Yikes... this took forever! I have no idea why. I have been trying to be better about working on writing almost every day, as I'm trying to get into good habits so I can focus on some of my original fiction works.
But this chapter just did not want to be released, haha. (Part of the next chapter is already written because I just skipped ahead,)
But anyway, enjoy, and thanks to anyone still sticking around :)
His steps were deliberately slow and felt extremely heavy. Leo knew he was literally dragging his feet in an attempt to prolong the trip back to the others.
He was dreading the coming conversation.
He didn't mind apologizing; that he was actually hoping to do quickly to get it out of the way to make himself feel better.
But there was no way that his family would leave it at just an apology. There would likely be a lengthy discussion that he was not looking forward too.
Titania must have sensed his unease, because she gently rubbed his shoulder and offered a smile when his attention was on her.
Leo forced a smile in return, hoping it looked a lot more confident then he felt.
He stifled a sigh and picked up his pace.
They didn't have time to dawdle anyway, not when the crippling darkness could return at any moment. He was being foolish and selfish.
Unsurprisingly, Cuore noticed his return first, and her expression lifted upon seeing him.
She looked no worse for wear after the mishap, and that relived him even if the guilt of making her faint in the first place lingered.
Cuore broke away from the others to meet them in a few steps.
"Leo!" she greeted. "Perfect timing. We were just coming to find you two."
He saw her expression shift and she dropped her voice. "Are you alright?"
Leo winced.
It was impossible to hide anything from his older sister. She was far too observant.
He nodded, but it felt hollow. "Yes, and... no. I'm so sorry about what happened Cuore. Are you alright?"
Titania leaned against his arm. "I'm sorry too. I should have noticed the spell was draining and harming you. I feel terrible..."
Cuore waved a hand in dismissal. "No need for that. I agreed to the plan. And, I'm fine."
She quirked and eyebrow at her brother and he dropped his eyes. "Er... yeah, I know,"
His sister gave his shoulder a quick squeeze before retracting her hand as the others approached.
Leo dreaded what came next.
"Kieran," Cuore said abruptly, not looking at him. "We should go... over there."
He frowned. "Subtle."
She tossed him a glare over her shoulder.
"You can be present for this conversation, Cuore," Rydia remarked, crossing her arms.
Edge grinned, "Yeah, your going to need parenting tips anyway,"
Cuore looked dubious.
Despite his worry over the coming words, Leo had to grin slightly.
"Yes," Kieran said. "We should go over there."
Edge made a face and Kieran shrugged. "What? I know when to ditch out of a situation,"
Cuore rolled her eyes and tugged her husband's arm. "Come,"
They moved back to where they were originally loitering near Bahamut's guise of a child. Leo could tell they had started an awkward conversation and wondered who was about to have a more troublesome time.
"Titania," his mother said suddenly.
The redhead froze.
"Would you also go over there for a moment?"
Titania hesitated, and Leo smiled at her, "It's okay."
She bit her lip, but nodded and released his arm. "Okay."
The half Eidolon girl paused a few steps from him, looking back to the summoner. "I'm... sorry, too, High Summoner Rydia."
His mother sighed. "I know, Titania. It's fine. But Leo and I need to have a chat."
Titania bit her lip again and nodded, shuffling away with one last look at Leo.
As soon as they were left alone, Leo sighed.
"Leo," Rydia said, stopping short.
He glanced up. "Yeah, I know."
There was a long, uncomfortable pause.
Leo swallowed, averting his gaze off to one side. "I'm really sorry about what I said. About your mom. That was really uncalled for."
Truthfully, that was the part of it all he felt the guiltiest for. A burst of anger that had gotten way out of hand.
Rydia sighed, "I appreciate that,"
Leo frowned. "But?"
She smiled then. It was a melancholy look, but it proved her temper wasn't as spiked anymore, either.
It was probably better that both of them had waited to have this conversation.
His mother knelt down in front of him and looked up to study him intently. Her fingers brushed against his forehead and pushed some of his wispy hair back.
"What?" Leo asked, feeling uncomfortable.
Rydia's sad expression softened. "Nothing, it's just I could have sworn yesterday you were learning to talk,"
His irritation at the comment prickled his skin, but he forced it down, trying not to turn this conversation into another fight.
His mother made a face, and he suspected his efforts to hide his feelings had failed miserably.
"Sorry," she said, chuckling. "I see that was the wrong thing to say. I suppose that makes sense, considering."
She brushed his hair back again. "Parents get sentimental sometimes."
"When they get old, yes," he joked, a grin pulling at his lips.
Rydia laughed, pinching the bridge of her nose and closing her eyes. "Yes. When we get old."
Leo spared a small laugh before his smile faded and he dropped his eyes again. "I'm sorry I made you worry,"
The green haired summoner took his hands, peering up at him once more. "But you aren't sorry you did it,"
It was a statement, and, the truth.
Leo shook his head.
He didn't feel bad about making the decision to merge magic. It had been risky, but he had mitigated those ricks as much as he could, and the plan had worked.
The only regret he felt was how everyone else had reacted about it.
He felt terrible about Cuore, and he hated that Titania was blaming herself at all.
Most of all he didn't like that it had led to such a difficult set of conversations with his parents. He had always been the one of the family with the least amount of drama.
Maybe that was the problem.
To have it start now may have been why it was so hard and damaging to them.
Rydia sighed, but nodded in acceptance. She was staring at his hands as she held them, and after a moment and another sigh, she started to talk, giving them a squeeze.
"Leo, I'm not angry anymore. And I'm not disappointed or even worried, either. I was angry, and worried. I do appreciate the apology about my mother. That was harsh, but I know you didn't mean it. I'm sure you feel guilty for Cuore. I'm not angry, now I'm just..."
She trailed off and looked back up at him. "You tell me, Leo. What is it we need to talk about?"
He swallowed again. "That you don't think I can do anything. Or, at least, that you don't treat me like I can do anything. It's like..."
"Like I treat you like a child still?"
He nodded.
Rydia's sad smile returned. "That is a fair and ironic point."
Leo made a face at that comment, but she waved it off a moment later. "Leo, you are my child, you always will be. But, you are right. I do worry about you, probably more then I should. It's not because I think you aren't so very brave and smart, you are."
His mother brushed his hair back again. "It's just because its' hard seeing you in any sort of danger, or pain. Parent's never want to see that. We always want to see you happy and safe."
"I am happy and safe, mom." Leo muttered. "I can be both safe and take a chance every once in awhile. I can be happy and also sometimes yell at you and say mean things,"
She smiled, "I suppose you can."
His mother stood, squeezing his hands as she moved and Leo blinked at her, feeling annoyed and disappointed that they even had to have this conversation. He'd always had such an easy time talking to his family. They were all so close, but now everything felt so uncomfortable and stilted.
"Growing up kind of sucks," he mumbled.
Rydia laughed and nodded, "I wholeheartedly agree."
She set her hands on the tops of his shoulders. "Leo, I'm so sorry that I made you feel like I didn't trust you. I'm sorry for snapping at you. I'm sorry for treating you like a child."
"It's okay mom," he said, smiling. "I'm sorry for a lot, too. I guess we just needed to talk."
"I'm sorry too," his father said suddenly, sighing afterwards.
Leo frowned. "Also for treating me like a kid?"
"Yes, but not just that." Edge answered. "I feel the same way as your mother, but it's not just that. I didn't want you to have to deal with the same things we dealt with," he said, gesturing between himself and Rydia. "None of you, not Cuore, not you, not Seren, and... well, that hasn't exactly gone to plan."
He rolled his eyes and huffed. "Zeromus, and the war, and... it's just a lot. And, it doesn't really feel fair either. It's like nothing we already did made any difference, because now I'm stuck watching all of you go through the same thing."
Leo frowned and hesitated, wondering why this sort of conversation was so much harder to have with his parents than anyone else.
Maybe he wanted their approval a little too much.
"I'll give you Zeromus, that one wasn't fair," he remarked, biting his lip after. "But, well... Dad, there's always someone not getting along in the world. There's always crimes, and conflicts, and... that's sort of just life, right?"
He held his palms upward and shrugged. "I mean, I sure feel like there's always something whenever I have to talk to anyone in an official capacity, so..."
"Oh, you are so right on that one," his father muttered rolling his eyes. "I swear internal conflicts rival the world wars."
Leo hesitated again, shuffling his feet. "But that's the job, right?"
"Unfortunately." Edge commented, shrugging. "You would know,"
The comment nagged at him. It perfectly spoke to the other thing that had been bothering him for a while, even before the concerns about the Feymarch.
Deciding he might as well force another difficult conversation in the midst of the one they were already having, he took a deep breath to steady his nerves.
"Do you think I'm doing a good job?" Leo said.
Edge looked confused. "Of course."
Leo frowned, crossing his arms. "Do you think maybe you could say that once in a while?"
He saw his mother hide a grin behind her hand, even as his father made a face.
Leo sighed, annoyed. "What?"
"...That is a fair and ironic point,"
"Why do you two keep saying that?" he complained, more confused than angry.
His father pointed at Rydia, "Because, you have no idea what a tantrum this one threw about child comments,"
"Hey!" she snapped, glaring at him.
He ignored her, "So it's really funny that she's now guilty of the same thing," Edge wrinkled his nose. "And it's also funny what you just said because I most definitely wanted to tell my dad the same thing, but, I never actually did. So, good job on having this conversation, Leo."
Rydia rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath; "Wow, you, bad at communication? Who would have thought..."
He ignored her.
Leo frowned again. "So... basically, I'm your kid, is what you're saying?"
Both his parents shrugged.
"Yes," his mother confirmed.
"Sorry," his father remarked.
Leo sighed and uncrossed his arms, letting them fall limp to his side. "Well, at least I improved on it by actually talking to you two." His lips pulled slowly to a smirk. "I am the bestest king, you know,"
"Ugh, shut up." Edge muttered.
Leo chuckled, but looked down at the ground.
"Are we okay? I don't like feeling like this or having these really tough conversations."
His mother gave his shoulder another squeeze. She smiled. "Yes, we're good, Leo. I don't think anyone likes having these sorts of conversations."
Edge nodded his agreement. "I know I would like to go do something now that I'm good at,"
Rydia rolled her eyes and Leo grinned. "Me too. Besides, we should probably focus on why we're here in the first place. The Feymarch is still in danger, and we're supposed to be helping."
As they murmured agreement, Leo hesitated, fidgeting and bouncing on his heels.
"Um, but, before that," he said glancing back up. "I just... I know I already said it, but I am sorry, and, I love you both."
"Oh," Rydia said, pulling him back in for a hug. "I know, and I'm sorry too. And, of course I love you too, Leo."
As soon as his mother released him, he was instantly pulled into another embrace.
"Same and same, Leo." his father said. "You are right that I don't tell you enough how good of a job you are doing at everything, and that includes that how proud I am of you."
It was nice to hear, but it also made Leo feel self-conscious. As did the hugs.
"Thanks," he mumbled, trying not to squirm. "Um, I love you guys, and this is nice and all but I'm feeling a little stifled now, despite what I just said."
Rydia giggled, ruffling his hair as if rubbing it in as his father released him with a nod.
"Yeah, I agree. Too much touchy-feely talking,"
Leo laughed, tugging on his clothes to straighten them and running his hands through his wispy, sage colored hair to get it out of his face.
He hoped he'd never have to have another fight with his parents, but he supposed it could have been much worse.
"Come on," Leo said with a smile. "We should regroup."
As they finally moved to wander closer to the king and queen of the Feymarch, along with Kieran, Titania, Cuore and Bahamut, he could vaguely hear snippets of conversations.
Cuore was talking while also tapping codes into her armband.
"I think with the new calibrations we should be able to track the shadows back to their origin. I know we are fairly certain they came from The Beneath, but that is still a large area to search."
"Impressive," Bahamut replied. "However, I believe I know exactly where in The Beneath we will find our source."
Cuore paused and flicked her eyes to him. She quirked an eyebrow, "Oh?"
He nodded, hood obscuring most of his face. "Yes, we will discuss this once..." he trailed off as they approached.
"Ah, good. We can discuss it now since everyone has assembled."
Leo winced and offered an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, Lord Bahamut. That was my fault."
"No matter. We are all here now. Or, at least those of us that can gather."
"You said you had some idea of what all of this is?" Rydia prompted.
Bahamut nodded. "Indeed. We Eidolons are formed by spells. Each of us a particular spell made manifest, given life. All different yet similar in the kind of magic that makes us... us. I believe these shadows are one such spell,"
"Impossible!" Asura snapped, interrupting him. "The kind of magic we came from... no one casts those sorts of spells anymore."
She glanced at Cuore. "Well, almost no one."
Leo winced, and saw the ever so slight twitch in Cuore's expression. Kieran must have noticed it too, because he subtly hooked two fingers around one of hers as it hung by her side.
His sister and the Eidolon queen had a tumultuous relationship, and both of them had a tendency to toss veiled insults about the other around in conversation.
"There is no way this spell could have been from the time before Lunarian magic," Leviathan said. "We would have come across these shadows before now if that were the case."
Bahamut nodded. "Yes, I agree. I do not believe it is one of those spells. Those original, primal, feral spells. It is old, older than any of our human friends here, but not that ancient."
Titania blinked. "You... kind of sound like you know what spell it is..."
"I do not know for certain, but I have a hypothesis." he replied. "There was another spell that was used later in the course of history that was in the same vein as our essence. It was not Lunarian in design. That spell is the one created to separate an Eidolon from their summoner and bind them to an object."
Before Leo could process the words enough to have a response, he saw the king and queen flinch, heard his mother and sister gasp and saw Bahamut close his eyes against their reactions.
"You think... the shadows..." Cuore started, only to halt her words and blink rapidly.
"Are you certain?" Leviathan asked. His tone was as stoic and deep as Leo had ever heard it.
Bahamut shook his head. "I cannot be certain without examining them at their source. I believe Phoenix may have had the same thoughts I did, which could be why she ventured forth."
"So, you think the same spells that created the lost Eidolons is not alive as this weird darkness?" Titania asked, voice trembling. "And now it's just... here? But, why?"
He sighed. "Before we were fully formed, we, too, were simply... present. It takes much to become corporal. I suspect that this spell is only just now growing a consciousness. It would explain why the Eidolons it comes into contact with feel diminished, fatigued. It would explain why it comes from the heart of the Feymarch, seeking to be the same as the other Eidolons, yet trapped to fulfil it's purpose of unmaking them."
"Because it doesn't know anything else," Cuore muttered, eyes studying the floor. "It has no mind of it's own, or, not a full one. It's trapped in a... limbo of some sort."
"I believe so, yes." Bahamut confirmed.
Asura crossed her arms. "We have never encountered a raw Eidolon acting this way."
"No, but things have drastically changed since we were raw." Bahamut said. "You know that."
The queen scoffed. "Oh, I do."
Rydia sighed, "Say this is true, and say we find the source of this... aberrant spell. What then? What happens next?"
There was a long, awkward pause.
Leo frowned, looking between everyone present.
He had a feeling that this was a lot more difficult to speak about then the Eidolons were letting on.
"Once we locate it, we, or rather, Bahamut, will need to destroy it." Leviathan said.
Rydia's brow furrowed. "You've... had to do that before?"
Bahamut nodded. "A few times. The raw spells that form Eidolons were not always stable enough to manifest into actual forms. In those rare occasions, I had to intervene."
Titania bit her lip, "And... then the darkness is just gone? What happens to the other Eidolons? The ones trapped within?"
"Nothing." he replied. "Assuming they are still alive now, then they will remain as such. And yes, to answer your question. Once the spell is dissipated, then the shadows will be gone."
The redhead wrung her hands together. "Oh."
Leo placed a hand on her shoulder, "I'm sure the other Eidolons are fine."
She smiled at him, but it was stained and preoccupied. She reached up to grasp his hand on her shoulder, nodding as her gaze drop to the ground.
Leo squeezed her shoulder as his mother's voice drew his attention.
"Alright, then we go to The Beneath and try to locate the source of this spell," she said, sounding determined and looking resolute. "That may be easier said than done, however."
"How big is this 'beneath' anyway?" Edge asked, crossing his arms.
Asura frowned. "Quite expansive. It is a honeycomb of ancient caves and dried waterways. Ruins, tunnels..."
"I am confident that I know where the spell lingers," Bahamut said, echoing his earlier words.
Leo tipped his head to one side. "Really?"
He nodded. "In the heart of the ruins below. You must pass underneath a circle of blacken marble." His eyes rivetted to Cuore. "I believe you know the spot I'm speaking of?"
Cuore stiffened.
"Cuore?" Rydia asked cautiously, turning to look at her daughter.
"Um," the teal haired woman said, fidgeting. "I... may have gone exploring once or twice..."
"In The Beneath?" her mother questioned, eyes widening.
Leo stifled a laugh at his sister's expression as she hesitated.
"Cuore did quite a few things she was instructed not to do when she stayed with us." Asura commented sharply.
Cuore frowned at her.
The Eidolon queen tossed a look at their father. "I do wonder where she had the idea..."
"I am very influential," Edge replied, looking smug.
Rydia rolled her eyes, "It's not just him. I never went as far as The Beneath, but I did almost fall in lava once,"
"And you lecture me about dangerous stuff..." Leo muttered, shaking his head.
Titania giggled.
Cuore took a deep breath. "Regardless, I do know the gateway you speak of. I... never went past it. Something about it always seemed so..."
She struggled for a word and Leo blinked. "Abnormal?" he offered.
"No," his sister said, shaking her head. "More like... it was just a void. As if nothing was beyond that point. Nothing, despite that I could see shapes in front of me."
"So you know where to go?" Titania asked.
Cuore frowned. "I think so, but that was a long time ago. But regardless, we did recalibrate our bracers. Kieran and I should be able to track the source of these shadows."
"That might come in handy," Leo said, beaming at her. "You're so smart,"
Cuore snorted. "Sometimes. But yes, this may come in handy."
"We are smart, thanks." Kieran added, leaning around his wife to see Leo.
The prince chuckled.
"We should begin our journey." Bahamut said, looking around at everyone present. "I say that to all present because I know you will all most likely want to join. However, I really only need Rydia to come with me."
She narrowed her eyes. "Why would you need me to come with? Don't get me wrong, I fully intend to join you, but, you need nothing from anyone, Bahamut."
He took a long moment to answer, which immediately put Leo on high alert.
People only had to think about what they were going to say when they were planning a lie of some sort.
"I have not completed the rite to dispel an unformed Eidolon in ages. I also have never done so while having a Summoner bound to my name. I need you with me should complications arise."
Rydia didn't look convinced, and Leo realized he probably got his caution and suspicious nature from his mother.
"Alright." she muttered.
He looked around the gathering. "I assume the rest of you will want to come despite the danger?"
They all nodded.
"We're all here now and we all came to help, so we have to see this through to the end." Leo informed him.
"Besides, what if the darkness has more tricks up it's... well, it doesn't have sleeves," Titania said, laughing nervously. "But, you know what I mean. We should all be there. Just in case,"
Bahamut sighed. "Alright, then let us go. The sooner we make our way there, the sooner we can put this danger behind us and the Feymarch can return to normal."
He turned to the king and queen. "You will know when it is done."
Asura's face was stoic, and she said nothing. Leviathan sighed, his tone sad. With a solemn nod, he stepped aside so they could pass.
Kieran hung back as everyone shuffled after Bahamut into dimly lit tunnels that spiraled away from the odd town like heart of the Feymarch, but waited until they had gone far enough where he couldn't see the king and queen anymore.
They had remained in the city like aspect of the Feymarch, but they had stood at the threshold of the caves beyond, watching them leave like overprotective parents.
He caught Cuore's hand gently as she passed him, keeping her back for a moment as the others moved on.
She glanced up curiously, but didn't argue.
He brushed a thumb across the back of her hand. "Are you okay?
His wife stared at him a moment. Cuore's eyes always seemed brighter in low lighting.
"Do you mean because of where we are going and what we are about to do, or because of Asura, or because of the baby," she asked to clarify.
Kieran grinned. "D, all of the above?"
She rolled her eyes at him.
With a sigh, she shrugged. "I'm worried about the missing Eidolons. But I feel better knowing exactly what we are walking into. I also feel better we have a plan going into this."
Cuore glanced down the tunnel to the others. "Asura and I haven't seen eye to eye since I was very small. It's nothing new. It doesn't bother me anymore."
She smiled briefly and flicked a look at him. "And, I'm still trying to settle on which emotions to focus on for the baby."
"Alright, tell me when you figure it out?" he asked, chuckling.
She nodded and gave him a pull, obviously concerned with catching up to the others. However, the pace she set kept them a short distance behind the others, and he was more then happy with that for another few moments.
"What about you?" Cuore asked quietly. "Are you okay?"
Kieran hummed. "Same questions?"
"Yes, but also; D, do you feel alright with your non-magicaliness?"
He chuckled, "Well, to answer D, yes. I feel fine. The Displacer seems to work. At least right now."
Leo and Titania both seemed to be having a conversation ahead of them, and he had to admire their overwhelming confidence and positivity.
In fact, they were almost too care free, gesturing around and hopping back and forth as if avoiding certain stones along the floor, giggling afterwards.
He did note that Rydia and Edge were still not talking, and he had to wonder if they would go the entire trip that way.
"As for the other questions," Kieran commented, returning his attention back to his wife. "I'm a little concerned about what we're about to do. I can't help but think that things are never as easy as... oh, cast a spell and the bad thing goes away..."
"That's because you are pessimistic and you have an inherent dislike for magic." Cuore replied, voice tone even and unbothered.
He frowned at her. "Realistic and drawing from past experiences," he countered.
Her lips twitched. "...A valid rebuttal."
He continued to frown while looking around at the tunnels they found themselves in.
For a land made of magic, there was little whimsy in the rocks around them.
"I don't like the comments Asura makes, I won't lie. Seems needlessly hostile." Kieran muttered.
Cuore shrugged. "I say things I shouldn't as well. We... don't have a very good relationship."
"Why?"
Cuore shrugged again. "Phoenix says it's because Asura is afraid of me. Of the magic I have. Of what I can do."
Kieran's brow furrowed. "Because of something like this? Like this darkness?"
"...Perhaps. I've never asked too many questions." Cuore said softly.
Kieran eyed her, finding that comment suspicious. "That's not like you,"
"Maybe I'm scared of the answers I'd receive."
The reply was so honest and raw that even Cuore looked surprised to have said it and averted her gaze. "We can talk about this later."
That was her way of saying she was uncomfortable, so he just reached out to take her hand again. "Okay."
And that was his way of saying he wasn't going to ask her about it later.
There were still dynamics with the Eidolons and her family that he didn't understand. He wasn't sure he ever would, since he couldn't possibly understand the bonds they all had, let alone how interwoven they all were.
But it was noticeable that Asura wasn't as fond of Cuore as she was Rydia or Leo or even Edge, who needled her.
The Eidolon queen wasn't overly warm or friendly, but it was disappointing to see her so openly hostile to Cuore.
Still, he supposed there were just people you never quite got along with.
Eidolon or human.
"What about the last question?" Cuore asked, voice still quiet.
Kieran grinned, "I'm still trying to settle on which emotions to focus on for the baby."
"Alright, tell me when you figure it out?" Cuore mimicked, giggling.
He nodded, sharing a laugh with her.
They were still trailing a few paces behind the others, but the tunnels changed little as they continued to move. They split and curved but they were just rocks and more rocks. Occasionally there was a glimpse of what might be a more crystalline glitter, but overall the passageways were bland and uneventful.
"I kind of thought a land of magic would be..." Kieran struggled for a word. "... cooler?"
Cuore stopped walking abruptly and blinked at him.
"What?" he asked, staring back at her.
She looked around at the walls, the floor, and the ceiling, before fixing him with a hard stare. "You don't find any of this interesting?"
Kieran wrinkled his nose, "If you mean interesting in that I haven't seen that particular shade of grayish-brown before, then yes?"
"You can't see it?" she whispered, more to herself then anything else. Cuore brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and then reached out to run her fingertips along the wall near his shoulder, eyeing him as she felt.
"Do you see that?"
"See what?" he asked. "There's not even dust, Cuore."
She gave a sharp, humorless laugh. "Oh, I'm... sorry. I didn't think that you wouldn't be able to see anything here."
Cuore nodded to the others and moved onward to catch up as she talked. "The Feymarch is... well, it's made of magic. Everything here... it's difficult to explain..."
Kieran frowned, "So, it is magical and cool looking, I just can't see it because I'm too normal?"
"A good hypothesis." Cuore replied, "But I wish to test that theory. Leo!"
Her brother wheeled around to grin at them. "Hey!"
"Does the Feymarch look... I don't know, magical to you?" Cuore demanded.
He perked up. "Oh! How funny. Titania and I were just talking about that."
The redhead nodded, "Yes! Leo says the strands of magic look silver, and I keep telling him, they look gold. Also, he says the powder on the ground looks like sparkles, and I say it looks like glowing embers. What do you think, Cuore?"
She winced and smiled sadly. "I think you proved my supposition."
She waved a hand between the four of them. "I never really thought about what the Feymarch looks like, since it's always just been the Feymarch. However, Kieran has the unfortunate eyesight of a normal human and apparently can't see anything magical here."
Leo grimaced. "Really? That sucks,"
"Yeah, thanks..." Kieran grumbled. "Threads of magic and glowing dust sounds amazing,"
"What do you see?" Titania asked, tipping her head to one side.
"Rocks." he deadpanned.
She winced as Leo had a moment before. "Oh."
"It appears that all of us see the Feymarch rendered differently. To me, the threads look more like veins of energy, pulsing through every rock and stone. That glowing residue you two say looks like powder or dust or embers... to me, it looks like tiny floating flower petals that glow with blue and purple lights whenever any of us move."
Kieran frowned at her. "You know, you are making me feel worse, here,"
She tossed him an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, that was not my intent. It appears that the Feymarch is perceived differently for different people. How curious."
"I wonder what mom and dad see," Leo mused aloud, walking once more. "Probably chaos,"
Titania giggled but poked his shoulder, "Not nice,"
"Plenty nice!" he said, laughing.
Kieran sighed and trailed after them. "Well, if anyone is wondering, I see a bland palette of dull colors, little lighting and stale air."
"Magical," Leo teased, grinning again.
Titania poked him again and then dropped back a step. "I wonder if all the Eidolons see it differently, too. I'll have to ask. As Cuore said, the Feymarch simply is. It always has been for us. I don't think any of us thought to...well, think about it."
Her golden gaze traveled to Bahamut.
"Well, most of us anyway..."
Kieran crossed his arms. "I guess it makes sense that the Feymarch would shift and change depending on who views it. It probably bends a little to the needs of the Eidolons, too. They have mentioned it changing in certain ways over the years."
Titania nodded. "That is true. Some grand events can shape the way this place feels."
"Good or bad?" he asked.
She looked up at him, a sad smile on her face. "Both."
Before any of them could continue their conversation, the winding pathway they'd been on opened to a slightly larger room, with a more cavernous ceiling. Kieran looked up and squinted into the darkness overhead.
No doubt everyone else could see fireworks or something up there.
Titania suddenly shivered next to him and Cuore abruptly stopped as well, mid-sentence with her brother.
Leo blinked. "You okay?"
"Sorry," she muttered.
Titania licked her lips. "I feel it too. It feels... like something is watching us."
Kieran glanced around but didn't see anything, and he didn't feel any more unsettled then he had the entire time they'd been in the Feymarch.
Bahamut called back to them. "I see swirling shadows up ahead. I do believe we are going the right direction."
"Great..." Leo mumbled, fidgeting. "You know, incorporeal stuff is a lot harder to deal with then things you can hit and stab,"
"Agreed," Cuore replied. "I've had my fill of them."
They all wordlessly stepped cautious from then on out.
As they waded into the darkness ahead, the shadowy mist creeped along the ground, slowly but surely obscuring the ground beneath their feet.
Then the fingers of darkness spread across the walls, enclosing them into nothing but black.
Kieran couldn't help but glanced back the way they came, over his shoulder, as the last of the light faded from view.
They walked onward, slowly, and everything was silent.
"I'm not loving this," Edge commented, breaking the gloomy atmosphere.
"I second that," Kieran said, stepping gingerly.
Leo nodded, "Yup, same."
Titania suddenly stumbled and Kieran reached out to catch her arm and help her stay upright. "Whoa,"
"Sorry," she mumbled. "I can't see anything, even my own feet."
"I wonder how much further we have to go," Kieran wondered aloud.
"Be glad you couldn't see how wonderous the Feymarch was before." Titania whispered. "Now it's nothing but darkness and it's terrifying."
He had no idea what to say to her to make her feel better, but he also didn't have time to think about it.
At the front of their traveling group, Bahamut suddenly stumbled as Titania had a moment before. Rydia seemed startled.
"Are you alright?"
Bahamut nodded, pressing his hand to his forehead. It was hard to see him given his smaller humanoid form and his dark clothing amid the shadows.
Titania was hugging herself. "Something doesn't feel right,"
Her whispered words and Bahamut's posture and silence were the last noticeable things before everything became clouded in night.
What was merely a fog of darkness before thickened into a blanket of nothing but black.
It wasn't sudden or sharp; the movement was gradual enough that he saw everyone fade away.
But it was quick enough that there was little to be done.
The entire cavern was nothing but darkness.
Whatever had just happened was so measured that even though Rydia had lost her eyesight, her fear took another heartbeat to cut in.
With a panicked start she looked around only to realize that there was nothing to see. Everything was black as night.
Either she'd gone blind, or the shadows had grown to the point of blocking out everything else.
Rydia flailed an arm out in a random direction and connected with something solid.
"Ow," Edge snapped.
She pulled her hand back and didn't bother apologizing. A moment later she winced back a step as a fiery light burst to life.
Edge was holding a small flame in the palm of his hand.
He gave her a flat look.
She glared back at him.
Now that there was light illuminating the area again, she took the time to look around. But when she saw that there was nothing around them but stone that had been dulled to pale brown and gray.
"Wait, where is everyone else?" Rydia said. "We were all within a foot of each other."
There was no shimmer of magic in the air, no glittering sheen to the rocks and certainly no people or Eidolons around them.
"I don't believe we are in the same place as we were before," Bahamut's voice said from somewhere nearby.
She wheeled around to search for him, and it took her a moment to realize he was doubled over a few feet away, one hand clutching at the tunnel wall and the other resting on his knee.
"Bahamut?" Rydia asked, striding over.
It was startling to see him look so fragile and unassuming.
He gave a small laugh. The sound reminded her less of his human form and more of his dragon form.
"As your adopted daughter and her irregular mate might say, I believe I've come to a conclusion about another hypothesis."
Rydia reached a hand to help him stand upright but he waved her away and stood on his own, tilting his hooded head to look up at her.
"These shadows do draw energy from things around them to strengthen their own form."
Edge frowned and hadn't moved from his spot, "Oh, great. So... you, then?"
Rydia shot him a glare, but Bahamut nodded. "Yes. That is how this darkness was able to spread and intensify."
She crossed her arms. "Alright, then we have lost the element of surprise. Although, I don't know that these shadows can really plan ahead to form a trap or anything. We should still be cautious."
Bahamut sighed. "Yes, and finding the others within this haze is unlikely. I suggest we proceed to The Beneath."
She hesitated.
The Eidolon frowned. "Rydia, everyone here is capable. And, once I have disrupted the source of this unbalanced spell, the darkness will be gone and we can more easily find them again."
She knew he was right, and his tone left no room for questioning.
But she couldn't help the worry that wriggling in the back of her mind.
The others were her children.
They could take care of themselves and had on many occasions previously. But that knowledge didn't help her anxiety any, and it didn't dim the dread she felt crawling over her skin.
Bahamut was staring at her, as if he expected an argument, but she schooled her features into what she hoped was a neutral expression.
He was right.
They had a mission, a plan, and now a possible time limit.
And, once this was all over, then the danger would be passed. Her children wouldn't need any protection or worry.
"This place doesn't look familiar. Any idea where we are and where we need to go?" Edge asked.
Bahamut sighed. "I can guide us there, but my pace may be slowed. I am... finding it difficult to maintain my concentration and connection to the Feymarch now."
"Can I help?" Rydia said. She was his summoner after all.
Bahamut frowned up at her. "Not in your current emotional state."
"What is that supposed to mean?" she snapped.
He gestured to her husband. "The two of you. But what else is new? Come, we should go."
She gaped at him as he brushed past her, and Edge chuckled from a few steps away.
Rydia glared at him again and he rolled his eyes at her, following after the dragon boy.
"Oh, stop with the glaring already."
She shoved him in his back and was pleasantly surprised when he actually tripped forward a few steps.
"Hey!"
"Stop being a jerk,"
He turned around to pinned her with a look. "Me? You're the one who's been giving me the silent treatment this whole time. I'm not sure why, but if I ask, you won't tell me, so what's the point?"
Bahamut heaved a sigh ahead of them. "I could have been separated with any of the others..."
Rydia batted the hand holding their only light source out of her face. "Well if I talk about it with you, then you just act like I'm insane or dumb, or-"
"You realize I have no idea what you are talking about, right?" Edge snapped back. "I don't know what we need to talk about, because I don't know what pissed you off in the first place."
Rydia scowled at him and crossed her arms. "Really? You have no idea?"
"No, duh!" he said, flinging his free hand outward.
She paused.
He seemed genuinely confused, and the thought crossed her mind that maybe he didn't have any idea why they weren't getting along.
But he had to know why she was upset in the first place.
Right?
At her continued silence, Edge pinched the bridge of his nose. "Oh, I see by the look on your face that it hadn't crossed your mind that I was in the dark on what our fight was about,"
Rydia felt a burst of indignation. "Well, normally you do! How would I know this time you didn't know why I was upset!"
"I don't know, use your words?!" he bit back.
She snorted. "Oh, that's rich coming from you,"
"Yes, because you are so good at communicating yourself,"
Feeling irritated and another burst of outrage, she smacked his shoulder. "Ugh, I hate you sometimes."
"Great! I hate you most of the time, so we're even!"
Rydia glared at him again and crossed her arms, angry and a little hurt by that comment.
There was a long, silent pause.
She finally relented, speaking up quietly but with her eyes averted to the side. "I was mad you forced your way into this whole thing."
"I got that part," Edge said. "I just couldn't figure out why you were mad about it and why you were surprised."
"I was mad," Rydia began, trying to keep her temper in check. "because you always have to be a part of everything."
She risked a glance at him and was surprised to see the confusion across his features. She elaborated.
"Even when it's something that has nothing to do with you, you get involved. You've always been like that. It's annoying."
Edge blinked. "Your mad... because I wanted to help save the Feymarch?"
"The Feymarch. Mist. Cuore." she said. "It's not about you, but you just have to be involved and you won't let me just do anything by myself."
"Right," he said, drawing the word out an obnoxiously long time. "because I love you, so I want to help you with things."
His tone was patronizing, like he was speaking to a child, and it took all her will power not to slap him. Instead, she groaned and buried her face in her hands. "Ugh, I'm not explaining it very well, just forgot it."
"No, let me take a stab at it. You don't like me helping with things because you like to have complete control over everything because you didn't have that early in your life. So now when somebody insists on helping you with something, it bothers you because you feel like you don't have control anymore."
Rydia dropped her hands to glare at him.
"Close?" Edge needled.
"Well you only insist on helping with everything because you want someone to tell you what a great job you are doing because you didn't hear that enough early in your life!"
"True!" he said cheerfully.
Rydia groaned again, her anger spiking.
"Sorry I wanted to help you save the Feymarch, Rydia." he mocked. "I know I'm just such a jerk wanting to make sure the Eidolons are okay and make sure I'm there for you."
"Oh, shut up," she grumbled.
"You still mad?"
Rydia sighed and ran a hand through her hair, wincing as her fingers got caught in a tangle. "I don't know. I think I'm too tired to be mad. You are and always have been insufferable, arrogant and impossible to deal with."
"And you've always been spiteful, sensitive and impossible to have a conversation with." Edge retorted.
They stared at each other for a moment and finally she remembered Bahamut. With a twitch she glanced over at him and found him just idling nearby.
"Are you two done?" he asked in a bland tone of voice.
Rydia winced, nodding.
It was impossible to see any expression on his face past his hood, but she still felt chastised.
"Then let us be on our way," he suggested, sweeping an arm to the open corridor he was standing near.
Again, his voice tone gave nothing away about how childish or ridiculous he thought the two of them were.
But Rydia felt embarrassed all the same.
They began to follow him, and she fidgeted with how close Edge was walking to her. She was still kind of angry with him, after all.
"I don't hate you most of the time," he whispered, leaning over.
"I still hate you sometimes, so..."
He laughed and her own lips twitched to a smile despite her better judgement.
"Temporary truce until we save the Feymarch?"
She shrugged. "Might as well be a permanent truce. Eblan's divorce laws are terrible."
Edge nodded, "That is true. I think that's why people just end up dead."
"I think everyone would know it was me, though, if that happened..." Rydia muttered.
"Tasteless, traceless, as Izayoi would say."
She shook her head, "Your cousin isn't murdering you, either. She'd have to be in charge then until Leo is old enough to take over and she would hate that."
"That is true," Edge agreed. He tapped her on the shoulder, "Hey, the kids will be fine, you know."
That was her other concern, despite their argument and the danger lurking in the shadows. He must have been concerned too, if he thought to bring it up.
Rydia nodded. "I know, but I still worry."
"So do I," he admitted. "But, Cuore and Leo are our children. They've handled worse. And Kieran won't let anything happen to either of them. Titania is part Eidolon, so she's probably good too. We can worry, but they'll be fine."
She nodded again.
They walked a few steps in silence. He was still invading her personal space, and she was trying not to fidget because of it.
Finally she'd had enough and looked up to tell him to move. But when she looked up, she caught him staring at her with a difficult to decipher grin on his face.
When their gazes met, he didn't look away.
"What?" she asked, leaning away from him.
"Nothing!" he insisted.
Annoyed and agitated, Rydia pulled on his arm so he was in front of her. "Walk in front of me so I can see with that light,"
Edge chuckled and she glared at his back.
Even though she still kind of hated him, even though she was still angry, even though part of her wanted to keep arguing to prove her point to him and even after all these years...
He was still the most infuriating person she had ever met, and he could still fluster her with just a look.
"Insufferable, arrogant and impossible to deal with."
Rydia rolled her eyes and stifled another sigh.
Author's Note: These characters...THESE characters, lol. They just can't go a single moment without a fight or sarcasm...
I do have a lot of fun with everyone, which is the main reason I still write stuff with them.
I've also always thought that the Feymarch was so boring for a realm where magical summoned monsters live. But, then I had come up with the idea that it just LOOKS that way to "normal" people, and that in fact, the whole area was crazy magical but most people couldn't see it. I'm going with that explanation here, and also adding in that each person/Eidolon preceives it differently, (which was touched on back in Lost and Found, when Rubicante explains the Feymarch to Cuore) I also think that Summoners in particular have a more "real" look at the Feymarch, given their connection to the Eidolons.
At least, that's what I'm going with for this.
As mentioned at the top, I have part of the next chapter written already, so hopefully an update won't be as difficult as this one.
Thanks again to anyone still reading!
