~Fran's POV
Vayne was as proud as ever, and my remarks had done him well in. I should have held my tongue, but that man found ways to infuriate even the collected viera! I should have known that he would back out of the contract of his one way or another.
"Fran!" I rounded the corner swiftly, pressing my back to the wall. An iron-hushed voice called after me. Nono grew uneasy beside me, shifting his weight to one foot then the other. By the muffled edge to his voice, I could tell that it was a Judge who searched for me. His iron footsteps grew louder as he approached. Then, he slowed to a fast walk, breathing heavily in the armor. "Fleetfoot, that one is." He muttered, turning the corner. When the first sight of him was caught in my vision, I took him from behind with a quick tug and suppressed him against the wall. "Ah!" His startled gasp echoed in his helm. I put my face closer to his, speaking with a low and threatening tone.
"You will end this pursuit. I am taking my leave far- away from this forsaken country, so you have no need to attempt and arrest me."
"Fran was waiting for you, kupo!" Nono added, rather pleased. His furry face suddenly sparked with curiosity. "You are leaving, kupo?" The Judge chuckled behind his mask, as if he were enjoying the experience. My eyes narrowed as I decided what to do with him now. Now that he was mocking me…
"Though I don't mind your lovely figure so close to mine, it's rather difficult to breathe with my face against this helm." I drew away instantly, recognizing the gentlemanly voice. I lifted the facial armor off his head, and confirmed my pursuer. He was grinning as he stared to the side to see me from his peripheral vision. Once more, I'd found myself consorting with that young hume from the bar. His face still had remnants of the fight, as if he were not recognized otherwise. I pushed the helm into his arms and began my way down the hall, Nono following me with a curious stare. He took the helmet in one hand and called after me. "I won't try to take you, but Vayne has sent a few others to do what I would not." He was warning me? I paused in mid-step. I had waited for a pursuer with such in mind.
"I figured so much." My ears suddenly turned his way, and seconds later he also heard the iron footsteps as the Foot soldiers gained on us. He ran past me, eager to keep as much space as possible between the soldiers and himself.
"Come!" He beckoned. I hesitated, long enough for him to grow impatient. He dashed back, taking my wrist. "Why don't you be good and do what I say?"
Surprisingly, even though Nono was wounded, he ran quite quickly when swords were at his back. The two Judges were swift as well. "You there! Halt at once!" Their commands were muffled by their helms, but well audible. That didn't mean we would stop for them though! But in my current state, unknowing as to where I was being led, or how to make a quick escape, I was at the mercy of this young, silver-tongued hume. Then again, I had no time to be picky. He never had seemed a threat(or threatening at the least), not when I dragged his bloody face into a seat outside the Tavern, or when he'd appeared to me as a Judge above the airship hanger. This was far from trust, but I did not believe that he would intentionally cause me harm. But I was even more startled when he turned on his heel to punch one of the following Judges. The Judge toppled over, but was kicked in the side before he could regain his footing.
"Sorry about this, old chap. Truly not a personal matter." The young hume turned away quickly, leading me further down the hallway. "Damn. That was a gamble just now."
"Do you not know how to fight?" I inquired. He only laughed dryly, as if my question had been rhetorical.
Back in the hallway long behind us, the second Imperial Judge had found his companion recovering from the unexpected turn of events.
"It was Ffamran all right." The Judge shakily came to his feet. "Stupid kid's run off with that viera Vayne wants arrested." The other followed his gaze down the hall.
"No use in pursuing them now. I'll tell Vayne, but he probably won't think much of it. Never did he like Ffamran. Probably send a group of headhunters after them if they try and leave the city, but that's it." The two Imperial Judges turned and made their return down the corridors. "Doubt those two will fight a mob of Judges on their doorsteps anyways."
~Ffamran's POV
The iron helm crashed against the wall, shattering the glass picture frame behind it. The shrapnel dropped onto the burgundy carpet beside the shining armor like triangular raindrops. My father slowly rose to his feet after his quick instincts had saved him from the impact of thrown iron. Instead of his head, the glass picture covering had taken the blow.
"What has gotten into you, Ffamran! This behavior is unacceptable!"
"If only you would say so much to that tyrant friend of yours!" Cidolfus' face darkened.
"Have your views not changed the least? He is helping the Emperor raise our country to a new height of prosperity by swiftly putting an end to this war!"
"You were well aware of how I see him, yet you have me working for him!" I shook my head like a dog trying to dry itself. "No matter how hard I bathe, I cannot rid myself of the scent of metal!" I tugged the armor from my forearms, hardly giving the time to clip them free of the chain mail first. "What kind of father would do such a thing to his son!" I threw them to the carpet in disgust and I clenched my fists. I was breathing heavily for so little stain. I shuffled my feet and faced my father boldly. "He would have had an innocent woman imprisoned today." He said nothing, at least, not to me. He let out a strained sigh, and I noticed how aged he had become. He was graying so quickly…
"No. I'm certain that Ffamran had made up his mind."
"What?"
My father turned his head to a side, as if to better hear. "Of course I will, my friend." He looked my way, but continued to speak to himself, or his imaginary friend. "Nothing so trifle as a blind confrontation will waver my loyalty to Vayne Solidor." As he spoke to the nonexistent accomplice of his, I felt my chest grow tight, and suddenly weak. This man that stood before me, gray and corrupted so…he was not my father- I would refuse to accept that! That light-headedness passed with a few more heartbeats, replaced by the same rage that had prompted me to assault him with armor.
"Ever since you returned from that expedition Vayne sent you on-!" My voice snapped. "You have gone mad, old man! I cannot stand beside you and watch you destroy yourself!" When he refused to reply, I took my cape in my fist and pulled it from my shoulders in one swift tug.
I glared up to him without another word, and turned my back on him, ridden of Archadia's emblem.
Though I was still clad in pounds of iron and steel, I had not felt so light since I began as a Judge. I spent no more than ten minutes in my room, taking only time to angrily rip the armor from my limbs, piece by piece, and toss a few cotton shirts into my pack. When I opened my doors to take my leave, I saw that my father had moved himself to his desk, and was rubbing his temples groggily. How could he choose his- his imaginary friend over his own son! It disgusted me to know that I shared blood with a man that had fallen so far.
As he looked up to match my glare, I spun on my heel and ran down the stairs. I did not think that he would try and stop me if I took the elevator down the many floors…but I could not stand still any longer. I'd wanted to turn and punch him, instead threw the helm, and now I just wanted to run. I skipped nearly an entire flight of stairs, gripping the railing loosely as my pack thumped against my back. The soles of my feet slammed into the carpet, and I dropped low to my knees to absorb the impact. Before the sting had ebbed from my heels, I dashed again.
I would leave this accursed place! I would leave it behind, along with this forsaken country. My mind was fast at work, as my hasty actions began to catch up to me. Surely the guards would come to arrest me soon enough, starting at my father's residence. I would need to make a fleet-footed getaway. But how? To make such a departure, I was in need of an airship. A fast, reliable craft that could take a good hit. This was, of course, my dream ship, but it was the very thing I needed now. An airship… that no one else seemed to want.
"Ah…" And I knew right where to find her.
