By the time we had reached Grisias door I had lost some of the wind in my sails, apprehension rising as I realized what I was about to do.
I can't just throw open the door... He'll definitely kill me. Actually he might kill me just for going against his wishes. Argh! Why did it have to be him? Why couldn't it have been the previous Leaf Knight... Even the previous Earth Knight would have been better!
Kadence watched me as I argued against myself, locked in inner turmoil. Her expression slowly became annoyed before she shouted, "Ah fine! You're such a girl!"
Before I could react she turned to the door and, with more force than was necessary, blasted open the door using wind magic. I stared into the open room as the loud 'bang' of the door hitting the wall sounded, making me want to run and hide.
I'm dead. So dead. We're all so dead. He's going to be furious.
On the contrary, there was no movement within the room. I entered cautiously, waiting for a ball of magic to come flying and knock me off my feet. When nothing happened I calmed slightly, taking in the situation slowly.
The room was almost bare, with only some bags sitting on the table. I noticed immediately that holy light was radiating from one of the more oblong bags, no doubt the Divine Sun Sword. He had never been able to give it to his student. To one side of the room sat the bed, atop it a mass of blankets. With a start I realized that mass of blankets was human-shaped.
"No way," Metal muttered, sounding impressed, "I'll give him that. He takes his sleep seriously."
Which is why he's going to double kill us if we wake him.
"Maybe we should ask tomorrow," I said uneasily, resisting the urge to just dash out of the room.
Kadence ignored me, walking to stand near the bed. She leant forward and grabbed the ends of the blankets ,yanking them until they fell off and revealing Grisia in his pyjamas. When he still didn't wake I could see the obvious irritation on her face. She gestured her hand to the large glass of water on the table and levitated it until it floated in front of his head. It stayed for a moment, chill radiating as she used the ice element to make it cold. Then she dropped it straight onto his face.
He spluttered, coughing slightly before turning to her. In an angry voice he snapped, "Damnit, I've told you to stop waking me up like that Cae-" He stopped, frozen with his head raised and staring at Kadence, "You..."
"I don't know who you are but you better tell me what you're hiding, bastard!" She shouted, putting her hands on her hips and looking defiant, "You three keep talking about stuff I don't understand and it's pissing me off!"
Her brother stifled laughter beside me. Metal had a similar reaction, albeit less obvious.
"Don't you dare," Anastasia said angrily, glaring at Grisia.
"So you know too," The woman's lilting voice drifted through, sounding cold. Grisias gaze turned to her, then back to Kadence in confusion. The woman rolled her eyes, "A friend of the family. Just do as she asks."
"You're supposed to be gone," he said slowly, blinking, "What are you doing here?"
He seems surprisingly civil... Is that a good sign, or a bad sign?
"I told you already, you shiny bastard," She growled, summoning ice element to her hand, "You better tell me what I want to know or I'll freeze you to death."
I buried my face in my hand, feeling remorseful. Dear God of Light, please let our ending be swift and painless, Let my platoon remember to water my plants, Let little Jean adapt well to his new life, let...
As I recited my will into a prayer silence fell. It was a few seconds before Grisia said quietly, "Calm down. We don't mean any harm."
I dropped my hand, staring at him in surprise. For one of his brothers, I could understand this behavior. For a complete stranger...
"It's not that we mean to hide anything..." He looked torn, staring away from her with a pained expression, "Well, we do but... This is so hard to explain."
"Then don't explain it," Anastasia said, looking pleading, "Just don't. You said-"
"That I would respect her wishes," He interrupted softly, "What do you think her wishes are at this stage?"
"The only reason she asks is because she doesn't know," Anastasia insisted pleadingly, almost on the bridge of tears.
"No it isn't," The woman's lilting voice said loudly. She had her narrow eyes set on Grisia as she said, "She deserves the truth. But I can't give it to her. I don't know how."
"Will you stop talking about things I don't know already?!" Kadence shouted. Her teeth were clenched tightly, her eyes angry as she turned to Grisia, "You're the one who knows, right?! Tell me! Why am I here?!"
"Kadence," Her brother said softly, "Calm yourself. It's okay."
"It's not," She said, sounding surprisingly vulnerable, "I don't get it. I don't get any of it."
"I'm going to tell her," Grisia said slowly, looking at Anastasia apologetically, "It needs to be done. If she decides afterwards that this isn't-" His eyes looked pained, "That this isn't what she wants, then we can turn it back again."
"I don't want to," Anastasia whispered, looking like a child, "She shouldn't have to."
"She wants to," The lilting voice said softly. It had a mixture of sympathy and empathy as she looked down on the girl, her eyes kind, "You're her friend. She will understand."
"Please," Kadence walked towards Anastasia, "I don't know what it is, but please."
Anastasias' face was pained. She looked away and nodded. Grisia sighed and stood, running a hand through his hair.
"Let me get changed first," He said, grabbing one of the bags and taking it to the bathroom.
"Well that was…" Metals eyes were wide as he stared at the bathroom, "Wow. I can't believe he actually listened."
"You two should leave," Anastasia said, still not looking at us.
"Like hell," Metal snapped, "Stop trying to hide things from us."
"Actually," The woman said, walking to the bed and sitting on its' edge, "You should leave. Child, come here," She gestured to Kadence, who looked unsure. In the end she did as she was asked, albeit slowly. The woman reached forward, laying her hands on Kadences shoulders and smiling softly, "You look just like your mother."
"Aunty," Her brother said, moving to sit next to her, "What's happening? Why are you here? Last time I saw you, you were in…" He trailed off, frowning.
"It's not something so easily explained," She said quietly, "If I could, I would."
"Can you really see the future?" Kadence suddenly asked.
She laughed, "I thought I told you; You don't have a future without a past," She paused, biting her lip, "But… If you want to," She looked to the brother, "I never took back my offer. You could both come live with me."
Kadences looked confused, "Just who are you? You said you were a friend of our parents, but I don't remember you."
"Aiya," The woman scolded, flicking a surprised Kadence between the eyes, "You always ask too many questions. Patience, child," She looked thoughtful, "Though I doubt you would remember me either way. You were quite young…" She trailed off before grinning, "Little bird."
Her brother laughed softly, "I remember that."
"What?" Kadence looked wronged, "What's Little Bird?"
"Your nickname," The woman said with a cheeky smile, "You use to hate it. You use to complain 'I'm not little'," The woman sighed softly, "Though I suppose that's fitting now. You've gotten all big without me even noticing!"
"You aren't the only one who didn't notice," Grisia said wryly from the bathroom door. He was dressed in plain pair of pants and a white top, with a black coat over the top. He then looked to Metal and I, face serious as he said, "Get out."
"No," I said firmly, crossing my arms stubbornly.
He raised one dangerous eyebrow, eyes narrow, "That wasn't a request. Leave."
"Let them stay," Kadence said quietly. She looked determined, but I could see her hands shaking slightly.
"Be it on your head," He said, shaking his head with a sigh.
"They really should leave…" Anastasia said, biting her lip.
"If you can convince her, be my guest," He replied wryly.
"… Point taken," She said.
"You two have to promise," The woman said gravely, her golden eyes focused on us, "You don't interfere, you don't overreact. If you do I won't hesitate to attack you," We nodded solemnly. Grisia gestured for Kadence and her brother to sit on the bed, and they both did so without complaint. The woman stood, moving to lean against the wall and watch them with worried eyes. In a low voice she said, "You better fix them."
He nodded, holding out his hands. They both hesitantly put their hands in his, looking confused. He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. A few moments passed and he swore, "Of course it was Pink. I'm going to kill that corpse…" He trailed off, frowning to himself before saying in an unsure voice, "This might hurt a bit. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
"Yes," Kadence said, looking determined.
Her brother looked at her with a sigh, then back at Grisia, "If she will, I will."
"Okay," He said, frowning more. Slowly he began to radiate Holy Light, growing stronger until it all but filled the room. I squinted, my sight blocked by the wall of golden light. It faded gradually, revealing an almost identical scene. Except…
"Your hair went white!" Metal exclaimed, point at Grisia and looking shocked.
"Shut up," He grumbled. His eyes were open and he was frowning. Something seemed off, but I couldn't tell what.
Kadence blinked slowly, looking at her hands. Anastasia walked forward hesitantly, face unsure as she whispered, "Is it you?" Kadence looked up slowly, face blossoming into a brilliant smile. Tears overflowed from Anastasias eyes and she threw herself onto Kadence, making them both topple onto the bed. Anastasia sobbed loudly, holding onto Kadence tightly and shaking as she said, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I couldn't help you…"
"Shh," Kadence murmured, patting Anastasia's back. My eyes widened at the sight. There was something different about them. Kadence detached Anastasia gently before standing, looking at Grisia with a serious face. Then she surprised me further by bowing deeply. In a shaking voice that was both hers and not hers she said, "I-I'm… That is… I'm sorry."
"Don't be," He said softly, smile sad as he cupped a hand under her chin, raising her face, "I'm sorry for waking you. Do you want to," He looked torn, "Go back?"
"No," She said softly. She turned to her brother, who sighed but nodded. Then she turned back to Grisia, face solemn, "I'm staying. I've been away too long already."
He turned to the table, reaching forward. Then he drew out the Divine Sword, its' sheath to perfection. He turned to her, hands on its hilt and sheath, holding it out for her solemnly, "Are you sure about this?" She reached forward, hands curling around the sword as she nodded. His face was soft as he murmured, "You don't know how many times I've wished for this moment. Welcome home."
"What are you doing?" Metal demanded, looking at the sword in Kadences hands in confusion, "What is this all about?!"
Kadence didn't answer, pulling the sword from its' sheath. The metal whispered as she drew it, staring at the blade with soft eyes. She reached backwards, grabbing her hair. Then, in one swift motion, she drew the sword through her long hair.
Golden locks fell to the ground slowly amidst our confused exclamations. She turned to us, jagged hair swinging just about her shoulders. Tears streamed from her bright blue eyes as she whispered, "It's been awhile."
"Who are you?" I asked quietly while I frowned in confusion. A girl from a small town in the North shouldn't be acquainted with the Princess and former Sun Knight.
"You…" Metal stepped forward, eyes disbelieving and face pained, "That can't…"
"Hey Ryder," She said softly. She had a small smile on her face. A familiar smile. In a forced voice she continued, "Don't tell me you've forgotten me."
His eyes were wide, mouthing words silently with trembling lips. Finally he managed to choke out, "Caelan?"
Is it weird that I'm actually angry at Caelan at the moment? I can't even explain it.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter! From here on it's Caelan/Kadences PoV. Your reviews are all so nice. :3 Thankyou all for reading.