Writer block sucks! Even more in critical plot-important chapters like these.
Thank god for beta-readers, on the other hand.
Anyway, this chapter focuses on Presea. Drama will start to run high now and secrets shall come to light.
Nothing more to add than, good reading!
Chapter 34
Reconcile
The Warrior of the Deep Abyss was bathing in a nearby waterfall in her adult form. Here, away from civilization, in the wilderness, she didn't see the point in returning to her normal appearance since demons could attack her at any moment. Besides, she needed to get used to this form if she were to protect Colette.
Presea knew the others trained hard to get their Summon Spirits' powers back and that training needed to be done in spirit form. Her fight with Gaelius showed she still had a long way to go. She had seen the attack coming, but simply couldn't move in time to intercept it. She still had to work her eye-hand coordination to react fast enough to things like that.
The pink haired woman sighed as she splash more water on her face and sat down on the natural spring. She narrowly escaped being impaled by the Seraphim's Runeblade. Right when it came down, the shadows had completely absorbed her, making the Runeblade sink into the concrete, missing Presea's head. She couldn't count on luck again. Not against an adversary like that.
I must get stronger if I am to protect Colette and the others.
She remembered the promise Colette made her swear. After she had escaped, Presea fell unconscious, waking up later in the wilderness. When she climbed up a tree, she saw she wasn't in the Fooji Continent anymore, but also couldn't sense Colette and the others anywhere.
Colette… she wondered about how the girl made her feel. The blonde was always trying to cheer her up, make her feel like a friend, like a real person. She had never seen someone so kind and gentle as that girl. In fact, she didn't believe people like Colette existed anymore.
Her smile, the way she blushed… she was… cute. She kind of made Presea remember the puppies she was so fond of when she was a child. She used to love poking their paw pads.
In another time, in another life…
Colette also had some strange reactions to Presea when she spoke of certain subjects or when she undressed, like she was… expecting something. But what? Presea herself wasn't sure what she felt for the kind girl, but it certainly was different than what she felt for the others.
Gratitude? No, she was also grateful to the others, although not as much as with Colette.
Admiration? No, she admired her father and she never felt this strange warmth that she felt for Colette directed at him.
"Attraction?" she voiced aloud. The idea just came to her, but… she had forgotten what it was like to be attracted to someone...
No, she actually never experienced something like this. It did remind her of when she admired other women, but… this was different. It was a kind of sensation that she couldn't describe (not that she even knew how to describe emotions, considering she passed the latest years of her life like an emotionless doll) and it made her feel… so good.
The warmth, the comfort... she yearned to feel it again.
"Colette…" Presea moaned.
Then she snapped back to reality and looked over herself. She noticed she had been fondling her grown breast and her hand was starting to travel towards her sex. Presea's eyes widened as she quickly retracted her hands. Why did the thought of Colette make her do this? Her body just moved on its own, like something else was in control. What was that she heard about this kind of thing? Hormones acting, or something.
Well, she technically advanced fourteen years in a few seconds whenever she went into spirit form, which meant she passed by puberty without experiencing it. Maybe her human portion was trying to catch up with it. Anyway, she'd better concentrate and stop thinking those things.
What if she was attracted to Colette? It wasn't like the girl would like her back, even if they were both Summon Spirits. Colette was a girl and although Presea knew some people weren't against the idea of two people of the same sex being together, the probabilities of Colette being like her were slim. It was better she didn't delude herself with those thoughts.
Seeing the bloodless scars had finally closed, Presea got up and left the pool. Shadows came up and dried her form, enveloping her in the formfitting, dark suit she wore when in Spirit form.
I wonder what Colette thinks of this outfit. Marta once said hers look like a bathing suit and this one sure doesn't hide my curves.
Later, Presea wondered why she even bothered with the thought. It was just an outfit and, honestly, she didn't saw what the big deal was if it didn't hide her form as normal clothes did.
- / - / - / - / - / -
General Sage looked around the smoking ruins of Meltokio through one of Reriki's summoned wards. Shikigami was how she called those things. They were quite useful for recognizance and intelligence gathering.
Genis himself couldn't enter the city, unless he was planning to slaughter the entire population to leave the city afterwards. Although the thought was appealing, it was probable the evidence he was looking for would also be destroyed in the skirmish. That would be counterproductive and make him no better than those muscle-headed Desians.
"They did quite the number..." Genis murmured as he looked to the devastation through the charm Reriki had handed to him, watching it like it was a screen. "What did the report say again? A Seraphim?" he asked turning to his two aides.
"Yes. It seems they were captured by Cruxis under the accusation of being in alignment with the Traitor of the World," Rahishi said in her ever-professional tone.
"Ratatosk, heh? Man, I would love to have seen his face when they said it," Genis smirked at the thought. "Pity Cruxis wasn't able to execute them," he said, his tone changing to a sour one. He then shrugged. "Anyway, I feel another familiar trace of magic in the air. I think it's that Goddess of Victory from the Renegades."
"So they rescued them. Wouldn't that put them in a bad position with the church?"
"They're already not viewed with good eyes by the church for the simple fact most of the organization is composed by half-elves. It's not like this will make them think any worse of them."
Genis had mixed feelings about the Renegades. They were the enemy and needed to be destroyed, that much he understood. However, they were his fellow brethren and some of them had an impressive dominion over magic, their leaders mainly. Genis never met the so-called Goddess of Victory in battle, although he did catch a glimpse of her display of magic.
It had been, in one word, beautiful. He never thought he had seen so many uses for light magic as on the day he witnessed the half-elven woman in the field. If they had known before that the Summon Spirits had been reincarnated, Genis would have thought the woman was Luna. Her magic was exceptional and, according to Lord Nebilim, she was a special soul.
However, she wasn't as powerful as Genis.
He was pretty sure he could triumph over her in the field of magic. Nobody won against him when it came to the use of elemental forces. It was a fact. That woman was strong, he would be a fool not to recognize it, and wouldn't go down easily. Lord Nebilim said he once faced her, her brother and actual husband (who was, coincidentally the leader of the Renegades) and she and her husband killed two Desian Grand Cardinals each, one of them being the leader of the Cardinals at the time.
"Well, at least this gives me the chance to study Ratatosk more," Genis said.
Reriki shifted at her place, looking uncomfortable as she had a small, unpleased expression on her face. Genis turned and saw that. He asked her what was wrong, to which the demoness answered:
"Master Genis, can I ask you a question?"
"Of course. What is it?" he answered.
"Be honest… do you… do you prefer males?" Reriki practically screamed it.
Genis jumped back and Rahishi had her eyes wide and mouth fell open. Genis spluttered:
"W-what?"
"It's just that, you're always saying 'Ratatosk this', 'Ratatosk that', 'Ratatosk's magic'! You never show this interest in anybody else, so I… I think you must be attracted to him!"
Rahishi looked back at her General and felt her brain stop.
Reriki was right. He had been talking an awful lot about Ratatosk lately. She heard there were mortal males that had this kind of interested, just like there were demons who didn't care about gender. Was her General like that?
"My General… are you… ?" she felt… afraid? Anyway, she was dreading his response.
"Wait, what? Even you Rahishi?" Genis exclaimed.
"Well, if Master Genis prefers men then…" Reriki said. "Then I'll find a way to change my form so I can better fit his preferences!"
Genis now started to sweat. When did his aides start suspecting him of being homosexual? He wasn't! If anybody else heard that, he would be laughing stock on the Ginnungagap for centuries to come. He decided to stop it before they went on:
"Wait, hold on! I just talk about Ratatosk because I admire the kind of magic he uses. I'm interested more in his magic than in himself. I'm not considering having an affair with men!"
"But… you're always saying…" Reriki spoke.
"That's because he's such a unique specimen to study! I'm not going to elope with a Summon Spirit or anything. And Rahishi," he turned to his more serious aide. "I'm surprised you're actually worried about it. Wasn't it you who said you're more professional than Reriki?"
The crimson haired demoness then realized her General was right. She mentally face palmed at this, but mainly because she had went on the bandwagon and took Reriki's words as true when she knew better. Her General wasn't like that (if his reaction and physical countenance when he saw her undressing meant anything).
It seemed that that calmed Reriki down as she said:
"Thank the Great Father, for one moment I thought Master Genis denied me because my gender displeased him."
"I shouldn't be surprised you have the time to come up with such absurd theories considering you never do anything useful other than lust after our superior," Rahishi commented, closing her eyes and with a scowling expression on her face.
"Oh really?" she said with a sly smile. "At least I admit to murmuring his name during my sleep."
Rahishi's face paled. She thought Reriki was just joking the first time she said that, but after taking one of the voice recording devices the humans used she confirmed it was true. Genis raised his eyebrow at that, looking confused.
"'My General. Oh my General.'," Reriki said, mimicking Rahishi's voice. "'I'll follow everywhere my General' , 'My General you can use your…'" at that, Rahishi jumped on Reriki and started strangling her as the spiritual demoness resisted.
"Shut up, you slut headed Succubus!" Rahishi roared. Unfortunately the red haired warrior was then reminded Reriki didn't have any need for air to speak or breathe.
"Oh, is that how you intent to do Master Genis? My, my… I never thought you were so rough, Rahishi," Reriki jabbed with a malicious smirk as she tried to get the hands of the other demon away from her throat.
"STOP TALKING!"
Genis just observed all of that a sweatdrop at the back of his head.
Aselia, I present you my fearsome aides… why do I let them speak these things in front of me again? Genis knew the answer, but he was too prideful to admit he could be ruled by something like hormones or some sense of manly accomplishment.
- / - / - / - / - / - / -
According to what she had discovered of the terrain and the vegetation, Presea was near the mountains of the Toize Valley. It seemed her teleportation abilities have grown. If she could reach Altamira, she would be able to talk with Regal Bryant and contact the Renegades to pick her up and bring her to her friends.
The forest seemed mildly peaceful, although there wasn't the sound of local fauna. The trees also seemed cold and strangely hard for her touch. She heard about forests becoming stone due to the chaotic state of the world, but didn't give it much thought until now. As a lumberjack, she depended on the resources the forest gave her and seeing the trees turning into that made her heart constrict inside her chest.
As she approached the peninsula, she felt chaos energy nearby. Narrowing her eyes, Presea quickly ran to where she felt the presence. Sounds of battle then came to her ears.
She then saw fire arrows rain upon a group of armed half-elves and humans who were trying to drive demons away. Water spells put the flames out before the fires rose and consumed everything around. Lizard demons slithered between the trees, attacking anything in close range and slicing the throats of those that tried to hide behind the trees.
"Push them away! Casters, make them know the strength of the earth!" a voice sounded amidst the battle.
Like one, several Stalagmite and Ground Dasher spells hit the demonic troops, the trees which they tried to use to their advantage quickly turned into a weapon against them as even the biggest of the flora fell down and pined the demons against the earth, just for them to be hit by the eruption of rocks and earth shards.
"Now, blow them away!" violent winds blew and pushed the demons away, some were sliced apart by wind blades while others got hit by the already loosed trees and got crushed against the petrified ones. The humans and half-elves advanced, cutting down all opposition, some had their weapons and projectiles enhanced by magic.
Whoever is leading them knows what he is doing. Presea thought.
One man wearing an unusual set of weapons, two gauntlets with long, mechanical claws, decapitated a nearby lizard demon and saw Presea at the edge of the forest. He turned and the girl could see his beige uniform and brunette hair divided to the sides.
"Who are you?" he asked when seeing she obviously wasn't part of their troops. His eyes then widened and he opened his mouth to warn Presea.
That wasn't necessary for she had sensed the demons creeping behind her long before the human did and turned just when he was about to open his mouth. With a swift blow she decapitated the demon before it could even register what happened. She saw five more demons behind the first.
The man looked surprised, but shook his head and stood in front of Presea, spreading his arms to the sides as if trying to shield her.
"I'll hold them off here. Just turn and…" the man started, but Presea didn't let him finish as she charged at incredible speed.
When the resistance member noticed, she was already upon the demons and easily deflecting blows and leaving wide gashes at their bodies, blood flying as Presea's purple axes danced in a deadly manner, leaving shrouds of darkness behind, which ate at their auras and swallowed up any chaos energy, leaving most of them empty husks.
When it was over, she wordlessly turned to the man, who could only look at her with his mouth agape. It was then more soldiers started to approach and she noticed the battle was over and the demons lied dead at the forest ground. Some soldiers started murmuring between themselves at seeing her and the five, vanishing demon corpses behind her. She also noticed some eyes leering over her body and outfit a little more than what could be considered appropriate.
Men will be men. wasn't that what Raine once said?
Then somebody made his way through the crowd, which parted as he approached. The first thing Presea noticed was his face and auburn hair, which seemed strangely familiar. Then she noticed his purple outfit and white swallowed cape. The man also wore a light armor over his outfit, but most of his body seemed unarmored.
"May I ask who you are?" the man asked in a strong, but respectful tone. Presea noticed he just passed one look over her and kept his eyes on her face as he spoke.
"Presea Combatir. And you?"
"I'm the General of Union, Kratos Aurion."
She knew the name Aurion. It was one of Lloyd's last name. Could this man be…
"Excuse me, but are you a relative of Lloyd Irving-Aurion?" Presea asked, minding her manners as she spoke to someone who was undoubtly a military commander.
Her father had taught her how to talk with people of higher positions in society, believing it to be a necessary ability, since they traveled to Meltokio sometimes and had the church to worry about. She never really saw a noble, so she mostly talked like that to the higher echelon of the Cruxis Church (as rarely as they visited Ozette).
The man's eyes widened. He then looked over her, but she felt like he was trying to see something other than her clothing or appearance. His expression then turned into one of understanding as he spoke:
"I see… so you're one of Lloyd's companions, aren't you?" Presea had no doubt that he was referring to the fact she was a Summon Spirit. "I'm his father. Is he nearby?"
Presea was honestly surprised at that. She had heard Lloyd comment something or other about his father, mainly him wondering what he was doing at the moment. She knew he was some kind of General of high order in both resistances, but she never thought she would meet him someday. That would explain why Kratos looked so familiar. Both had almost the same expression when serious and both their eyes shone with protectiveness and determination.
The pink haired woman shook her head and said:
"No. We got separated and he was taken to safety by a member of the Renegades. I would like to request means to contact him and the others."
"Very well," Kratos said and she could see a little worry over his eyes, but he kept his tone even and composure unchangeable. "However, we should first leave this forest. More demons might come this way."
"In that case, let me help you escort your troops. I'm pretty capable in combat."
Kratos nodded and ordered his men to patch up the injured and continue their march to Altamira.
As the two lead the column of men, Presea inquired what they had been doing in that region. Even she knew it wasn't a good idea to walk around with a group that big when there were high chances of demons spotting them. Kratos seemed to ponder if he should answer her question or not, but ended up speaking:
"We were requested by Duke Bryant to seal off the Toize Valley Mine and destroy all equipment inside, as well as collecting any Exspheres that might have been left behind."
"I see…" Presea said.
She heard from the others about the Exspheres and how the stones were awakened by sacrificing human lives. However, if the demons were really interested in them…
"Don't you think they might come back and start to excavate again?" Presea asked.
"Even so, our mission was to seal the mine, so this might retard their collecting of the Exspheres," the Captain of the troop that Presea had saw before, Hawk, said. "We need every second we can buy if we expect to win this war. Besides, those things…"
"Hawk," Kratos said, narrowing his eyes and his tone turning sharp and cold. It was a warning, which made the Captain immediately shut up.
Presea immediately understood that the true nature of the Exspheres wasn't common knowledge to the soldiers and saw some of them were wearing them. She had mixed feelings about it, but the rational part of her mind told her it was necessary for them to match power with the demons. Besides, it wasn't any of her business if they chose to share that information or not. She wasn't part of the Renegades or the Vanguard.
- / - / - / - / - / -
The city was just like she remembered, a bustle of activity and swimmers going about the beach, never leaving the limits of the city, while another portion of it went about the "communitarian duties" they were given by the church. Presea noticed some people looking at Kratos and the resistance members either with ugly looks or smiles.
A divided city. It must be incredibly stressing to maintain order. Presea thought.
The door of a nearby grocery store opened and out came a young woman in her early twenties with pink hair and in a maid uniform. Presea stacked when she saw the woman, her mind quickly comparing the face and eyes to that of a person she knew, however, it was the feeling she got from looking at that person's aura that gave away who that was.
The maid thanked who appeared to be the shopkeeper and looked in Presea's direction, seeing the contingent of the Renegades and Vanguard. She smiled and approached them.
"Greetings, General Aurion."
"Hello Alicia," Kratos returned with a bow in a perfect, gentlemanly manner.
That left no doubt. The woman in front of her was her younger sister, the sister that had ran away from home, calling her a freak and a monster when she came back from the Temple of Darkness carrying the corpse of their father. She looked beautiful, just like their mother.
"Oh, and who is this? A new member?" Alicia asked, looking at Presea, obviously not recognizing her, even though few were the people that had such a vibrant pink hair like theirs.
Presea didn't have any doubt Kratos had catch on her relationship with Alicia. Combatir wasn't a common surname, as far as she knew. Kratos made a discreet signal for his men to go on and they dispersed to not call so much attention.
"She helped us with the escape after the operation to demolish you-know-the-place," Kratos spoke.
"Oh. In that case, I thank you, miss…" Alicia said with a helpful smile and a slight bow, waiting for Presea to identify herself.
"I…" Presea suddenly found her tongue had rolled into itself.
"Yes?" Alicia asked.
"I'm… your sister… Presea," she slowly said.
"Huh?" Alicia had the expression of who thought they had misheard what had been said.
Presea decided it would be better if she showed it, so she returned to her human, young-looking state. The reversion took just a few seconds. She opened her pale-blue eyes and saw her sister's face quickly adopt an expression of shock and surprise. Alicia dropped the bag of groceries, but Kratos picked it up with surprisingly fast reflexes.
"P-P… Pre…" Alicia stuttered, taking a tentative step forward, her hand slowly reaching for Presea.
For one moment, the pink haired girl thought Alicia would slap her again, just like the last time they talked face to face, but she only touched her cheeks with evident hesitation. Her hands were a little calloused, Presea noticed. Probably from her work as a maid. Still they felt warm.
Just like back then…
Then, to her bigger surprise, Alicia got on her knees and pulled her into a strong, desperate embrace. Presea heard her sister start sobbing and felt tears dropping on her back as she heard Alicia saying:
"I'm… sorry. I'm sorry for everything, big sis," Presea's eyes widened. Alicia used to call her "big sis". "I shouldn't have… I was such an idiot…"
The rest Presea didn't catch for she felt turmoil inside herself. She felt warm, sad and… happy. Happy that Alicia wasn't angry or disgusted at her anymore, even thought she suddenly transformed in her presence. Also, Alicia was apologizing for the way she treated her.
Hadn't she dreamed of this before? To see Alicia again, to be able to talk with her, go back to how they used to be, to be forgiven for what she did to their father? She… wanted to be consoled. Consoled by someone who cared, even though that someone was her little sister and Presea was the one who should be consoling her.
She had forgotten that. That dream, this sensation. Suddenly she felt her eyes getting moist and her chest started to hurt. But why? Didn't she feel happy? Didn't she feel overjoyed for being reunited with Alicia again? So why was she about to cry? Alicia leaned back and saw the emotional state portrayed in her older sister's young face and asked:
"Presea… are you crying?" she expected anything, Presea being angry with her for having abandoned her in Ozette or being indifferent… but crying was the last thing she thought at.
"I… I don't know. I feel… so happy, but… at the same time," Presea said, her voice turning strained as she spoke. "Why do I feel like crying if I'm happy? That doesn't make sense… I'm so confused."
Tears then finally flowed out as Presea was assaulted by a multitude of emotions. Happiness, confusion, sadness, relief… it hurt feeling all of that at the same time. It was like some kind of dam inside her had been broken and now these emotions were finally flowing. She hated feeling so confused over this.
Alicia, however, had her eyes wide again. She never hated herself as much as now.
She knew Presea should be facing hell in Ozette. After all, she had left with her father and Richter and came back carrying his corpse together with the half-elf. Of course the people of Ozette, being the racist bunch they were, would jump to conclusions and assume Presea had let the half-elf murder her father or did it herself. Alicia's outburst in front of their cottage certainly helped the rumors to spread.
She had seen Presea in Altamira when the young-looking woodcutter came to sell her artisanal charms to the tourists and locals. She saw the lifeless expression and look in her eyes, but could never bring herself to approach her sister and at least let her know she was still alive and well.
The younger Combatir was a coward. She had discovered that soon enough. She just stayed at her comfortable corner in the Bryant Mansion and let Presea take all the suffering alone to the point her sister had practically become an apathetic shell which rarely showed any kind of expression. Master Regal had warned her that could happen; that guilt over something like that could make somebody think they didn't deserve to live or even be happy. He warned her, but she was too much of a coward to come to Presea's rescue.
And this was the result.
"Oh, Presea," Alicia then hugged her again, letting her sister's tears fall on her shoulder, doing what she should have done all those years back in Ozette.
Kratos left the two to their reunion, staying out of hearing range, but still in sight in case they needed something.
- / - / - / - / - / - / -
The pink haired sisters and the General of Union walked in silence to the mannor of Duke Bryant. The atmosphere was awkward at best between the Combatirs. None knew what to say to break the ice. Alicia was just too guilty to even look to her young-looking, older sister and Presea didn't know how to proceed after tearing up.
Not even a sword would cut through this atmosphere. Kratos thought to himself.
The trio finally arrived in a huge, three story, Victorian styled mansion at the other edge of the city. It was built on a pier, like most buildings near the water. The roof tiles were blue and there were several windows in its front and sides.
Kratos and the Combatirs passed by the two guards flanking the door, who seemed to recognize him and the head maid as they entered the place. The entrance hall was big enough to easily fit Presea's old cottage inside and there were a few statues and work arts along the walls. A maid approached and greeted the newcomers:
"Greetings. May I help you?" it was then she seemed to recognize them. "General Aurion! It's an honor to receive you."
"Thanks. Could you drop these groceries bought by Miss Combatir in the kitchen? By the way, is Duke Bryant home?" Kratos asked in the most polite tone.
"Master Bryant is at the study," the maid then saw Presea and seemed to get curious. "Oh, is she your little sister Alicia? She looks kind of like you."
The atmosphere, if possible, got even more awkward. Alicia felt her cheeks burning in embarrassment as Presea stood quiet. Kratos sighed and said they had to first talk to Regal. The maid acknowledged and took the supper back to the kitchen.
"I'll let you two go first. If you need me, I'll be at the library," Kratos said.
"Yes…" Alicia meekly nodded.
Kratos then left for another wing of the house. Apparently he had enough clearance to some of the rooms in the Bryant state. Alicia led Presea to Regal's study, the two still not talking to each other. They arrived at a mahogany door which Alicia opened.
The study was a room with a desk at the other extremity, a tea table at its center and a variety of bookcases, containing the most different kinds of books. The window at the other end of the room was open, the curtains fluttering slightly as the sea winds entered. Lying in a crimson couch, reading a book, was a man in his early thirties with blue hair and blue attire with gold lining and black, polished shoes.
The man turned his aqua blue eyes upon hearing the door closing behind the two sisters, putting his book aside and speaking:
"Alicia. Already done with your task, I see," the familiarity which he used upon speaking the name of the maid did not pass unnoticed to Presea. Regal then noticed her. "And who might you be, young lady?"
"This is… my sister… Presea…" Alicia hesitantly said.
For one moment, Regal's eyes widened in surprise, but it was so fast it could have been a trick of the light. His expression turned solemn as he looked from his head maid to the other pink haired girl.
"I see…" was all he said. Presea then knew in that moment that Alicia had told him about them. But just how much did the noble knew? "I suppose explanations are in order, as you must be certainly curious about how your sister has been faring."
"Yes, please," was all Presea said. She didn't know how she felt about that stranger knowing of what happened between her and her sister. The whole day was just so strange…
Regal nodded and vacated the couch, leaving the sisters to sit together as he fetched one of the simple arm chairs near his study desk. Putting the chair to face them, Regal studied the two: Presea was still looking mildly confused and, at the same time, neutral. His head maid looked like she wanted to find a place to hide herself while her eyes were laden with guilt.
Sighing, the noble started:
"I've found Alicia lying unconscious in the fields sixteen years ago when I was coming back from a business trip. She seemed to be passed out, so I took her to my mansion and got her treated. She only came to after two days and even so refused to talk to anybody, showing clear signs of shock."
Alicia lowered her head, feeling miserable. Regal continued, regardless:
"When we finally got her to speak, she said she had run away from demons and didn't have any family. She thanked me and asked if she could stay for some time, offering to do house chores as a payment. Long story short, she ended up staying and after four years she finally told me her true story."
"I've…" Alicia said. Presea looked at her sister as she hesitantly spoke. "Seen you in the public market that day, Presea… selling your charms on that day. That disturbed me so much that I…" she found out she couldn't put her thoughts of that particular moment into words.
"Please, don't think ill of her," Regal asked on Alicia's behalf.
"Master Bryant…" she started to protest, but the lord of the mansion didn't heed to it.
"Once she explained to me what had happened, I tried to see things from a neutral standpoint and knew there was no way a daughter would slay her father like Alicia said you did. I took it upon myself to see the one that Alicia was accusing of murder and passed through your stand the following day."
Presea suddenly remembered seeing somebody with Regal's hair color and eyes. She had never paid much attention to who her customers were. She was more worried about gaining money to feed herself. That day, she had sold half of the items in her stand to a single costumer. That had to have been Regal. It was then the reincarnated Shadow noticed that a small statue of a maiden in Regal's study desk was one of her works.
"Suffice to say, what I saw in your eyes wasn't anything remotely close to what is seen in murderers. What I saw was a living shell full of grief and guilt. It was like I wasn't even looking at a living person. I told that to Alicia. At first she didn't believe and even after she saw it, she seemed reluctant to admit it, but eventually…"
"I realized Master Bryant was right," Alicia admitted. She looked at Presea now as she spoke. "I've… watched you every day after that and you acted always the same; never putting any extra effort in anything, just going through everything like you weren't even there. You never smiled even once. It was like… watching somebody dying right in front of your eyes," there was some silence after it.
Presea was surprised that she hadn't noticed her sister watching her, given how her instincts and senses were sharp. Then again, she tried to shut off those sensations and her powers most of the time. Or maybe it was because she felt more at ease in Altamira than she did in her own village. Whatever the case was, one question still remained:
"If you… thought what you did was wrong, why did you never come to me whenever you saw me every time I was in Altamira?"
It felt like Alicia had been trying to purposely avoid her. The other pink haired female lowered her head in shame and Presea could see her eyes getting moist again.
"I did… believe me, I tried… but I couldn't. I couldn't look in your face and see what my rejection did to you. What you have become because I abandoned you," Alicia then looked at Presea with a sad, pitiful smile on her face. "I'm a coward Presea. Always was. Remember? I used to hide behind you and father whenever a stranger came home or when I thought people were angry at me."
Presea did remember. Alicia had always been somewhat shy when a child, but she wouldn't call her little sister a coward. Presea looked to the side, not knowing what to do in that situation. She again felt confused. She hated this feeling of not knowing what to do and what to think.
"Presea…" Alicia called her again, making the older Combatir look at her. "I… know I don't have any right to, but… please, how did father die?"
That question hit Presea harder than a punch from Nebilim. She widened her eyes. Never once had she tried to justify herself about their father's death. She never spoke a word of it, letting people think what they wanted. In a way, she believed they were right; that she really killed Sieg. Maybe she wanted to be scorned and punished by what happened.
"I'll leave you two to discuss this in particular," Regal started, sensing this was a delicate subject.
Presea noticed her sister shoot a desperate look at her employer, like silently asking him to stay. She then realized one thing: her sister trusted Regal. Also, she seemed to find some kind of comfort in his presence, so much she had become more inclined to speak as he explained the story of how she had ended up in that house. Presea then spoke:
"No. Stay," Regal stopped and looked at her. "If Alicia trusts in you, then I trust you as well," the look of relief and thanks in Alicia's face was more than obvious to Presea, as Regal sat once more. Seeing that look on her sister's face made she wonder if Regal had become somewhat of an emotional support to her.
Presea then recounted the events of that day. When she looked back, the details seemed a lot clearer than she remembered seeing with her twelve-year-old eyes. She almost choked at the part where the demons had swarmed them, but continued nonetheless, describing everything she remembered. Alicia gasped when Presea told her she had tried to force Shadow to give her his power and the resulting backslash.
"But… Presea, you could have died!" Alicia exclaimed.
"Yes, but… in the end… father was the one that paid the price for my foolishness," she said solemnly.
Alicia opened her mouth to counter, but closed it again. She seemed to think for some time and sighed.
"Even so… I never thought you… you almost died. I'm so sorry, big sis. I was so stupid," Alicia said in a tone of self-reprimand.
"No. I don't blame you for that. Besides, you were right. I was the one that killed father and…" Presea didn't get to continue, for she was hugged by her sister again. Alicia then spoke in a firm tone.
"Never… say that again. I now know you had nothing to do with that and everything was just an accident. I was the stupid one for doing what I did. I was… angry and sad. And I said some things that I shouldn't have said. Daddy would be ashamed of me. I fought with and abandoned my sister instead of listening to her when she needed the most.
"Presea. I'm really sorry for everything. I can't even begin to say how I am ashamed of myself. I should have been happy that you came back alive. It was what daddy would have wanted."
Presea felt her heart constrict again and her eyes getting moist at the mention of their father. Would he have wanted her to come back alive? Yes, he would. He never hid how much he loved them and which lengths he would go to protect them. She remembered that he once said that, should anything happen, Presea and Alicia should watch out and protect each other, because one could not survive in that world alone, only together they would be able to conquer all obstacles.
She had forgotten that, dismissed it as her father just saying they should continue behaving like good sisters. She never once thought about how real her father's warning was… about how he could be gone in a heartbeat. The idea never seemed real for her and her sister, since he seemed so strong. Nobody in Ozette could wield an ax like him.
But there was no human strong enough to survive the demons unscathed. Sieg had been right, as always. Only united could people hope to defeat those monsters. And Presea and Alicia had done the exact opposite. The reincarnated Shadow when she chose to simply take the blame and not even explain the circumstances and Alicia when she chose to blame Presea for their father's death without even hearing her side of the story.
"I... think you're right," Presea said. "Daddy would have wanted that we remained together. He always said for us to stick together."
Alicia nodded and the two looked at each other in silence again. Regal just stood quiet, observing everything. He wouldn't intrude in that family moment more than he already was. He was there in case Alicia needed emotional support, but he could see his head maid was slowly bouncing back.
Presea's sister then finally spoke:
"So… do you think we could start over again?"
"I… don't know. A lot has changed. I'm not the same as I was, probably never will be," Presea said. Alicia lowered her head, dejected. Presea then spoke again, a small smile on her face this time. "But I would like to try. Even though time has stopped for me and I can't go back, I… would like to try and built our relationship again."
Alicia looked up, her eyes watering again as she hugged her older sister, muttering "thank you" over and over. She didn't know if she would be able to live with herself if Presea rejected her, though the reincarnated Shadow had every right to.
Regal smiled at the scene and decided to call a toast for the reconciliation of the two. Alicia nodded and said she would get some glasses and a drink. Before she got up, Presea noticed a shine in her middle finger. The woodcutter caught the glimpse of a golden ring right before her sister left the room.
Presea then turned her eyes to Regal and noticed he was also using a golden ring very similar to Alicia's in the same finger and hand that she did. The pink haired ax woman tilted her head to the side in thought, wondering what that meant.
"I'm glad you decided to forgive your sister and are willing to give her another chance. She has suffered greatly through the years and seeing you in that state," Regal said.
Presea didn't answer. She just thought on what Alicia had said about feeling so guilty she couldn't even approach Presea. She knew what it felt like. She had lost count of the nights in which she wouldn't be able to even see a photograph of her father without feeling guilty for what had transpired.
Alicia then came back carrying a tray with some wine. Regal remembered he should have ordered Alicia to bring some juice to Presea, but then remembered the pink haired girl was supposed to be his head maid's older sister. As they cheered for the reunion of the Combatir sisters, the Duke felt the need to ask:
"By the way, Presea, are you really a Summon Spirit?"
"So you've heard about it?" Presea inquired as she took a dip at the wine. It burned her throat, but it was also quite good.
"Sir Emil and Sir Lloyd passed by here and mentioned it."
"When I heard what they said about people with strange powers being Summon Spirits, I thought that could explain why you saw those things when you were little," Alicia admitted, her face blushing a little.
"They said the same thing," Presea confirmed. "Supposedly, I have Shadow's sight, which is the best and most powerful between all of the Summon Spirits. That was why I was able to see ghosts and even feel people's emotions when they touched me."
"The Summon Spirit of darkness, you say…" Regal surmised, putting his hand on his chin and resting his glass in the tea table. "Do you have any marks on your body? Like a birthmark of some kind?" the blue haired noble asked.
Presea thought about it and remembered she did have one. Nodding, she unbuttoned the top buttons of her simple, black and grey dress and showed them the mark on the middle of her collarbone. Regal's eyes seemed to lit up in understanding as Alicia spoke:
"I had forgotten about your birthmark. Daddy used to say it marked you as a unique person."
And he couldn't have been more right… Regal idly wondered. He closed his eyes in reflection and opened them again. "I see… and I suppose that explains why you display this young appearance."
Presea nodded, explaining it was due to the fact she had absorbed some of Shadow's soul in the Temple of Darkness. Regal nodded and wordlessly got up and went to the telephone on his study desk. Presea and Alicia watched as he took the speaker and dialed a number. After some seconds of waiting, the President of Lezareno spoke:
"George, it's me. Could you please take care of Lezareno in the following days? A matter of most importance appeared and it requires my immediate attention. … I unfortunately can't divulge the details yet and I can't estimate for how long I will be away. … I might be incommunicable at times, but I would appreciate it if you informed me of any emergencies that might happen. In case you can't contact me, relay the message to Yuan. … Yes, right. … Thank you, George," Regal then put the phone in the receiver and turned to his guest and confused personal maid. "Could you take care of the house in my absence, Alicia?"
"Of course Master Regal, but why are you asking that? Are you going on some business trip?" the grown up Combatir asked.
"You could say that," he then turned to Presea. "I'll contact Yuan and warn him I'll be escorting you to the Renegades' headquarters."
"Why are you coming with me?" Presea asked in curiosity.
Regal closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again and speak:
"When Lloyd and the others came here, the characteristics they described… it was all strangely accurate. I myself had always been considered a prodigy to my martial arts trainers due to my incredible stamina and energy. Sometimes, it even felt like I was using the energy of the environment around to keep me going. The sensation only got stronger near machines."
"You practice martial arts?" Presea asked. She had seen Sheena practicing some blows in spars and had wondered if maybe she could imitate her. Using her own body as a weapon against the demons surely would help her to protect Colette and the others.
"Yes. My father thought it would be a good way for me to defend myself."
"But, Master Regal. Wouldn't that only mean you trained a lot?" Alicia asked.
"I also thought so, but when they spoke about a birthmark it reminded me of my own," he then pulled his right sleeve up, revealing a mark on his biceps. A mark that looked to intricate to have been natural.
Alicia gasped, remembering she saw that, but she had never connected the dots before. Presea also widened her eyes in realization. Regal nodded:
"I believe I might be a Summon Spirit and the only ones that can confirm it are Ratatosk and his group…"
And to close this chapter let's have a light hearted skit between Presea and her sister:
The Combatir Sisters
Presea: Hey, Alicia, can I ask you something?
Alicia: Yes, what is it big sis?
Presea: I saw you and Regal using matching rings in your middle fingers.
Alicia *blushing*: Y-y-you did?
Presea: Yes. They also seem to be pretty pricey. Are they made out of gold?
Alicia: Y-yeah... they are.
Presea: I see. I didn't though being the personal maid of a Duke would give you such advantages.
Alicia: Huh?
Presea: I mean, if you gain enough money to be able to afford such a jewel, he obviously must be paying you well. Either that or you gain discounts on the jewelry stores here in Altamira.
Alicia *sweatdrop*: Um, Presea. That's not really what… oh, forget it. Can I ask you something then?
Presea: Of course.
Alicia: Well, what would you think if you heard I'm in a relationship with somebody older than me?
Presea: I would ask, why is that so?
Alicia: Really? Wouldn't you think it's strange or… improper?
Presea: I think I am hardly someone who can point out what is proper or not.
Alicia: Oh, yeah. I-I'm sorry, I forgot I… I mean… I'm really sorry for all I…
Presea: You already apologized and I already forgave you. Can we… put this past us? I… I missed you and I don't want to get caught up so much in the past.
Alicia: Yes. I agree. Let's not talk about what happened anymore and concentrate on being sisters once more. Deal?
Presea *smiling*: Deal.
Alicia: So… I have to say. That grown form of yours… I'm jealous.
Presea: What do you mean?
Alicia: Oh, c'mon! Haven't you noticed? You have such a sensual body and that thigh clothes you used… you probably must be fending the guys off with a… oh wait. You don't like guys. Um… oh, I know. You probably must be causing many women to be jealous of you while attracting the eyes from the others.
Presea: You think so? I wonder...
Alicia *sweatdropping*: What's with that answer and tone? Seems we'll really have to get you used to our sister talks again…
Update: Since I didn't get any answers about my last two chapter yet: please review, so I can have some incentive to go on writting this.