelped in terror more real than anything she had ever experienced. There was no way she'd ever get there in time. . .her heart swelled with emotions so powerful that she couldn't control them.
Suddenly a bright, deep blue light filled the room and the ground began to shake. Bright, strange waves of what appeared to be energy blinked into existence, rippling throughout the church. Remona was suddenly aware of pitch dark around her, like someone had shut the lights completely out. Had she fainted? Had she died? Moments passed like ages before the teen realized that she was in some sort of a black dome. Instantaneously, she began to notice beams of blackish-pink light zoom toward her from the seemingly endless nothing. The light began to engulf the darkness, making it swirl with the light into some sort of gothic plasma. Remona suddenly felt stronger, and noticed that the plasma beams were wrapping around her body and hardening into what felt like metal. Remona became aware of a sudden weight on her shoulders that actually seemed like it was somehow meant to be there. It felt like second nature to Remona's body; however her mind was reeling with confusion.
Her sword was in her hand as light and vision came back to Remona's eyes. The sword however was not the same as Remona remembered. Now, the sword had donned pinkish-red gemstones in the hilt in addition to ornate black swirls and lines over the entire length of the sapphire blade. The sword had been beautiful before, but now it took Remona's breath away. Remona blinked and looked down to find her body covered by a solid, sapphire blue metal that had materialized as armor.
In fact, her whole body was now covered in this stunningly beautiful, intricate platemail. Her original clothing was nowhere to be seen. Her boots had changed into knee-high greaves; her pants had stayed black in color, but where made of an entirely different material. They covered her legs right up to her four-sided armored skirt. Above the skirt, was a breastplate that went up to her collar bone and was complete with shoulder guards. Below the shoulder guards, her arms were bare, down to her elbows, which then donned gauntlets to protect her forearms and hands.
The weight on her back seemed to be moving, and Remona suddenly realized that she was hovering a few inches off the ground. How on earth? She glanced quickly over her shoulder and found that she had grown large, sapphire-colored dragon's wings! Remona decided she didn't have time to question what was going on, or this miraculous new gift. She gave her wings a test flap, causing her to soar upward. After shakily regaining herself, she flew unsteadily out the door and toward the smoke.
She almost instantly regretted leaving the ground; she didn't know how to fly. Air currents and turbulence threw her off balance, not to mention she had no idea of the correlation of wing movement and direction. Several times her altitude pitched, and she was afraid that she'd fall, but somehow she managed to stay aloft each time.
Remona was also glad that it was nightfall, because her armor camouflaged her into the inky sky and kept her hidden from view. Seeing a human with dragon's wings would probably cause a riot from anyone down below that could see. Remona looked down anyway, a lurching feeling in her stomach. At least she was almost there. It would have taken her half an hour to run, but flying it had been merely a few minutes. Remona was flying faster than any bird, and yet, every second still seemed like an hour. On the brighter side of things, if there could be one, Remona felt like she was beginning to get the hang of flight.
As her neighborhood boundaries loomed into view, she reduced her altitude on a slope. From above, she saw her house, and several people standing about. Swooping down even closer, even above the roar of the flames she could hear people shouting and laughing. The people on the ground suddenly began to form a semicircle around something just as Remona realized she had another problem. She didn't know how to land . . . But as she came close enough to realize just who and what the situation involved, she didn't care.
Donaven and his gang where standing around an old-gray haired woman, that lie, trembling on the ground. It was her grandmother.
"For the last time, old bat, where is Remona? We've got some business with her," Donaven spat.
From where she lie, Aggie spat at him. "I will not tell you where my granddaughter is just so you can go and harass her! I'm sure whatever she did to you was well-deserved you--" She didn't finish because Donaven kicked her and Aggie began coughing.
"Okay, I guess you'll have it your way!" he growled and kicked her again.
Never in Remona's entire life had she felt such rage, not even for her father, though it came pretty close. She trembled from head to toe in anger she couldn't control. She tightened her grip on her sword. She was going to kill them. All of them. Her fist burst into a wild black flame that burned with the same intensity as the orange one that now consumed her house. Dark fire. . . Well, they wanted to play with fire, now they got their wish.
Remona shot out of the sky like a violent storm, her wings spread out to full width as she buffered the amount of air for her landing. She held her sword overhead, aiming for Donaven. Even in the night, Remona's form cast a powerfully dark shadow upon the ground that all of the gang members noticed instantly. Looking simultaneously above themselves, screams of terror sounded and they began to scatter like mice. Remona didn't care about the others, only Donaven, as she dove out of the sky and kicked him with a flaming boot in the middle of his back. The black fire she felt in her soul, her hatred, had manifested itself and covered her body.
Donaven soared backwards, the force of just a simply tap of her foot had been a crushing blow. He screamed in terror as he landed on the stone street, scuttled back onto his feet, stumbled, and fell again. Remona mercilessly glided over and stepped onto his back, grinding his face back down into the pavement. He was utterly mortified as Remona could tell by the pitch and frequency of his muffled screams. She also noticed that the black fire around her foot was burning him horribly, and she didn't care.
Remona grabbed the gang leader by the back of the collar and flipped him around to face her. His hair began melting away and tears were pouring down his face.
"AHH! PLEASE . . .D . .DON'T . . .H . . .HURT ME!" he wailed in terror.
Remona was unmoved. "Coward! You've the audacity to commit such acts but not the bravery to pay for them!" she shouted, the crackling of the black fire around her absorbed her voice and made it echo monstrously with an eerie overtone. She sounded menacing to say the least.
"I WON'T. . .I WON'T EVER . . .--"
"--I know you won't," Remona hissed, "Because I'm going to kill you!" She thrust her sword at him with her free hand but stopped an inch shy, when she heard the sounds of clanking metal. A group of Deningrad's guard stood there, weapons on hand and apparently just as frightened as Donaven.
"DEMON! Release him!" the knight at the head of the band shouted to her.
Demon? She wasn't a demon . . .the very thought that someone should say that to her hurt.
"I am no demon! This man is a criminal and will be punished for his deeds!" she called back, the thundering of her voice being a contrast for her claim to humanity.
The head knight didn't lower his weapon even a fraction. "If that's so, then haven't you punished him enough!?! If you are truly not a demon, then show some humanity! I mean, look at him for pity's sake!" he called again.
Remona glanced at her victim, and looked deep into Donaven's eyes. He was blubbering, nearly bald, and had several burns that would probably never completely heal. He was terrified down to his very core, Remona knew he'd have nightmares about this incident for the rest of his lowly life. . .she gazed into his watery eyes, and all she could see was black fire. Did he even know who she was? Was that all he saw?
It didn't matter. Remona didn't pity him, nor was she able to just simply forgive him. But something in her heart asked her what her grandmother would say. She turned around to look at her. She was lying there, but she wasn't moving. But she was breathing . . She was unconscious, she must have passed out when Remona's back was turned. Seeing her like that, looking at the one she loved being hurt, hurt her more than words could say. But what would she have said? What would her grandmother say if she found out Remona had killed a man? Even if he was scum . . .
Her grandmother was all she left, she would not shame her. Remona pulled Donaven close to her face, but kept him far enough so that they blazing ebony fire around her veiled her identity.
"Know this. I hope that every minute your burns ache and will remind you of the sting of justice. Know also that you deserve to die, but because I refuse to be a monster," she growled, and making her point, with one hand she tossed him over to the knights, whom rushed to put the fires on his body out.
" I am no demon," she said and turned away.
"No! You're not a demon! You're worse! You're the black monster! I've heard about you from sister Luanna! LEAVE! LEAVE NOW OR WE"LL ATTACK!" the head knight shouted as fire reflected in his eyes.
Black Monster? Clearly that had no idea what they were talking about. Remona put her hands up in ease as every knight in the squadron prepared to advance. She back away slowly with the knights watching her every step. Remona back tracked over to her grandmother then stopped. Turning to her grandmother, she beheld that Aggie was indeed unconscious upon the cold, hard ground, and that she was bleeding seriously from a gash on her forehead. Remona's rage was gone and as it faded so did the black fire around her. Concern filled Remona's heart and she picked Aggie up into her arms as gently as she could. Remona had expected her to have been heavy, but every since her strange transformation, she had been ten times stronger than normal.
Remona spread her sapphire wings and their sea-green folds shone brilliantly in the firelight.
"STOP! PUT HER DOWN!" she heard one of the knights call out. Remona paid him no mind, started flapping her wings and kicked off hard from the ground into the night sky. Up in the air, with her wings beating steadily, Remona gave one final look as the house she had always known collapsed and burned into ashes. Where would they live now? They had no savings, food, or belongings. . .Remona felt a single tear slide down her cheek and watched it slide off her face and fall away. She would worry about all of that soon enough. Right now, she had to worry about her grandmother. She needed a doctor, but that presented it's own, nasty problem.
Ever since the Divine Dragon's attack on the city over thirty years ago, the medical clinics had been moved into more fortified locations to ensure that, in case of a future attack, the hospitals would be more protected. There were only two locations in the city where one could find a doctor. One place was in the palace, which she'd never be allowed into, and the other was the church. The church meant more exposure to her father, but Remona knew she had no choice.
Soaring as fast as her wings would carry her, Remona flew back to Deningrad's massive cathedral with her unconscious loved one in her arms. She saw the looming arched doorway coming into view and dropped, rather than landed, in front of them. She fell to one knee in exhaustion and nearly dropped Aggie. The fatigue she felt was unimaginable, she felt as if she were fighting just to stay conscious. True emotional stress could do terrible things to a person, but what on Endiness had made her so tired?
There was a dull glow from her choker and Remona watched as her armor suddenly turned back into swirls of dark energy and were absorbed back into her necklace. She gazed behind herself to double check. Sure enough, her wings were gone. The teenager checked her hands, and just as sure as the wings, the metal gauntlets had been replaced back by her own leather gloves. Compared to the armor she had been wearing just moments ago, she felt comfortable to back in her own clothes. The weight, though it had been surprisingly light, had still been heavier than her simple cloth garments.
Tired as she was, there was one task left. Somehow, she had to get the doors open. But it had taken four men to lift the doors apart. Remona walked shakily to the door and kicked it several times, knocking. After several minutes there was still nothing. She tried yelling out, but her voice was weak and tired. Still nothing. Her grandmother's breath came out in rasp from where Remona held her in her arms, sending her into a panic. "God how do I do this?" she though to herself. The answer seemed so simple, as pure emotion took hold once again. The choker flashed and a small fraction of the strength she felt before still lingered. With all the effort she had left, she pushed the right door with her foot, and though it weighed well over 300 pounds, the door creaked open.
Four deacons had been wandering through the main part of the chapel and turned immediately in shock to the new comers as the door parted. All four of them immediately noticed the situation and ran over to Remona and Aggie. Remona only hoped that none of them had seen her in her strange armor, because they would most certainly tell her father and God knew who else. Better yet, she hoped none of them would ask her about the door. She didn't know how to explain that part either.
"Miss, what happened?" They all seemed to ask at the same time.
"Help," Remona managed weakly, before she dropped her grandmother, the last of her strength faded, and collapsed to the floor. Her vision became fuzzy and eventually the darkness consumed it. "So dark . . .why was everything always in darkness?" she thought to herself before passing out.
When Remona came to, she was lying on something hard with a thin cushion, and something wet and cold was being pressed against her face. Something tight also bound her side. As she opened her eyes a dim, light washed over the surroundings. She was staring up at a high, vaulted ceiling ornately decorated with crystals. A man in teal and white with blonde hair was leaning over her a white washcloth in hand.
"Where . . .where .. .OH GOD! GRANDMA!" Remona yelped and sprung bolt upright, immediately wishing that she hadn't. Her head throbbed in protest and she leaned over, bring herself to sitting position trying not to throw up. She breathed heavily, looking down, and noticed that her wound from her swordfight had been wrapped.
"Easy there, miss. That was quite a spill you took out there," the deacon assured gently.
Remona looked up sharply at him, the dull light stinging her eyes. "Where's my grandma, the woman that was with me!?! Is she okay!?!" she asked quickly.
The deacon gazed at her slowly, unsure of how to answer. Fear stirred in Remona's chest and she jumped unstably to her feet. She wobbled back and forth, but the deacon caught her arm and sat her back down.
"Tell me she's alright! TELL ME!" Remona shouted, making her throat hurt. Panic was still rising in her chest.
"Relax miss, she's still alive, I know that much. But I won't lie to you. As old as she is, her wounds were very bad. The condition she's in is very serious. The other deacons took her for treatment right away once you came in," he explained calmly.
She was alive . . .the thought calmed Remona, though only a little.
"How long have been out for? How long have you been treating her?" Remona asked in a rushed voice.
The deacon sighed. "You've been out about two hours now, I was beginning to think we'd have to take you back as well. But we've been treating your grandmother for the same amount of time," he answered.
Remona blinked. Two hours . . .good lord, she hadn't been that tired!
"And you're telling me after all this time, that none of the treatment has helped at all?" Remona asked meekly.
The deacon frowned. "The other deacons have done just about all they can do for her. She needs medicine from the Arch Bishop," he replied.
Remona blinked disbelief and rage welling within, making her head pound. "You mean to tell me, that he hasn't seen her yet?" Remona growled.
The deacon's frown deepened. "Well, actually he says that he has, but the cause is lost without special measures," he replied truthfully.
"Special measures!?! What special measures!?! Why won't he treat her!?!? WHY WON'T HE TAKE THOSE SPECIAL MEASURES!?!" Remona cried out in rage.
"I don't know-- miss, calm down please, you'll pass out again," the deacon warned, but Remona didn't care. She stood, brushed him off with inhuman strength and ran out the chapel through the side door and up the staircase to her father's office, desperate and enrages. She through open the door to her father's study to find him sitting there at his desk, writing. He glanced up at the interruption, as Remona entered in, out of breath,
"WHAT IN DEVILDOM ARE YOU DOING!?!" Remona demanded sharply.
" Back so soon? Watch your language, please, Remona. I am reading a most interesting account on the origin of Mintos. I---"
"WHAT ABOUT GRANDMA!" Remona shrieked loudly.
Henry put his middle-aged blue eyes on Remona. "Aggie? What happened to her is most unfortunate, however I've already seen her and there's nothing I can do," he said calmly."
Remona started to cry silent tears as she shouted in disgust, "YOU CAN HELP HER! BUT YOU WON'T! WHY WON'T YOU HELP HER!?! WHEN MOM WAS ALIVE, YOU WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING FOR HER AND GRANDMA!"
Henry gazed at his distraught daughter. "I cannot help her. To save her, in this case would directly interfere with the will of Soa. I am forbidden by the sacred laws of the divine tree to tamper with the will of God in any way. Soa means for Aggie to die, otherwise the deacons and I would be able to cure her. Just like he would have saved your mother if she hadn't been meant to die . . ." he said with a hint of sorrow in his voice.
Remona was totally aghast by his words and couldn't contain herself any longer. Eleven years worth of rage, despair and pain came rushing out I n mere seconds.
"ALL MY LIFE I HAVE LOVED YOU! I HAVE LOVED YOU DESPITE THE FACT THAT YOU ABANDONED ME! EVERY YEAR I'D WAIT FOR YOU TO COME HOME! AT LEAST ONCE I WANTED YOU TO COME HOME! ONE DAY EVEN! I THOUGHT YOU'D COME BACK BECAUSE YOU LOVED AND CARED FOR ME AND GRANDMA! BUT I WAS WRONG! I WAS WRONG! YOU NEVER CARED!" she bellowed with abundant tears.
"Remona . . ." the arch bishop began, but she didn't listen.
"AND FURTHERMORE, DON'T YOU EVER SPEAK ABOUT MY MOTHER AGAIN. YOU WERE NEVER AROUND! SHE DIED WITHOUT YOU THERE! SHE CALLED FOR YOU! I DIDN'T HAVE THE HEART TO TELL HER THAT YOU WEREN'T THERE! SHE LOVED YOU WITH HER LAST BREATH! I WILL NOT DIE THE SAME WAY, CALLING FOR MY FATHER, WHO NEVER LOVED ME AT ALL! I WILL NOT SEE MY GRANDMOTHER DIE BECAUSE YOU THINK GOD WANTS HER TOO! NOBODY IS DESTINIED TO DIE BECAUSE GOD WANTS IT! GOD WANTS PEOPLE TO SAVE LIVES, NOT DESTROY THEM!" Remona screeched, stopping only to catch her breath.
"Remona, we cannot prevent Soa's will," Henry stated firmly, clearly unmoved by her plight.
"But we can alter and delay it," Remona cried quietly, "would you just let grandma die? What about me? For once in your life, think about me. She's all I have left. If she dies, what will I do? Where will I go?" she cried in misery.
"Remona, as much as I hate to say it, Aggie is going to die. Accept it, And as for you, you're a strong young lady. You can look after yourself," he said turning back to his writing.
Those words cut her deeper than any blade could have ever done. Betrayal pure and simple . . . All those years she had wanted to deny the fact that her father didn't care, but now she couldn't anymore. He'd said it in cold blood.
"DAMN YOU!" she yelled, getting his attention once again. "DAMN YOU TO THE FURTHEST REACHES OF DEVILDOM! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! YOU HORRIBLE, DISPICABLE MONSTER! I AM ASHAMED THAT I WAS BORN OF YOUR FLESH! I HATE YOU! I DESPISE YOU!" Remona ranted and fell to her knees, having no more strength to stand. She put her head in her hands and began to sob.
Henry seemed actually dismayed by his daughter's behavior. "Remona you're acting absolutely poorly. If you want to talk to me in a civil manner, I'll be in the chapel. Come and find me when your mood has improved. We still have other business to resolve, remember?" He rose from his chair toward the door. Remona said not a word and heard one of her tear drops hit the hilt of her sword, making a slight chime sound. Remona removed her hands from her face and stared at her weapon through blurry eyes. Business . . .that gave her an idea.
"W . .wait," Remona managed to choke out at last.
Henry paused to face her again. "Yes? I must warn you if this is anything disrespectful, I'll have you removed from this building until you calm down," he informed.
Remona closed her eyes, sniffled and nodded. "I want to purpose a deal for you Arch Bishop. If you will heal my grandmother, take those extra measures in her care, and house her comfortably here in the abbey, I will . . .I will go on this quest, and kill the black monster for you," she cried softly. Henry wasn't inclined to agree. "L . . .look at it this way," Remona added. "yes, you break Soa's will by saving grandma, but in return Soa's mortal foe and long time interference, the Black Monster, will be dead, and no longer hinder his plan of evolution . . .which do you desire more? The Moonchild's coming, or following a small, petty rule?" Remona reasoned.
Henry appeared contemplative. "You're right. You're point is a good one. You have yourself a deal, my daughter," he answered at last.
Remona nodded solemnly. "I'll leave soon, though I must spend tomorrow in preparation . . ." she managed at last.
"very well. I will have Brother Smidt prepare a room for you in the abbey tonight," Henry said simply and left the room.
Remona however, lingered in the room among the books, crying away her sorrow. She didn't know about anything anymore. Remona knew she probably couldn't defeat the Black Monster unless she made that transformation again, but she didn't know how she'd done it in the first place, or if she could even do it again. Remona knew in her heart that she would probably never see Deningrad again after she left, but for her grandmother's secured well-being, she was prepared to die.
About half an hour later Remona found herself in her plain church room, one of the Soan brothers had offered to bunk with someone else for the night, so Remona was accommodated in his room. She had been given a plain, white night gown to wear and was bade goodnight by Brother Smidt. As Remona undressed she put her necklace on the nightstand and her sword up against the wall by her bed.
Remona had but one window in the white-walled room, and she didn't like the cramped feeling the room gave. Blowing out her lamp she walked to her window and stared out onto the crystal city, Deningrad. How wonderful the city looked, especially the sparkling palace. Remona sighed.
"I'm sure some of them have lost everything. You're not alone in the world, Remona. Truth be told, my father didn't like me much either," came a dark, feminine voice from behind Remona.
The teenager turned sharply and there stood a woman with long, black hair, eyes as blue as Remona's, and wearing a blue outfit, lined with gold. The strange lady leaned against the wall, arms crossed and one leg over the other.
"Who are you? How did you get in here? And how do you know me? You don't look familiar," Remona growled dangerously, reaching for the sword.
The woman grinned. "Relax. If I was going to hurt you I'd have done it by now. I came in here with you. In fact, I've been with you all day. Quite a day it was too," she answered. "You've been through a lot in one day," she continued.
"Nice sword," she smirked, as Remona backed off somewhat and let the sword rest against the wall once more.
"I hope you like it. It was mine," she said.
"Yours? You gave me that sword? Why?" Remona asked in surprise.
"Because you'll need it. As good of a swordsman as you are now, you can improve. You'll have to," she answered mysteriously.
"Who are you?" Remona repeated.
The lady sighed. "I thought you'd already know. You've seen more of my secrets than anyone."
Remona blinked. "Rose! Of course. Those are your memories I keep seeing!" Remona analyzed. "In that case, I've got some questions to ask you," Remona replied and started barraging the woman with inquiries.
Rose held up both hands. "One at a time," she protested.
Remona blushed. "Sorry," she apologized and Rose nodded. "Now, my first question is how have you been with me all day when I didn't see you?"
"I'll get to that in a minute," Rose answered.
"Okay then, the man I met today, Leon--"
Rose stopped her. "Well, there's a good place to begin. Leon, son of the wingly, Lloyd. At least, I'm almost completely sure. I never knew Lloyd had a son, but seeing Leon today, there is no doubt in my mind he's connected to Lloyd somehow. Anyway, Lloyd I will also tell you about later and for the meantime, just know that Leon is trouble. What Leon said is another point that needs to be explained. Do you know the legend of the dragoons?"
Remona nodded. "They were the human reincarnations of dragons over 11,000 years ago," the teenager answered.
"Yes, and do you know what happened when they died?"
"I've heard that their dragon spirits were magically sealed inside special crystals," Remona replied.
"Good. As you're aware by now, I'm sure, I was the first darkness dragoon," Rose remarked.
"Well, how many darkness dragoons were there?" Remona asked curiously.
"Only two," Rose answered. "Do you know what happens when people get those supposedly destroyed crystals?" Rose continued.
Remona nodded. "If the dragon finds them strong enough, it will inhabit their body and generate power through the crystals. At least that's what legend says. . .if you were the first, and there are only two, then I am the second! The creature I became today was the darkness dragoon!" Remona cried in amazement.
Rose grinned again. "Yes, you did."
"Then that choker that my grandma gave me. The stone is . . ."
"Yes. Dragoon spirits chose the person and find the way to them. Your grandmother visited the site where the divine tree supposedly once stood last year, if I remember correctly. She found my choker in a small hole there and decided to give it to you. Dragoons don't know the meaning of coincidence. Everything happens for a reason," Rose explained.
Remona shook her head in dismay. "So you're saying that crystal coming to me was not an accident? And if that's your choker and my grandma found it . . .plus you were the first dragoon and that was 11,000 years ago . . .you're dead!" Remona exclaimed in alarm.
"Yes. I'm a ghost, that's how I've been with you all day. I've been inside that necklace watching everything. So I'm just telling you, I wouldn't try to talk to me in public. No one can see me or hear me but you. I know this is a lot to take in, but to give you the condensed version, I know the divine dragoon. I think you should go to him and tell him of Leon."
"And what of my quest to find the Black Monster?" Remona asked. "I can't do anything until I fulfill my word," Remona insisted.
Rose didn't speak for a moment. "The Divine Dragoon lives in Serdio, in the village of Seles. His name is Dart Feld, and he knows a great deal about what you're seeking You should go see him," Rose suggested.
"Remona slapped herself on the forehead. "God, I've gone insane! Ghost's don't exist, this is nuts! I'm dreaming," she laughed. "I'll bet your no ghost Ro--"
Remona had tried to pat Rose on the shoulder, but with a cold, tingly sensation, her hand passed right through. "Oh God, I'm going to bed. Maybe then some of this madness will sink in," Remona said staring at Rose awkwardly. Rose shrugged. "Suit yourself, you have a lot to do tomorrow," she answered.
Remona closed her eyes. There was no such thing as ghosts. She'd wake up in the morning and this would all be a bad dream.