"There's bound to be memory clash."
I looked around slowly, suspicions beginning to form. The world was black, but it wasn't dark. I could see myself, and the apparitions, quite clearly. I quickly deduced that this was some kind of magic, no doubt the one that Grisia warned me not to fail at. Though I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing I began to walk, stumbling upon more and more images.
Some of them were cruel, the sight of them making me seethe with rage.
"Creeper, Creeper!" Children chorused, their faces blurred but their words as sharp as knives. A small child huddled, the same I had seen earlier, only older. The cuts and bruises scattered across her face and limbs seemed permanent, there with every apparition. They differed in severity and quantity, but they always marred her flesh.
It hadn't taken me long to notice a pattern. All of the images were significant. Whenever they appeared the girl always seemed affected by some strong emotion, often fear and sadness. Amongst the turmoil were some happy times, though I couldn't quite understand why they were happy.
The girl sat against a tree, her knees pulled up to her chest as she watched a small bird flitter about. Her eyes were soft as the bird began to sing, weaving in and out of the trees like a dance. It landed in front of her, cocking it's head and staring with curious black eyes. Then it took off again, soaring into the blackness on bright blue wings.
"Caelan? Kadence?" I called out again, though I knew by now that no answer would come. I don't know how long I had been in here, but it felt like hours. Every time the apparitions disappeared I would be plunged back into blackness, stumbling around.
"Sun," The voice of the last Leaf Knight exclaimed. His eyes were wide in shock as he stared at the small figure clinging to the devil's leg, "Who is that?!"
"Hey, Hey," The previous Earth Knight scolded, his eyes pulled down harshly, "Don't tell me you broke the Sun Knight's code?!"
"What?" Grisia sounded confused.
"The Sun Knight can't love anybody but the God of Light!" Storm chastised, sounding serious as he looked down at the little child.
The child's eyes were bright blue, his hair a brilliant gold.
"Don't remind me..." Grisia grumbled, sounding bitter.
"So who is that, then?" Leaf asked carefully, bending down and smiling at the small child who retreated a step, hiding his body behind Grisia and peaking out with scared blue eyes.
"Some kid from the orphanage," Grisia shrugged, still looking confused, "Why?"
"N-N-No reason!" The previous Earth said, remembering to stutter as he did so, "S-S-Silly of us t-to think t-that Sun w-would ever be able to g-get a woman!"
"He really does look like you," The previous Leaf mused, smiling kindly at the scared child and stepping back, "For a second I thought you had a child..."
The moment faded, leaving me in the blackness again and frowning. So far following the memories didn't seem to be getting me anywhere. On top of that it seemed to be taking a ridiculous amount of time.
I turned, walking at random and contemplating the situation. Next to me a scene was beginning to unfurl, filled with laughter and bright images. I ignored it, walking ahead in determination. It didn't stop, following me as I walked.
"Am I doing it right?" Caelan asked, her small face smudged with dirt. She was frowning intently at the ground, holding a small shovel in one hand. There was a hole in the ground, and in the middle of it was placed a small seed.
"Yes," The previous Leaf said kindly.
I couldn't help but look out of the corner of my eye, surprised. They were in the Sunflower patch, only there weren't any Sunflowers. No doubt the day they were planted.
In the corner sat Leaf, looking defiantly at his teacher, who merely sighed. Caelan tugged on his arm, grinning widely, "Come on, Brandon! It's fun!"
The image disappeared. I continued to walk, resolving not to stop for anything. It continued for awhile, images flitting beside me before disappearing.
"Nice to meet you, Ryder!" Little-Caelan said happily.
Images of us flicked by, reminding me of a past that seemed so very long ago. I didn't see myself often, and when I did it was fleeting.
Was I always so distant?
"Dion, Dion!" Caelan was poised on a window, looking in at the exasperated Young Stone Knight, "We're going to sneak out into town! Come with us! It'll be fun!"
"Fine," He rolled his eyes, yielding surprisingly easily for him, "I don't trust you all not to cause trouble without me."
They all seemed so happy. How did I never notice them all?
Another image appeared in front of me, growing ever clearer. Ever since I had started walking they had only appeared beside me. She was older now, sitting on the floor without looking up. Nothing happened as I walked closer, and she remained stationary. She was dressed in the Sun Knight uniform, her long golden hair draping down to the ground.
Was this before she came and fought me?
She looked up suddenly, her eyes a startling shade of blue. Her eyes were wide, her eyebrows knitted in confusion as she looked passed me. I stopped, looking behind myself. Nothing was there, and when I looked back she had taken a step forward, hand held up.
Don't get distracted.
I turned, ready to leave before I heard a loud bang.
What the-?
I turned around. She had her fists raised, hitting the air with a dull noise. Her eyes were intent as she stared straight at me, looking desperate.
"Hello…?" I said cautiously, taking a step toward her and wondering if her memories were actually starting to notice me.
She looked relieved, standing back and looking around quickly. She gritted her teeth before turning back to me, making motions I couldn't understand.
"Kadence…?" I asked slowly. I reached my hand out experimentally, surprised to feel resistance under my fingers.
Glass?
She was shaking her head, looking angry and hitting the invisible wall in front of herself with more force.
"Caelan?!" I hit the wall, remembering the window I had seen when I had first woken.
Not again.
She nodded, opening her mouth and yelling something. I couldn't hear it at all, and she looked flustered.
"Grisia didn't tell me what I was supposed to do," I shouted, hoping she could hear me. She had started to frown, resting her fists on the glass and trying to yell again.
"I'll see you later."
I jumped at the sound of her brothers voice. Nearby another image had arrived, full of golden light. It was Kadence's house, and outside was snowing slightly. Her brother stood at the door, looking hesitant.
"Don't worry!" She laughed, only it wasn't her laughing. She was standing beside me still, looking increasingly urgent. I looked between the two of them as Kadence pushed her brother out of the door, "Have fun! I'll have dinner ready when you come back, so stop worrying!"
The banging sounded behind me, harder than before. I looked, frowning in confusion. Caelan stood, punching the wall again and shouting something I couldn't hear.
"I can't hear you," I shouted back. Damn it, Grisia! At least give me a better idea on what I'm supposed to be doing…
Suddenly she stopped hitting the wall, shaking her head and looking passed me with clenched teeth. Her eyes were scared. When I turned I was met by a quiet scene.
Kadence closed the door carefully, sitting down without a word. She stayed like that as the sun set, unnaturally fast. She remained like that even when the light went out. It wasn't until the sun had almost disappeared that she stood, not making a noise as she began to prepare dinner. It had been hours since her brother left, I could tell. She remained quiet, her usual smile a distant ghost.
"Do you want to go back to the North? To being Kadence?" I asked softly. The image faded into darkness, leaving us in the quiet.
Her eyes were filled with pain and she yelled, still not making a sound. I watched for a few seconds, weighing the options in my mind.
She's happy as Kadence. Carefree. Ignorant. She can live with her brother in the North. They could be happy. Safe.
She's the one who chose this. What if she wants to stay this way? From what I can see, I would accept it. She's lived a hard life up until now. She could forget it all. Live only the happy memories.
Be Kadence.
She was silent, staring at me with sad eyes from beyond the glass. I gritted my teeth.
The others would let her. She's obviously better off like this.
You shouldn't even be the one deciding.
Live for the Church, right?
You don't need happiness. You were born nameless. You grew up that way. So why?
Why are you being so selfish now?
"Too bad," I yelled angrily, setting my feet firmly on the ground and hitting the invisible wall. She was surprised, "You're an idiot. A stubborn idiot. You make me so god damn furious. You aren't a good Sun Knight, and if the Church found out you were female they'd be furious."
She was clenching her teeth now, eyes downcast.
"You're a half-asked Sun Knight, but you're our Sun Knight!" She looked up, "Don't think you can get out of your responsibility this easily! You're going to come back, and you're going to train! You're stuck with us, whether you like it or not!"
She was smiling brilliantly, tears leaking out of the corners of her eyes. As my fists reverberated on the invisible wall, sending sharp cracks scattering across its surface, I couldn't help but wonder if we weren't so different.
In the end, did she just want to be accepted?
The glass shattered and I sat up, looking around in confusion. We were back in the Sun Knight's quarters. I could still hear the pattering of rain, and the room was still illuminated a brilliant gold. The ground underneath me was hard, and I realized quickly that they'd just dumped me on the floor.
Jerks.
Speaking of… they were all sitting at the table, tea cups in hand and looking over at me calmly. I resisted the urge to shudder at the sight of the three of them, still marking impending doom in my mind.
"Have a nice nap?" Grisia asked curiously, sipping the drink elegantly. I stood, surprised to find myself teetering slightly. I frowned at him and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, "You might want to brush your hair later. There might still be pieces of chair in it."
"…" I stared at him quietly, wondering if I could lay a scratch on him before he stopped me. I dismissed the thought.
Even retired, he's still annoyingly strong. Bastard.
"It was a lesson," He said, obviously trying to keep amusement out of his voice, "You two missed a lot of friendship training when you were younger. I thought I would make it up quickly, if not painlessly."
I looked back, not surprised to see her still sleeping. Her mouth was ajar and she was mumbling something in her sleep.
"I'm still not sure I'm okay with this," I said quietly, stumbling over and dragging out one of the chairs. I sat heavily, annoyed when the world didn't stay still, "Urgh. I feel like crap… Did you actually hit me with a chair?!"
He nodded seriously, hiding his smile behind another sip from the cup. I stared at him firmly. He held for a moment before sighing, setting down the cup with a small, "Tcht."
"Grisia, is this honestly okay?" I asked sternly, shooting her another look.
"Maybe not," He said calmly with a shrug, "But I'm not the only one who's made up their mind."
"How can you be so sure the others are okay with this?" I asked tightly, unable to believe they were all resolved to their friend entering this dangerous life again.
"I'm not talking about the others," He rolled his blue eyes at me before reaching forward and grabbing my wrist, holding my hand up above the table, "I'm talking about you. I told you psychic magic was dangerous, little Judgment."
I looked at my hands, slowly processing what he was saying. My knuckles were cut and bleeding, bruises blossoming all around my hands. I frowned at my hand, twisting it slightly and feeling a sharp pain down my arm. I had broken something, most likely my wrist.
"That's not…" I stopped, frowning even harder. I don't know enough about magic to say that this isn't possible.
"Lesus will be so happy," He said wryly, dropping my wrist and poising his hand on the teacup again, "His annoying little student has finally come out of his shell a little."
"She could die," I said quietly, resting my wrist on the table tenderly. Now that I was aware of it I could feel the throbbing pain, as well as the cool air stinging the cuts, "How can you be okay with that?"
His eyes turned hard, his lip twisting into a snarl as he snapped, "You think I'm okay with that?! I thought Lesus raised you to be smart. Never forget; You might have grown up with her, but I raised her. You don't think I'm terrified of her getting herself killed?"
"I'm sorry," I said softly. I'm being too emotional. I saw what they were like together. He cares for her as much as any of his brothers, I saw that.
"I was willing to let her run away," He said, staring at his cup with a sigh, "But ever since she was a child, this was her choice. Don't forget that either. I know you're all angry that she disappeared… But bear with it."
"I'll… try," I said slowly, still not sure of myself.
"I'll go get the others," He said quietly, standing up and running a hand through his hair, "They'll want to be here when he wakes."
I nodded seriously and he began to leave before we heard a soft sound from the bed. When I turned she was frowning, eyes closed as she mumbled, "I want… cake…"
…
"I should get her some of little Ice's cake while I'm at it," Grisia growled darkly, slamming the door after himself.
As Judgment Knight, I'll have to protect her from enemies and threats on the surface. But in private, will I also have to protect her from getting killed by her teacher?
Thankyou for all the lovely reviews~! =u= So happy. Caelan will be back (For good) now. x] I don't think they could get rid of her if they tried...