Of Wyverns and Brands

Chapter 21

You know, Soren may not be that bad. I didn't really hate him, but his constant barbs and remarks wore on me at first. But now, I think he might at least be beginning to respect my intelligence.

With a week still left to reach Port Toha, we were once again on the march. This time, I managed to fill the time by trying to explain what I knew of science to Soren, from atoms and electrons, to particle movement and the butterfly effect. Even the basics of the concept of energy itself.

Teaching anyone these things would have been difficult, but I found that Soren learned at a rapid pace. His only issue is accepting them as laws, rather than as simple theories.

Soren's own takes on magic were closer to the superstitions people used to have before science, but I can't yet say that it's wrong in a world where magic exists in the first place. Let's just hope science doesn't destroy that.

"Our teachings do not spread so easily in Tellius," Soren tried to explain one evening. "There is a school of magic in the capital of each country, but both Daein and Begnion force each mage to accept being drafted should war arise. Since mages are often critical in battle, casualty rates are high. Crimea does not follow this pattern, but their school is more of a collection of a few simple books.

"Masters of each element often write their findings in a book using the ancient language to keep it secret from commoners. Such tomes, though, are rare and much sought after, so they are often hidden or eventually destroyed. With knowledge so limited, what a mage knows is often kept safeguarded from others to give them an edge. If even an apprentice mage was willing to carry a tome into battle, then it is mostly full of the very basics or even errors."

And so, the fire tome I had now looked a lot less valuable. Guess I'm not going to be a mage any time soon. "So you don't carry your tome into battle?"

"Of course not," Soren replies. "Tomes are too valuable to risk damaging in battle. And as long as one knows their spell, it isn't needed."

Our conversation ended as our marching finally ended for the day. I was glad for the rest, but before I could prepare for bed, Mordecai approached.

"Drake. Mordecai did ask about 'Branded'," he says slowly. Soren, still next to me, grows taunt at his statement. "Ranulf tell Mordecai they are the 'Parentless'. Drake child of laguz and beorc."

"I guess," I reply, shrugging my shoulders a little.

"The 'Parentless'," Soren spits, already growing angry. "It's what the laguz call us. It is as if they reject our very existence, as if we're a stain they wish to get rid of. Even humans will at least admit that we share blood."

"Soren is Parentless, too. Mordecai feel it." Not the best thing to say, Mordecai. I put my hand out in front of Soren to keep him in check. "How can this be? Laguz and beorc different. That is how Ashera made world. It is her law. How can you be Parentless?"

"Ashera's laws," Soren echoes with a snort. Guess he's not a fan of hers either. "If only that were so. But here we stand before you as proof that we exist. So, what? Will you deny us as well? Will you pretend we don't exist? Will you try to eradicate us like others?" Wow. He sounds really bitter right now.

Mordecai growls for a moment, though I still can read what's going on in his head. "No. Mordecai not understand this 'e-rat-i-kat', but Mordecai will not ignore Drake or Soren. Mordecai will not pretend to not see what is in front of eyes. Mordecai not met goddess, but if laws wrong, Mordecai not want them. Drake is kind beorc. Mordecai trust Drake."

I'm…half perplexed, half touched by what he said. I also feel a little guilty now that I never really used him in the game. I still feel a little awkward around him, as he's a foot taller, face a stone mask, and it's a little hard to understand exactly what he means with his constant growls, but doesn't he also feel the same around the branded like me? If he's willing to work to overcome his awkwardness around me, shouldn't I do the same?

Soren looks like all the wind was taken out of his sail as well. "You won't…you won't avoid us and hate us? But…but…"

"Mordecai will not. Mordecai want to learn more of Soren, too. If Drake not bad, maybe Soren be good beorc." Wait, I know Soren and Mordecai don't have a support in the game. Is this a whole new path?

"I need to…go check over the reports," Soren finally says, retreating. Of all the characters to start to get to him.

Mordecai growls again, one I strangely feel has sadness in it. "Mordecai upset Soren."

"Not in a bad way, though."

"Draaake~!"

I freeze as the shout carries over to me. "Got to go. See ya!" Turning away, I quickly run to Midnight's side for safety, like running to base during a game of tag. No, not like. It is tag.

Emma soon catches up, a large piece of meat in hand. My worries about her appearance had been very quickly replaced by annoyance. Energetic and childish, which admittedly did match her age, Emma's one obsession was flying. And she had her eyes set on Midnight.

"I brought Midnight a snack!" Emma called cheerfully from six feet away and just outside of Midnight's personal space. The smell of meat did get her attention, though.

"You're going to make her too fat to fly if you keep it up," I comment.

"I'm sure she loves it," Emma replies, tossing it toward Midnight. Midnight snaps it up happily, though she does begin to growl when Emma tries to take a step forward. You won't win her over with food. "Guess I'll have to try a little harder," she murmurs, staring the wyvern down without a hint of fear.

I was actually a little grateful that Midnight didn't let her get close. It was bad enough that Mist had won her over instantly. I wouldn't want it to happen yet again. I can be very possessive. "Why do you want to ride Midnight so badly, anyway? You have a pegasus," I point out.

"But I've never ridden a wyvern before! Just imagine what it'd be like to ride through the clouds on such a powerful creature!" Emma explains, waving her hands through the air dramatically.

"I don't have to, since I've been on Midnight several times," I say, instantly regretting opening that can of worms.

"Exactly! Isn't it wonderful? Why wouldn't I want to rider your beautiful wyvern?"

"Look, it's Midnight's choice," I finally say, throwing the blame on my mount. "I already told you that Midnight doesn't like others getting too close."

"Well, what about Mist?" Emma pouts. Mist is just a complete mystery.

"Emma!" Speak of the devil. "Look at what I found!"

We both turn to see Mist walking over slowly. She doesn't seem have anything in her hands, but…is that a bird on her shoulder?

"I saw him on a tree nearby and tried to call him. Then he actually flew down and landed on my shoulder. Isn't he pretty?" Mist says, posing with the little orange bird.

…

I don't know what to say to that. She's a literally Dr. Doolittle.

"He's so cute!" Emma exclaims, her attention thankfully off of Midnight. "Can I hold him?" But even as she starts moving forward, the bird hops up onto Mist's head, as though threatening to fly off.

"Try calling him. That's what I did," Mist suggests. I don't think it works that way, Mist. I think it's just you.

"Here, birdy, birdy, birdy," Emma chirps, holding her hands out. Ha, pun. "Drake, you join in." No thanks. "Here, birdy, birdy, birdy. Come on, Drake!"

"Try it," Mist says, joining in with her pleas. Why are they targeting me?

"Fine," I sigh, rolling my eyes. Guess I'll entertain them for a bit. "Here, birdy," I call, raising a hand. I can already hear Boyd's snickering.

The bird leaps off Mist's head, and the girls cry out when Midnight snaps at it as it flies by. Then, to our astonishment, the birds lands on my finger, not frightened off by the wyvern at all.

"Look! It went right to Drake!" Mist looks excited by it, but Emma doesn't.

"That's not fair!" Emma says, pouting again. "How do you do that?"

"Don't ask me," I reply, feeling a little bit of pride. I've never actually had a bird come to me like this before. As a wildlife lover, this is pretty neat. Maybe I can even train it as a pet, or something.

Yune.

What…was that? It felt like a word just popped into my mind from the outside.

"Drake?"

"Hmm?" I focus back in to see Mist and Emma staring at me curiously.

"I asked what we should name it," Mist repeats. "I want to keep it as a pet."

"Birds need a lot of care to keep as a pet, Mist," I try to explain.

"I'm good with flying animals!" Emma exclaims. "I'll make sure it has everything it needs. Let's see…birds like worms, and-"

Drake, stop ignoring me!

I jump as the bird pecks me lightly. What was that in my head?

I'm Yune!

"Yune?" I repeat slowly.

"That's a good name!" Mist says, excited. "Let's call it that!"

I tune them out, something much more important suddenly coming up. A bird flies up to me out of nowhere, and then a voice appears in my head calling itself Yune. Please don't tell me…

That's a very rude thing to think! The voice is that of a young girl.

Which means there's a goddess in my head that can read my thoughts.

Yep. I'm pretty good at it, if I do say so myself.

Okay. Blue Screen of Death time.

That's not very nice, Drake.

…How else am I supposed to take this?

Hmm. Bow down and worship me? I'm not too sure myself. You can at least thank me for bringing you here.

Wait. You were the mysterious lady at that party?

Yep. It took a lot of energy to get you across to here, but I love the disguise I made over there. Very witchy, no?

I almost died!

"Drake!" I'm shaken out of my internal conversation as Mist pokes me on the cheek. "You're not listening at all, are you? You keep making weird faces at Yune."

"Sorry, just thinking about something," I reply, rubbing the back of my head. How do I tell her I've been talking to the goddess of chaos? Wait. Isn't she still inside the medallion?

The medallion can't hold all of me, silly. How else would Ashnard be able to use my power?

Look, people are going to start wondering about me if I start zoning out while staring at a bird.

Well, everyone thinks you're weird already, so does that really matter?

"It's not very nice to ignore people," Mist says, poking me in the cheek again.

"Just getting lost in something Soren said earlier," I say, waving my free hand, trying to stay in both conversations.

Well if you're Yune, then tell me what's going on, then. Why did you bring me here? Why dump in a river?

I just got a little off on the positioning. I bet falling in a river was a surprise, right? Hey, don't be mad about that! Would it help if I said I was sorry?

Maybe.

"…so which do you like better? Yune or Sally?" Mist asks, as I try to tune in to reality once more.

"Uh, Yune," I reply, distractingly.

Aw, thanks! So I need you here to do a task for me, but that will come later on. Until then, I just wanted to let you know to enjoy yourself! Tellius is lots of fun!

I've almost died. Repeatedly! And I've been forced to kill or be killed! And I think I've had more emotional breakdowns in the last few months than most people do in a lifetime!

But you're not bored, right?

"…it is! Okay, stay there, Drake! We're going to go get the princess and show her!" Mist calls, running off with Emma.

I nod, already feeling a headache coming on.

Why's that?

Look, just…calm down, Drake. Don't overreact.

This is why I find you so interesting. I hear a sound in my head like giggling mixed with chimes.

I need to get some answers. Yune, if this place is real, then why was there a game of it back on Earth?

I made that. Wasn't it awesome? I wanted you to know what would happen, but make it interesting, too. I'm so proud of those games. It was my first attempt, too.

Well if the game showed what would happen, how accurate is it? Who are Anna and Jake?

Hmm? It's accurate. Those two are merchants of course. I used Anna to explain the tutorials, instead, and Jake is her partner.

That's right! That's where I had seen Anna before.

Ah! Don't go forgetting my awesome games! I put a lot of effort into those!

Who is Emma, then?

Don't talk to me about her. I hate her.

Well.

Got to go. I've used too much power already, and Micaiah will need me.

Wait! I have a lot of questions still! Why did you pick me? What is it you want me to do? Will I be able to go back?

Hush, little one, the 'voice' suddenly sounding like a much older, mature woman. All will be revealed in time, but it wouldn't be fun to tell you all at once, would it? And the voice is that of a little girl again. I'll leave you with one little piece, though, since I like you.

This isn't the first time you've been to Tellius.

Stay alive until next time! Yune out!

And then the bird flies off into the air, the voice gone, even as Mist and Emma came dragging Elincia over.

I just stare after the bird, stunned, even as Mist worriedly waves her hand in front of my face.

What in the world did she mean by that?

-o-

AN: Finally, the first signs of the main plot showing itself. Like I've said, I do actually have a plot planned out and even how to wrap it all up at the end. And of course, every story needs an almost omnipotent being dropping random hints everywhere instead of just telling you what to do.

Remember to R&R. I'll try and get another one up this week.

Update: Few error fixes, etc.