Chapter Two: Morning Thoughts
The sun was beginning to set when Rune finally stepped onto flat ground once more. But he was still far from the Mansion. "Perhaps if I travel during the night, I can make it to the Mansion by morning," he said as he continued to trudge on.
He wasn't the least bit tired and he was eager to reach the Mansion as soon as possible. He had a new mission now: to figure out who that 'special someone' is.
Pale moonlight illuminated Rune's surroundings, the snow reflecting its radiance. Their glow reminded him of the surface of Rycross, the invisible planet. And, thus, reminded him of his adventure with Chaz and the others; it was another highlight in his life. He wondered if he would experience such excitement again.
The fifth generation Lutz took a brief rest around midnight. He calmly looked up at the stars and began naming the constellations in his mind. He remembered doing this with Alys after they would set up camp with Galf. He would tell her the different names of the stars and constellations in the sky and their significance.
Alys was an eager student and a fast learner. Rune then would teach her how she could travel around using the stars as her guide. He knew that she took them to heart. That's how she became a renowned Hunter. Her tracking and fighting skills were unmatched.
After a few minutes of stargazing, Rune set out once again towards the Mansion. He wrapped his cape around himself for the coldest hours of the night were approaching. As he traveled on, all he could hear was the crunching of snow beneath his feet and the howling wind. His breath came out as smoke in the chill air.
As dawn approached, Rune was within a couple of yards from the Mansion's entrance. He soon heard a bell toll from within the Mansion signaling a brand new day to begin. He smirked. He had made it in time for breakfast. His pace quickened as the sun began to rise into the sky, quickly vanishing the night into day.
The two Esper guards posted at the entrance saw a figure approaching them very quickly. "Who could be visiting us at this time of the day?" one of the guards asked the other.
The other guard shrugged. "Beats me. Just be ready for anything."
The other guard nodded and both stood watch as the figure continued to approach at a fast pace.
Rune couldn't believe himself, but he was happy to see the Esper Mansion, to see his home, so close. "I've finally made it," he grinned to himself. He was eager to enter the building, but saw two guards blocking the entranceway.
"Halt!" one of them shouted to Rune as he held his hand up. "What business do you bring to Esper Mansion?"
Rune looked at them strangely. "Don't you recognize a fellow Esper?" he asked. "I'm returning home from my long journey."
The two guards looked at each other then back at Rune. Both of them sensed that he was an Esper probably returning home from Meese. "Please forgive us," the other guard replied as both of them stepped to either side of the entrance. "Welcome home, brother."
Rune gave a curt nod to the two as he entered the Mansion. Before he went any further, he shook the snow from his mantle, trying to look as dignified as possible. "I really need to get into some warm clothing," he muttered as he cleared the last of the snow from his white cape. When he looked up from his finished task, he saw a young lady emerge from the Hall of Worship across from him.
Time seemed to stop for Rune as he stared at her. The rest of the world was blocked off and only she remained. But that moment only lasted for a second before time resumed again. Rune had never experienced that feeling before and he wondered what it meant. He was surprised then to see that same young lady smiling as she approached him.
"So Rune, you've finally decided to visit your people?" the young lady asked him.
Rune just stared at her in shock. "Do...I...know you?" he asked haltingly with a confused expression on his face.
The young lady laughed. "Has it been that long?" she asked. Rune just continued to stare at her with that same confused expression. "It's me!" the young Esper woman exclaimed. "Kyra!"
Recognition dawned on Rune's face when he heard the name. "K-Kyra!" he stammered in disbelief as he continued to stare at her.
Kyra had changed very little in the way of physical stature. Her dark blue hair seemed a bit longer, but that change was insignificant to Rune. It was her face and eyes that caught his attention. They seemed maturer and wiser. Her impulsiveness still lingered, but somehow she managed to control it. The other change was the clothing she wore.
It was the formal robe of an Esper studying in the Mansion. Maybe that's why Rune couldn't recognize her at first. He wasaccustomed to seeing her in her traveling clothes. But he had to admit, she looked better in the robe.
The white robe trimmed in red shaped her slim figure as it flowed down to her ankles. The sleeves were long and wide, flowing towards her wrists. The collar of her robe was like a shawl that went over her shoulders and across her chest. A gold belt encircled her small waist. She also wore a golden neckband.
Kyra began to fidget under Rune's scrutiny. "Are you going to stare at me all day?" she asked indignantly after a few minutes have elapsed. "No offense," she added quickly, remembering that she was talking to the great Lutz.
Rune frowned at that. "Is that how you see me, Kyra?" he asked softly. "As Lutz? Even though you know the truth?"
"Well, you've inherited his will and memory..." Kyra began.
"But that does not make me Lutz," Rune interrupted. "His memories are separate from mine. We are two different people." He then sighed. "How could I put it...? Have you had any breakfast yet?"
Kyra was surprised by that question. "No," she replied a bit slowly. "I was about to go to the dining hall when I saw you."
"Good!" Rune nodded. "We can continue our talk over breakfast."
Before Kyra could reply, Rune began walking down the hall then disappeared around the corner. The young Esper quickly followed him, running in her long robe. "Rune, wait!" she shouted after him after she turned the same corner he had disappeared into.
Rune was calmly walking along the long hallway. He heard Kyra's fast approaching footsteps from behind, but he continued walking. "So you've decided to join me after all," he said when Kyra finally reached him.
Kyra took a few deep breaths to slow her racing heart before replying: "It would be rude to turn down an offer." She then noticed that they had passed the dining hall. "I thought...we were...?" The question hung in the air as she pointed back at the dining hall.
Rune chuckled softly. "We can't discuss a private matter in a public setting," he explained. Kyra nodded in understanding.
Both remained silent as they walked down the hall. Why am I acting so friendly to her all of a sudden?, Rune thought. By the Light, Alys! Don't tell me that Kyra is my 'special someone'! It just doesn't feel right. But then what was that weird sensation I felt when I first looked at her? He decided that he would have to talk to Jayson about this.
Kyra observed Rune as they turned right at another corner. She noticed that he was deep in thought. He also seemed worried and... Confused?, she thought. That's an emotion she rarely seen in Rune even during their short journey together. She wondered about this and was about to ask him when she finally found themselves in front of the entrance to the Inner Sanctum.
"I've returned and wish to enter," Rune told the guards at the entrance.
"Of course, reverent one!" exclaimed a guard and both of them pushed the doors wide open. "Please enter."
The guards bowed as both Rune and Kyra entered. The guards immediately shut the doors behind them. Kyra shivered as she felt the cold winds pierce her unprotected flesh. Her robe was not accustomed to withstand such harsh temperatures. It's also been a while since she last stepped outside. She wrapped her arms around herself in an attempt to keep herself warm.
Before Rune realized what he was doing, he had unclasped his cape and had wrapped the mantle around Kyra's shoulders. He then started walking away quickly, surprised by his own actions. What's happening to me?, he thought as he looked at his hands. I just took one look at her and already I'm acting weird.
Kyra stood in shocked silence as she watched Rune walk away at a quick pace. What's going on?, she thought. Why is Rune acting weird? Did something happen during his journey?
A chill wind then blew through the courtyard, pulling Kyra out of her reverie. She pulled the cape closer around her shoulders as she began walking after Rune, who had disappeared to the side of the lone building of the Inner Sanctum.
When she finally reached the side, she realized how far Rune had gotten ahead of her. "He must be already inside," she huffed. The cold climate was getting to her so she hurried into the Sanctuary.
As she entered, she saw Rune and the old Esper conversing. Both turned to the sound of her entry. "Ah! Miss Tierney! Welcome!" the old Esper greeted with a smile. "Rune has told me of your coming here."
"Really?" Kyra replied as she turned her gaze towards Rune who merely looked away. "Then I bet he told you why he's acting strange."
"Maybe," the old Esper replied cryptically. "Now if you'll excuse me," he continued as he headed for the door, "I will bring you breakfast." The old Esper left, leaving Rune and Kyra alone in the Sanctuary.
There was an uneasy silence between the two after the old Esper had left. Rune was walking around the room as if he was inspecting it. In truth, he was trying to avoid Kyra at the moment. He had told Jayson, the old Esper, what had happened to him when he first saw Kyra. And he was disturbed by the old Esper's explanation.
Jayson had explained that at that one moment in time, where everything blacks out except for the two Espers, it signifies that the Esper one was looking at is the Esper that they shall spend their life with together. In other words, they had found their perfect mate. Unfortunately, only male Espers experience this feeling.
This puzzled Rune. If Kyra was meant for him, why didn't he notice it five years ago? Why did it happen only now? Was it because he was lonely? Or was it because he had changed over the years? He had to admit, he wasn't as arrogant as before.
Kyra watched as Rune walked around the room. She took it as a normal thing since he had been gone for five years. She unwrapped Rune's mantle, shook it of the snow, and folded it neatly. She then went up to Rune, who was busy inspecting a wall.
"Rune?" she called softly.
"What is it, Kyra?" Rune replied as he continued to stare at the wall, trying to remain as calm as possible. But he felt her presence behind him and his heart threatened to burst out of his chest as she continued to stand there.
"Um, your cape..." she said as she slightly held it up.
"You can put it on one of the chairs," Rune instructed, his back still facing towards her. He then wiped the wall with his finger. "Hmm..." he muttered as he looked at his slightly dirtied finger. He didn't mind the dust at all. It was just a ruse to keep him distracted until Jayson returned with breakfast. He had forgotten why he had invited Kyra for breakfast, but cursed himself for doing so anyway.
Seeing that Rune was still busy inspecting, Kyra went to the nearby sofa and chairs. Two red armchairs were situated on either end of a rectangular wooden coffee table. In front of the coffee table was the red sofa. Kyra placed the cape on the chair closest to the door and went to sit on the sofa.
She then watched Rune as he moved from one side of the room to the next. Again it grew quiet and that unnerved her. "So, do you usually inspect every wall in the Sanctuary every time you return?" she asked Rune, trying to start up a conversation.
"Not really," Rune replied casually. Actually, I don't but with you here... He still kept his back towards Kyra.
The young Esper was somewhat irked at this. She wasn't used to having a conversation with someone's back turned. "Would you at least face me when you're talking?" she asked annoyed.
Rune took a deep breath, trying to calm his pounding heart. "Can you see that I'm still checking the Sanctuary?" he asked harshly, hoping that would keep her quiet. But he received an entirely different reaction.
Kyra huffed as she stood up defiantly. "Well, if you feel that way... I'll take my leave then!" she exclaimed as she stomped her way to the door. "I don't know why you invited me in the first place if you were going to act this way!"
Again Rune acted without thinking as he turned around and ran after her before she left the room. "Wait!" he called out to her, but she remained resolute as she continued towards the door.
It surprised him that he was running after Kyra. The notion of her leaving unnerved him for some reason he couldn't define yet. As a matter of fact, he wanted her to stay. "Wait!" he called again as he finally caught up with her and grabbed her wrist.
Kyra stopped in surprise at his touch. "Please don't go," Rune pleaded softly, still keeping a hold on her wrist, afraid that she would leave if he let go. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. Please stay. I wouldn't ask for anything more."
Rune continued to hold her wrist as he waited upon her reply. He begun to hear the pounding of his heart as the wait grew longer. He then swallowed nervously when he saw Kyra slowly turning towards him, his heart pounding rapidly in turn. He limply let go of her wrist and took a tentative step back.
Rune tried to look composed when Kyra fully turned and faced him. "Rune?" she asked tentatively. She was confused by this sudden display of emotion. What happened to the arrogant and insensitive person she once knew? She looked to see that Rune was beginning to turn a light shade of red.
Worry took over puzzlement as Kyra placed a hand on Rune's forehead, thinking his reddening face was a sign of a fever. His face seemed to turn redder at her touch. "Are you all right?" she asked worriedly.
Rune tried to compose himself, but his heart pounded rapidly and felt a blush suffuse his cheeks. He opened his mouth to reply, but his throat felt constricted and only stared into Kyra's worried eyes. "I-I'm---"
"Am I interrupting something?"
Both Espers turned to see Jayson at the doorway, carrying a tray of tea, butter, and bread. Rune was grateful for the old Esper's interruption as he again tried to compose himself. "W-We're fine, Jayson," he stuttered. "I see that you...brought our breakfast."
Jayson smiled, but there was a glint of mischief in his eyes as he went to place the tray down on the table and began filling the cups with tea. "Yes, I have," he said. "If you two would care to sit down, we could partake of this simple meal."
The old Esper then passed each a cup before settling down at the seat furthest from the door leaving the couple the sofa. Rune noticed this and frowned his disapproval. He then caught Kyra staring strangely at him.
Rune smiled and laughed a bit nervously. "I guess we should sit down," he said motioning to the sofa. Kyra nodded and took a seat while Rune followed a bit slowly, careful as to not spill his cup, which was shaking slightly.
Rune sat down and quickly placed his cup on the table. He then looked down as he tried to control his seemingly wild emotions. Rune, get a grip!, he chided himself. But...what is this feeling? I never felt this way when I was with Alys. Why am I feeling this way now and with Kyra of all Espers? Rune was busy delving through his mixed emotions that he hadn't realized sooner that Jayson had spoken to him.
"What was that, Jayson?" Rune asked absentmindedly when the old Esper's voice finally broke through his thoughts.
"I asked if you would care to tell us about your journey these last five years," Jayson replied before sipping his tea. "Miss Tierney and I are eager to hear about it, isn't that right, Kyra?"
The young woman placed her cup down. "Yes," she replied. "I'm curious to know why you haven't shown up in any of our friends' weddings."
"Ah! Weddings are very special," Jayson stated as he stared at Rune with that same mischievous glint. "Don't you agree, reverent one?"
Rune was flabbergasted and his face showed it as he stared at the old Esper. What are you up to, old man?, he thought suspiciously.
Jayson smirked again then looked at Kyra. "By the way, Miss Tierney, are you planning to bond with someone soon? You don't want to wait too long, you know."
Kyra blushed and lowered her head at the thought. A bond was the Esper equivalent of a Parmanian marriage or a Dezorian union. It's true that she doesn't want to wait too long. At the age of twenty-three, she was about the right age to become bonded with a partner.
"Well," she began softly as she stared at her cup, "I plan on bonding, but I guess I haven't found the right partner. We do bond for life, after all, and I don't want to bond with someone that's"---she looked at Rune who quickly averted his gaze---"insensitive," she finished.
Rune winced at that word. It was the same word that she had described him five years ago.
Jayson chuckled at this, remembering full well whom she was describing. "You don't want to bond with an insensitive man, eh?" he smirked as he glanced at Rune.
Rune swallowed a lump that seemed to have formed in his throat and blushed as he looked down. He then took his cup and carefully sipped his tea as silence filled the room.
Both Jayson and Kyra watched as Rune placed his cup down and calmly took a roll of bread. The fifth generation Lutz then broke it and spread butter on both pieces before devouring them. Afterwards, he sipped his tea again.
To his two companions, Rune seemed calm and collected. But inside, he was trying to control his rampant emotions.
"Reverent one?" Jayson called hesitantly. "If we had offended you, then we apologize."
Rune slowly placed his cup down. Jayson and Kyra could see that his eyes were closed, deep in thought. "I am hardly offended, Jayson." Rune smirked, eyes snapping open to gaze at his prolocutor. "Kyra can decide whom she wishes to bond with."
Confident that his emotions were in check, Rune turned to look at the young Esper sitting next to him. "I wish you luck in finding a mate, Kyra," he smiled at her. "I'm sure you'll make him happy, whoever he is," he said the last part softly to himself. He then picked up his cup and finished the tea.
Upon seeing the empty cup, Jayson asked Rune if he wanted more tea. "No, thank you, Jayson," the wizard replied. "I'm done with breakfast."
"Then perhaps you can tell us about your journey," Jayson suggested. "Or would you rather have Miss Tierney tell about your friends' weddings?"
Rune sputtered, quickly losing the composure he had fought to maintain when he heard the old Esper's question. "E-Excuse me," he stammered as he quickly stood up and exited the Sanctuary.
Kyra stared at Rune's retreating form, confusion writ on her face. She then turned to Jayson who was calmly sipping his tea. "What's wrong with him?" she asked the old Esper. "Ever since he arrived, he's been acting strange."
"What makes you think he's acting strange?" Jayson countered with a knowing smile as he placed his cup down. "He's probably going through a transition. It's been five years, after all, since he last set foot in the Mansion."
Kyra shook her head. "No, there's something different about him." She looked back at the door where Rune had disappeared to with a thoughtful expression.
The old Esper noticed this. "Why don't you go ask the reverent one himself?" he suggested softly to her. "I'm sure he'll be happy to talk to you."
"I doubt that," Kyra said apprehensively. "But I will talk to him." She then stood up and smiled at the old Esper. "Thank you for the breakfast, Jayson."
"Oh, you're quite welcome," Jayson returned the grin. "We should do this more often."
"Yes, we should," Kyra agreed half-heartedly. But we should have breakfast without Rune. She then said a farewell to the old Esper before grabbing Rune's cape and exiting the Sanctuary.
Jayson watched Kyra's diminishing form over the rim of his teacup, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "This should be interesting."
Rune grabbed his chest, trying to still his wildly beating heart. Why did that old man have to mention anything about weddings?, he thought angrily as he marched to the southeast corner of the Inner Sanctum.
The mention of weddings had brought forth back the feelings of envy and bitterness, of anger and hate. And of fear.
Fear of being alone for the rest of his life.
Looking at the cemetery before him only added to his pain. Four tombstones stood in a square formation before him, each one standing alone. And his tombstone, too, would stand alone with these four; the four graves of the previous Lutzes.
Rune knelt down in front of one of the gravestones and wiped the crust of ice on its surface. An inscription slowly appeared. The wizard smiled sadly. It was the grave of the previous Lutz, Gene Landen.
"I wonder if you were truly happy being Lutz," he whispered to his predecessor, "because I'm not." He then clapped his hands of the snow as he stood up. "I wish I were as happy as Chaz and the others."
Rune replayed the Hunter's wedding in his mind, observing his friends' apprehensions during the ceremony, seeing their smiling faces afterwards, and hearing those final words: I now pronounce you husband and---
"You were there, weren't you?"
Rune stiffened when he heard the familiar voice of Kyra. "How do you know?" he asked even though he knew the answer already.
"I felt your presence," Kyra simply answered as she went to stand next to Rune. She gave a sidelong glance at him. Rune's eyes seemed distant, as if he was grasping a faint memory and reliving it. They shone such great sadness that Kyra hadn't thought possible for the Lutz to experience. There was also another emotion evident in his eyes, but she could not define it.
Rune took note of Kyra's gaze at him and he slightly lowered his head. "Did you tell the others?"
"No." Kyra shook her head. "I respect your privacy, Rune. You must have had a good reason why you didn't show yourself." Rune remained silent. "Do you want to...talk about it...?" Kyra asked hesitantly. "Can you tell me the reason?"
Rune looked down at the tombstone then at the others. "Look," he said, waving his hand to encompass the graveyard before him. "Tell me what you see, Kyra."
The young Esper wondered what Rune was getting at as she looked at the graveyard. "I see four tombstones." She then looked at the tombstone at her feet and added, "Tombstones of the previous Lutzes."
Rune nodded. "Yes, these are the graves of the previous Lutzes, but do you notice anything special about them?"
Kyra looked at the graveyard, scrutinizing each tombstone. She shook her head when she didn't find anything out of the ordinary. "They're just stones."
"Yes," Rune agreed, "but it's their formation I want you to see." He pointed at each of the tombstones as he continued, "Each tombstone stands alone. See? Alone, Kyra. And my grave shall stand alone as well and that bothers me." There was a moment of silence before he decided to continue. "Being Lutz is a lonely existence."
"The wedding bothered you, didn't it?" Kyra asked softly.
"Now you know the reason," Rune simply said and began walking away.
"Rune, wait! I---" Kyra called to him as she reached out a hand, but stopped when she realized what she was doing. Now I'm the one acting strange, she thought then shrugged. It's nothing to be worried about. I'm sure he'll be back to his insensitive self in a couple of days.
But Kyra couldn't help but feel worried for the Esper Lord as she watched him walk away, the snow flitting across his diminishing form...