Chapter 2: To Begin Anew

ND2000 In Kimlasca shall be born one who inherits the power of Lorelei. He will be a boy of royal blood with hair of red. He shall be called 'The light of the sacred flame' and he will lead Kimlasca-Lanvaldear to new prosperity.

The fonstones glistened in the sky as they reflected the afternoon sun onto the manor's residents. Luke fon Fabre watched these fonstones lazily from his bedroom window as the warm summer breeze drifted in, bringing with it the silence that seemed to echo throughout the courtyard. It looked like it would be another boring day at the manor.

But it was always a boring day at the manor. With the castle just next door, anything of any potential interest whatsoever happened there. Not that events at the castle were usually interesting; most were boring. In fact, most were very boring. For the most part, he'd much rather sit around and do nothing at the manor all day then sit through another family history lecture in the castle library.

Maybe he could talk Guy into going out, though he doubted there would be much more to do in Baticul. Despite the city's bustling streets, there wasn't much happening outside of the usual daily comings and goings. Many of the city's residents were friendly and those that weren't so stiff and formal around him were fun to talk with but those people were quickly becoming fewer and further between, making his all too rare excursions less and less interesting.

Luke was forbidden to leave the manor. That was unless of course someone went with him, be it his servant Guy, or some of the White Knights, his family's personal guard. Much to Luke's constant dismay, the guard were all a task-oriented bunch; they wanted him to get done what he needed done and head right back to the manor. Exploring and simply hanging out on the streets watching people come and go was never looked kindly upon, and though they didn't dare say anything, the impatient aura they emitted just left Luke wanting to go back home.

Of course, there was no way he'd be allowed outside the city. That suited him fine though; he doubted anything outside Baticul was all that interesting either, but then again, a change of scenery never hurt anyone. At the very least then he could avoid getting caught up in another of Natalia's 'projects'. That girl never let up, and constantly insisted on dragging him along for the ride. While even he couldn't deny the results the Princess' ceaseless efforts produced, it was still total pain in the meantime.

"Useless as ever I see." Luke heard an all too familiar voice coming from behind him.

"Good morning Asch," Luke responded sarcastically, not even turning to see his unexpected visitor.

"It's not morning, it's afternoon idiot," Asch shot back.

"Right, right, and what drags you all the way over here?" Keeping up his overly annoyed tone, Luke turned around to see his counterpart leaning against the doorway. He vaguely wondered what was up. It wasn't too often Asch came up to his room.

Asch rolled his eyes at Luke's tone. He couldn't deny taking a small amount of pleasure at it. Luke seemed to excel at finding ways to try his patience, so a little payback every now and again was most welcome. Not that he's ever let Luke know that. Their eyes met and they shared a mutual grin.

Asch took a moment to glance around the room, it had been awhile since he'd come up here. It was always Luke knocking on his door looking for something or another, or they'd be out in the city or even up at the castle, so he never really had any need to come up here. The room was small and a bit cramped but it was bright at this time of day with the sun shining in through a couple of large windows on the far wall. The bed up against the wall was made, but the shelves were cluttered and disorganized and various books littered the floor. Luke's sword hung from a hook in the wall next to the window while several older ones were scattered around the room. It was messy, but it wasn't unexpected from Luke.

"We're to be present in the drawing room in about five minutes." Asch finally stated.

"Oh? What's going on this time?"

"Not sure. I didn't get any details, I was just told we were to show up, so I thought I'd be courteous and come drop off the message myself."

"Right," Luke replied sarcastically, unable to keep the playful smile off his face. "You just came up here so you could bug me and we both know it."

"Well, whatever." Asch shrugged off the accusation. "Just make sure you're there on time. I'm heading over right now."

"Well then just wait a second!" Luke whined, earning him a rather mordacious look from Asch. Asch didn't put up with Luke's pointless whining it in the least. Luke shrunk back from that glare before resuming in as plain a tone as he could manage, "I-I'll come with you. It's not like I'm doing anything anyways." Damn it! Asch could be downright scary when he wanted to be.

Luke snatched the sword from its hook but hadn't even made it halfway to the door before a head-splitting pain brought him to his knees.

...fragments...my soul...heed... voice

"Are you alright?" Luke heard Asch say, his voice a comforting warmth amidst the searing pain that was his head at the moment.

"Yeah...about as fine as you are."

"Real funny."

Luke didn't need to look up to know that Asch was in as much pain as he was. They had both been having these so-called 'headaches' since before he could remember, which he reluctantly had to admit was only about the past seven years. Whether or not they had persisted longer than that, he honestly couldn't say. Their parents had dragged them both to every doctor in Baticul, but not one of them could figure out what caused them. It was a mystery to everyone. They shared the same pain, and always at the exact same time. They didn't understand it, but it was still something they shared in, be it willingly or not.

"Hey Luke, are you alright?" Guy's concerned voice came from the back of the room. "Is it another one of those headaches again?"

"Yeah." Luke stood up slowly, the splitting pain now reduced to a dull throb. "But it's gone now."

"You weren't hearing things again were you?" Guy inquired worryingly. It was bad enough Luke got those crazy headaches, but to be hearing voices? It rattled his nerves more than he cared to admit. It wasn't something Luke discussed with others, outside of himself, and of course Asch. As far as Guy could tell, Luke had never even told the Duke or Lady.

"Yeah..." Luke replied as he steadied himself using the bedpost. "Something about fragments and souls... and-"

"And heeding voices," Asch finished Luke's sentence, confirming that they had heard the same thing. Guy just about jumped two feet in the air at the voice that came from behind him.

"A-Asch," Guy choked still catching his breath. Damn it, he hadn't even noticed him. "I- I didn't see you there."

"I figured that much from the way you just hit the roof," Asch said scathingly. "And while you're at it, care to explain why you're sneaking in the window?"

Damn. Leave it to Asch to actually be paying attention to that while he was in pain. "Ah well that's- you see- umm..." Guy was never particularly good at coming up with stuff on the spot, and Asch's talent at putting people under pressure with that look of his, wasn't helping.

"Come on Asch, cut him some slack," Luke spoke up in his best friend's defence. "You know he hangs out with me, and you know how fussy Father is about us 'fraternizing' with the servants."

Asch couldn't deny that fact. Their father was always particularly stringent about who his sons associated with. Not that he seemed to care about much else. He also couldn't deny the friendship between Luke and Guy. Himself excluded, Guy had almost raised Luke single-handedly. Their father was always busy, and never seemed to want anything to do with either of them while their mother was often tied up in social events, if she wasn't ill and in bed. She tried her best to spend time with them, but she never had much of it.

"Just use the door next time," Asch finally answered.

"Come to think of it, just why are you here Asch? You and Luke going to go do some training or something?" Guy inquired finally noticing the oddity of finding Asch hanging out in Luke's room. Given how small Luke's room was, when the two did something together, they would almost always take over one of the larger common areas.

"Something or another in the drawing room," Luke supplied not waiting for Asch to offer an answer. For some reason Guy and Asch never got along very well. They were a lot better now than what Luke remembered of when they were younger though. There was a time when they couldn't even be in the same room together. Still, Luke would rather not give either of them any unnecessary opportunities.

"Yes, and now we're going to be late. Are you coming or not?" Asch asked, clearly starting to get annoyed.

"I see he's as impatient as ever," Guy muttered sourly just loud enough for Luke to hear. Luke responded with an elbow in Guy's side. "Hey! What was that for?" Guy demanded indignantly. Luke ducked out of reach of Guy's answering swing, moving to follow his counterpart that had already decided to leave. Asch was nothing if not abhorredly punctual. Guy would often say that he had a type A personality when Asch was out of an earshot, Luke wasn't entirely sure what that meant but the way Guy said it made Luke think it wasn't good. Whatever it was, Asch definitely liked having everything in order and on time. Luke had definitely learned that the hard way.

"Hey Guy! If you're not busy after all this you want to get some training in?" Luke called back waving his sheathed blade in the air.

"Sure." Guy waved back, watching Luke grin as he took off after Asch. Such an idiot. Guy knew full well that he'd be busy with chores later, but he would make a point to get out of it. As his attendant, taking care of Luke, and technically Asch as well, was his duty first and foremost. Asch had always been the independent one though, and never cared to have someone help him with anything he could do on his own. Not to mention he and Asch just didn't get along. At all. They each had their reasons, but Luke hated it and had made it his personal mission to turn the two of them into friends. While his attempts had been intolerably annoying at best, they had some degree of success. The two had started pretending just to get him to stop.

"Would it kill you to slow down every once in awhile?" Luke managed through breaths once he had caught up to Asch.

"Why would I do that? If I slowed down, you'd never get any exercise," Asch retorted. He never missed a chance to tease Luke, and Luke made it all the more fun by over-reacting to everything. He made it way too easy.

"Hey!" The indignant response came as expected, "I do so get exercise!"

"Following Pere around the courtyard as he tends to the flowers doesn't count, idiot." Asch opened the door on the western edge of the courtyard and allowed Luke to enter before following him in.

"I do more than-"

"Okay okay whatever, we're already late so just shut up and walk already." Asch cut their argument short when Luke had stopped in his tracks to protest.

"Guy's right, you are so impatient," Luke mumbled to himself as he opened the door to the drawing room, letting Asch go in as he followed behind.

The drawing room was a grand room with a large vaulted ceiling. Marble pillars lined the room creating a small hallway from which the guards dutifully watched the comings and goings. At the center a long table sat under a large chandelier that illuminated the room when the light from the windows didn't suffice. At the head of the table sat Duke Fabre, to his right sat the Lady of the house, and today, on his left sat the manor's unexpected guest.

"So how are the twins doing?"

"We're doing fine, thank you," Asch replied, simultaneously answering the question and announcing their presence.

"Master Van!" Luke's exuberant cry almost echoed in the large room. "What are you doing here? I didn't think today was a training day."

"It isn't," Van replied with a bit of a chuckle at his student's enthusiasm. "I'm here on more urgent business today." The man in the drawing room sat back in his chair, a hand on his tan coloured goatee as he contemplated something or another, still sparing a smile for his eager student. His matching tan hair was neatly bound up on his head while his carefully groomed uniform left nothing out of place. His posture as he returned his attention to the Duke and Lady gave him presence and authority even among those who outranked him.

"There you boys are," their mother stated with about as much discontent as she could muster. It was far too difficult to be upset with those two. She was always just so happy to have them there. They'd both grown into such handsome young men, though some days she still had a difficult time telling them apart.

"Take a seat you two," their father said sternly and Asch took his spot next to their mother, while Luke quickly snatched the spot next to Van. Once they had both settled, he motioned for Van to begin.

"I will be returning to Daath tomorrow. It seems that Fon Master Ion has gone missing."

"What?" Asch stood up in outrage, his chair scrapping against the floor, nearly falling over from the sudden gesture. "Fon Master Ion is missing?"

"Calm down Asch," Van said calmly. "It's not certain that this was an act of aggression or anything of the sort. Rather, no details have been issued to any of the divisions whatsoever, which suggests a more non-malicious cause. For now it is simply a summon to Daath to organize a search."

"Then I'll come with you! There has to be something I can do to help."

"Don't be so rash. You and I both know that isn't an option for you."

Asch bit his lip and sat back down, knowing all too well the truth behind Van's statement. He wasn't exactly free to come and go as he pleased. He had his position and rank to consider.

Luke could only listen and watch as the conversation carried out in front of him. It had long since gone leagues beyond his ability to understand or follow. What was going on that had Asch so worked up? He didn't get any of it, and as usual, no one bothered to slow down so he could understand.

"What exactly is Fon Master Ion?" Luke finally gave into his growing curiosity and annoyance at being the only one left out; his question breaking the tense silence. It succeeded only in earning him a rather loud and irritated scowl from Asch as he crossed his arms and shook his head.

"I swear you and I are not related," Asch said with an exasperated sigh. "First of all, it's 'who' not 'what'. Secondly, you cannot seriously tell me you have no idea who the Fon Master is! He's the leader of the order of Lorelei! It's thanks to him that there's peace between our kingdom of Kimlasca and the Malkuth empire! You know that!" Asch collapsed back into his chair, frustrated to the point of defeat. Luke was such a hopeless case.

"Yes. Ion's predecessor Evenos was the hero who ended the Hod war, so Fon Master Ion is a representative of the peace that reigns today," Van added. Luke simply sighed; once again, the conversation had become completely beyond him.

"So Master Van, since you're here, will we get a chance to do any training?"

"Luke!" Their father's angry voice made Luke shrink back in his chair. "Dorian General Grants has urgent business to attend to! It's about time you learned some respect!"

"It's alright." Asch stood up drawing the pressure away from his little brother. "I'll go report to Uncle."

"Ah, thank you Asch. I haven't had a chance to speak with His Majesty yet. If you're willing to do that for me, I might have some time to spare for some extra training," Van replied gratefully.

"All right!" Luke almost jumped up out of his chair.

"Well, I'll just be off then. I shouldn't be gone too long." Asch announced, pushing in his chair.

"Alright dear," Susanne said softly. "Have a safe trip."

"I'm only going to the castle, Mother."

"I know, but do be careful anyways."

"I will." Asch sighed, unable to resist a small smile once his back was turned.

"I'll see you off!" Luke offered eagerly.

"Honestly you guys, it's just next door! It's not like I'm going off to explore the world!"

"Well I'm going to anyways."

"I'll wait out in the courtyard then," Van replied as he too got up out of his seat. "Come and meet me when you're ready." With a courteous bow to the Duke and his Lady, he exited the room.

"I can find the door on my own, you know," Asch told Luke who had followed him out of the drawing room.

"I know, but I felt like it anyways. Hey, why don't you come train with us? You can always go see Uncle later."

"No, its best I go now and get it over and done with."

"Awww, come on. Why not?"

"Because," Asch said as he tossed his sword over his shoulder, "I don't need the practice. You do."

"Right. This coming from the one who used to haul me out of bed at the crack of dawn because he wanted more practice. Come on," Luke whined, "just come train with us."

"Just get yourself to the courtyard before Van gives up on you."

"Fine, we'll just see how smug you are when I get better than you."

"Don't aim for the impossible."

"Yeah sure, well don't let Natalia hold you up too long this time," Luke said tauntingly, rewarded when Asch turned several shades redder, though whether it was out of embarrassment or anger, he couldn't be sure. Luke had decided long ago he'd rather not know if his implications remotely hit the mark. What they did on their own time was their business, and he was perfectly happy not knowing the details.

"Hey," Luke spoke up as Asch was halfway out the door, "Be careful."

"That goes double for you," Asch shot back with a smile. "I'll see you later."

"Later." The large double doors closed and the younger Fabre began to make his way to the courtyard.

"Young Master," a voice came from the other side of the room.

"What is it? And stop it with the whole 'young' thing!" Luke snapped back at Ramdas, who was now making his way over to where Luke was standing.

"My apologies, but until you come of age in three years, I will still refer to you as 'Young Master.'"

"You don't call Asch 'Young Master'" Luke shot back getting more bitter by the second. While he certainly was the youngest member of the household, he hated how everyone took every possible opportunity to remind him of it. Of course that wasn't the only reason...

"Ah yes...well that's because-"

"Yes I know!" Luke angrily cut him off. Asch's rank was the last thing he cared to be reminded of at the moment. "Is there anything you actually want?"

"Please stop fraternizing with that gardener, Pere. It isn't fit for someone of your station."

Luke bit his lip, it probably wasn't 'fit for someone of his station' to bite the butler's head off, not that it changed how much he'd have loved to do it. Some sword training would do him some good, at the very least he could vent some of his stress. "Stop telling me what to do." Luke answered, punctuating his point by slamming the door behind him as he continued on to the courtyard. It was so stupid! They hardly let him do anything! He wasn't allowed to go out unless someone went with him, and now he wasn't supposed to talk to the few people inside that were actually nice to him. So what exactly was 'one of his station' supposed to do?

"-that time is going to be coming up soon isn't it?" Guy's voice broke Luke away from his snowballing frustration and bitterness. It was coming from the center of the courtyard where he was standing with Master Van. But what was Guy...? Luke moved a bit closer.

"It is, but I wouldn't worry just yet. As long as things-"

"Ah Master Luke! Good day!" One of the servants passing through the courtyard stopped to greet him before continuing on their way. Both Van and Guy stopped their discussion and turned towards him. Not much point in hoping to hear the rest of the conversation now.

"Hey Guy, what's up?" Luke inquired, knowing full well he probably wouldn't get the answer he was looking for.

"Well I thought I'd wait for you here, and then Van showed up. I didn't think it was a training day, so I was asking Van if he'd give me some instruction. He is a master swordsman after all."

"Really? Huh." Luke dropped the issue. It never ceased to amaze him that Guy couldn't tell Luke knew he was lying. That or he knew but chose to lie anyways. Either way, pushing it any further would only get Guy mad at him, and he still wouldn't get any answers.

"Yeah, but since you're here, I'll think I'll just watch for now. Give it all you got." Guy gave Luke a playful punch in the arm and took a seat in one of the many benches that lined the edge of the courtyard.

Luke rubbed his arm here Guy had hit him and plopped himself down the edge of one of the flower beds, careful not to crush any of the flowers, and simply watched as Van proceeded with preparations for his lesson.

"So you have to go look for this 'Fon Master Ion' because you're a member of the Order of Lorelei?" Luke asked as Van set up various dummies that they would be using in their training session.

"That's right." Van replied as he made the last few adjustments.

"So how long will you be gone then?"

"I can't be sure. Why do you ask?"

"No reason really..."

"Don't worry," Van said with a chuckle, easily guessing his student's concern. "I'll send one of my men here to help with your training until I get back."

"That's okay; it's really not the same without you training me anyways. I'll manage while you're gone."

"You and Asch do a lot of training together don't you?"

"Well yeah, but it's not the same as my training with you. Asch never goes easy on me. He just beats me again and again and it's so annoying. It wouldn't kill him to cut me a break."

"In a true battle, your enemy will not go easy on you. It may just be his way of trying to show you what a battle is really like. Not that there will likely ever be a need for you to actually fight." Van stood up finally done setting up. "There. We're ready to begin. Luke?"

But Luke didn't hear Van's words. Something was...coming. A strange yet vaguely familiar feeling seemed to fill the air of the manor; it was like a warm flow surrounded him, but the afternoon air was still. It was coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once. The world around him dissolved, and all he could hear was the flow of something, somewhere, and whatever it was, it was coming closer.

"Luke!"

"Huh?" Luke looked around confused for a moment. "Oh! Sorry!" Luke quickly took his place as Van patiently watched him from across the courtyard. What had the boy so distracted all of a sudden?

"Now, today-" Van's instructions were cut short by a voice that echoed across the courtyard. The melody it carried soft and entrancing, inviting all those listening to simply lay down and rest. Even Guy who was off along the edge of the courtyard was struggling to stay standing, and Van could distinctly feel his own energy drain from him. There was only one person who could do this to him.

"I've finally found you Vandesdelca!"

Something was wrong. Asch didn't know what it was, but something just didn't feel right. There was no sense of fear or danger, at least not so far as he could tell, but there was something there, and it shouldn't be. Fonons. There were fonons everywhere, they were all around him. No. Not here. Not around him. Asch's mild concern quickly became a distressing sense of urgency. He had to get back, and the sooner the better.

"Asch? Where are you going?" His uncle called to him.

"Sorry Uncle!" Asch called back, "I have to get home right away! Tell Natalia I'll stop by later!" And he was gone without another wasted moment. He needed to get back, and that idiot had better be okay.

Luke looked up at the source of the voice, but he had barely located it before it vanished again, the brown blur moving from the roof to the courtyard, with tan hair flowing behind her, a glint catching his eye as her knife reflected the sun.

"Prepare to die traitor!" she cried, and Van barely got his sword up in time to block her strike, but she wasted no time in dodging his counter and getting in behind him.

"Tear...I knew it."

"Who are you?" Luke demanded, his sword swinging down on the unknown enemy without even waiting for a response.

She easily spun around, bringing her staff up to meet his blow, but as soon as their weapons touched, a bright light enveloped them and Luke was consumed by the agony of an all too familiar head-splitting pain.

Resound...the will of Lorelei shall reach you...and open the way.

"It's that damn voice again..." Luke managed through the pain. Why here? Why now of all times?

"The Seventh Fonon?" The girl exclaimed in shock at the mass of fonons that was now engulfing them.

"Luke!" Asch dashed across the courtyard, nearly losing his arm when Van grabbed him and hauled him back. "Let go!"

"No!" Van snatched the boy before he could get any closer. The last thing they needed was Asch to get caught up in and compound the mess in which his younger sibling was already entangled.

Asch desperately tried to free himself from Van's grip, but his hold was firm. Asch continued to struggle regardless; he couldn't just do nothing! This was Luke. Sure he was annoying, and nosy and whined all the time. But he was still Luke! The one that used to crawl into his bed every time he had a bad dream; the one Asch could always count on to have a smile; the one that no matter was going on, would drop everything just to spend some time together, the only one to see him, to acknowledge him... Luke was his little brother; it was Asch's job to protect him!

The light in the center of the courtyard completely engulfed the would-be-assassin and his brother alike before vanishing altogether, dispersing into fonons that glittered in the afternoon light. But the two in the center of it all were no longer there.

Luke was gone.