Chapter 66
Do you know why no one knows the true meaning of love? Because you can only feel it, but it's hard to understand it.
Myself
There would be some real-life mention in this chapter, hopefully that would add your fun.
Several minutes after Fiorentin and Felicia spotted the lovers…
"How is she? She's going to be OK, right?" Elraven asks Felicia who is healing Frea at the moment. After the lord knight and the paladin learned that Frea is injured, Felicia took the initiative to cats the heal spell on her. The other is observing her quietly.
"She is fine" Felicia finishes healing, "Let her take a rest for half an hour and she's as good as new by midnight". Elraven cannot help by feeling grateful when he heard that, "Phew, thank you, Felicia. I'm indebted to you".
"Then start paying the debt by telling us what has happened here" Fiorentin mentions the now destroyed city. Elraven looks at Frea who blinks at him, showing the sign they made for a little 'agreement' before this. Before Felicia healed the soul linker, Elraven promised her that he wouldn't tell anyone about her being a goddess and Ifrit wanting to take her life. Maybe because the issue is too big to handle at the current situation they're in, and Elraven agreed with her.
"Elraven, I was asking you!" The lord knight speaks with a louder tone, "What happened in this town? Why is it destroyed?! The Wizard Association is now ruins. The Geffen Museum of History is now really a history. In the market, instead of fruits and foods you can now see bullets, holes, and stones scattered everywhere, making the market looks more like gun shop than a market. The residential area looks like it was just hit by an earthquake. And the last but definitely not the least, the downtown is full with small craters. Geffen is now officially pimped!! What were you doing here all the time, Elraven? Fighting one of The Quarter Kings or participating in Pimp My Town?".
Elraven couldn't help but feeling nervous when her golden eyes stare at him directly, it feels like being stabbed in the heart. "Uh…um, I…uh…I can explain this mess" Elraven slowly speaks much to the former princess thinking, "Aw, he's so cute when he's trying to play innocent. I know he didn't mean to destroy this town, but I think I'll tease him a little".
"Now you see, this is not my…fault at all. This is the high wizard named Kathryne's fault. She and her soldiers summoned the Meteor Strike more than a dozen times and uh…this is the result. I only destroyed some buildings but that's all. I didn't…uh…destroy this town" Elraven starts his story, but Fiorentin thinks otherwise, "Well, I assume you have killed them, correct? I don't see their dead bodies as the proof of your story".
"They're there!!" Elraven points out the residential area but nothing could be spotted other than some papers flies because the wind gusting. "No, I mean there!!" Elraven now points in the wizard association but only its flag could be spotted. "Crud!!" Elraven mutters. In lost words, the gunslinger suddenly remembers he turned all of them into lights, so there's no way their body would remain.
Seeing Elraven, Felicia cannot help but join the teasing, "Where's next? You're going to point at Payon?". But Elraven, with a complete confidence for his reasoning, points to the sky and shouts, "They're there!!!!".
The paladin and the lord knight look at the sky only to see the moon shining, decorating the sky with its light. But no dead bodies floating over there, which make them, looking at each other before staring at Elraven again. "Elraven, we didn't see dead bodies floating at the sky like you pointed" Felicia continues the teasing while Fiorentin tries her best not to laugh.
"That's not what I mean; if their dead bodies were floating in the sky this place would be called Niffleheim, not Geffen!!!" Elraven reiterates, "I just remembered now!! Their bodies aren't here, that's…that's because uh…I turned them into lights. Using my new spell, the one I showed at Payon!!! Remember? And the light fades into the sky!!! That's why I pointed out to the sky!!!" Elraven tries his hard to prove his innocence but finds himself surprised when the lord knight and the paladin start laughing because they cannot hold their laughter's anymore.
"Hehehehehehehe!!! That was funny!!! Did you see his face, Fio?" Felicia asks the lord knight while pointing to Elraven's stupid face.
"Hehehe, I saw that. That was priceless" An honest answer from the former princess.
"Why are you guys laughing? Did I say something funny?" The insensitive man asking, still not understands the current situation, making his face looks even stupider.
"Hehe, your reaction is funny" Felicia replies, still chuckling.
"Sorry, we knew you didn't mean to destroy this town. I just wanted to tease you a little that are all" The lord knight straightens their doing much to the gratefulness of the purple glassed gunslinger, "Oh, thanks god. But how mean of you to make fun of me that way!! I'm hurt".
"Because you look so cute when you play innocent" Fiorentin quickly answers with a cheerful face, silences the other two young adults and makes them wonder inside their own minds.
Felicia: Elraven?!!! Cute?!!! Did she mean poring cute or bloody murderer cute?!!! This gotta be a joke…(She looks at Fio, demanding an explanation)
Fiorentin: (notices Felicia) What?!! I only told him what I think!!! Is it wrong to praise a comrade?!!!
Elraven: Tease? Cute? Am I cute? Come to think of it, cute is a word more suitable for women, right? If that the case, then…
"Alexandria" Much to the attention of the other two, Elraven insensitively replies, "I think you are cuter than me". Fiorentin and Felicia look at each other before the lord knight questions the gunslinger, "You serious? I'm cute?".
Elraven quickly nods, "Yeah, you're so cute!! For a second, I even think I would need to call heaven, there's an angel missing".
His insensitivity replies blushes Fiorentin into the reddest face she had ever put. Felicia slowly caresses the back of her head, expecting another problem to come.
Fiorentin: Cute?!! He just called me cute?!! He called me an angel?!! I cannot believe this, does that mean…? Does that mean him…?
Felicia: Can't he think before he said anything?!! I think his insensitivity will bring us more trouble than Valdomir's attacks!!!!
Elraven: Why is her face so red? And why does Felicia look angry? Did I say the wrong thing again? Oh, it's gotta be the heaven thing. Come to think of it, I don't know heaven's phone number. Maybe I should ask Frea later on, she must know.
The three look at each other afterwards, not knowing what to do until the lord knight regains herself and pitches an idea.
"So" The lord knight tries to break the silence, "Let's not forget our main objective is to find The Prophecy of Eisenheim and return to the carriages before midnight. Tomorrow morning our soldiers will arrive at Glast Heim so we cannot afford being late or losing more time than we already had fighting Elysion Guild. Frea, you can take a rest here. Felicia will be guarding you. I will take Elraven with me to the Geffen Tower. The reason being…the town is pretty much destroyed and I cannot think of any other place to hide such essential thing than the most dangerous place possible".
The other three nods without saying any other words, thinking no one would come up with a better idea than the lord knight right now. Fiorention then tells Felicia and Frea to returns earlier if Valdomir attack the town in a large number while she and Elraven were away finding the Prophecy of Eisenheim. Otherwise, if the situation is normal, she asks them to wait till they return. And with that, they split.
****
At the same time, in Umbala Jungle…
Umbala is a unique tropical jungle, one of the very few places in Rune Midgard where its people could live calmly without worrying to be affected by war. Perhaps the reason being the protector of its land is very influential.
Deep inside its tropical jungle, two silhouettes could be seen having a conversation. The first is a slim tall figure and the other is a large figure leaning himself on a tree while sitting quietly, a pipe could be seen being hold on his right hand.
"Freyja has revealed the truth to The Guardian, but I assume you must have known about this" The slim figure speaks with a deep tone, "With him and the princess searching The Prophecy of Eisenheim, I think this is the right time to test their 'qualities'".
"His 'quality', you mean. 'He' is your jurisdiction; you must leave the princess alone. She will be tested by someone else, and you know that" The large figure replies as the slim figure looks down to the grasses, regretting her intention.
The large figure continues, "How you are going to see his quality is up to you. I shall not interfere in any way possible, just don't do anything reckless"
"I shall not" The slim figure replies, "But if I wish to know the best of his 'quality', I will need to be harsh. Although he is a changeling, deep inside, he's still a human".
The large figure sighs, putting his pipe to his mouth to smoke some more. "My existence" He said slowly, "Is to watch. I'm the watcher ever since Ragnarok happened, and I will always be, even now. While yours, you were one of the fighters. Were, I tell you. Now, you're only the tester. I know you are still upset of the Eirnheinjar during Ragnarok, but let's put that emotion aside and do what you should do, calmly and quietly".
The slim figure looks down again before closing her eyes, "I understood. I will not do anything to harm him, at least not physically, but I will need to question him, no matter how harsh it is". The large figure only replies by slowly shakes his head.
Chinning up, she continues, "And besides, Freyja still needs to pay for her sin". With that, the slim figure slowly fades into thin air, leaving the large figure alone. The large figure gazes to the moon, slowly muttering, "Either Alexandria or Beelzephir win this war, this world will still rejoice a new era. The world of gods or the world of humans, which one will eventually prevails?".
****
Back to Geffen…
Elraven and Fiorentin quietly enter the Geffen Tower, heading upstairs as soon as they're in. The second floor is a corridor with so many paintings on its wall. "Wow, there are so many paintings here" Elraven captivated by the beauty of the paintings, "I don't know so much about panting, what the name of that painting, Alexandria". Elraven points out to a painting which a woman smiles using a black dress. "Oh, it's Monalusa" Fiorentin quickly answers, "Painted by Leonardo Da Vince".
"Oh, really? And that? What is that painting?" Elraven points out to a painting of a flower on its vase. Observing it for a while, the former princess answers, "It's Pun Flower, the painting from Vincent Van Bogh".
"Wow, there's still a lot of paintings along the way. You will have to tell me about all of them!!" Elraven states with enthusiasm. Along the way, he continuously questions every painting he met while Fiorentin patiently answers each of his questions. The gunslinger is amazed by the former princess' knowledge about paintings, and loudly voices his praise, "Wow, you know a lot about paintings!! I had never know that much, although there's not many paintings in Einbroch. But, it's still great. Asking you was like asking a museum curator, you knew the names and the artists of each painting".
"Thank you" The lord knight politely responds, "Actually, unlike my mom who likes poetry, I'm into paintings, just like my father. He was a good artist, and I want to be like him. Back then in Gonryun, whenever I had a free time, I always used it to make some paintings, you know, to sharpen my skills".
Elraven goggles his eyes on her, "Really? If I visit Gonryun sometimes, let me see your paintings. I'm sure they are great". His statement blushes the golden eyed girl, "Sorry, but I don't think so".
"What? Why not?!!".
"I'm not really a good artist. I still need to learn more. So, truthfully, it embarrasses me to let other people see my paintings" Fiorentin tilts her fingers while answering. Elraven looks at her and quickly remembers something, "Alexandria, you know what? When I first start making poems, I was too afraid seeing it to other people. But then I realize, without other people telling me whether my poems were good or not, I wouldn't be able to be a better poem artist. So, I started showing it to other people. And now, I'm five time national poetry contests winner in Einbroch".
The light pink haired girl rolls her eyes as the two continue walking. "Hm, you're right" She slowly admits, "I think I will let you see my paintings, but you have to promise me one thing. If you let other people see or you criticize them too much, I will squish you".
"Squish?!!" Elraven shouted, but soon he calms down, nodding as the sign of agreement (although his mouth still muttering something unclear). Fiorentin smiles seeing he (forcefully) agreed, but Elraven suddenly remembers something again and with a devil smile, he says, "Oh, yeah. Come to think of it, you promised me a poem in return for the poem I made for you last night. I demand your promise, Alexandria. Now!".
The lord knight suddenly stops her steps and puts a weak smile, "Oh…oh, yeah. I remember that promise, alright. A poem? Um, it's not that I don't want to recite a poem, but….". Fiorentin takes a glance on Elraven, and spots his devil smile grow wider and wider, his lips seems like it touches his ears, scaring her. "Elraven, why are you smiling like that? You're making me afraid…" The lord knight slowly steps backwards seeing the devil gunslinger.
"I demand my poem" Elraven replies, still with his devil smile. Finding some way to avoid reciting a poem, the former princess quickly activates her brain to think, "Think, think, and think!!! Find a reason now!!! Hm…got it!!!".
"Um, Elraven" Fiorentin starts arguing, "We're in the middle of an important mission right now. So, can you wait till the mission's over? Midnight!!! I'll fulfill my promise at midnight, how's that?!!". Elraven stops and thinks for awhile, "OK. It's a deal. Let's finish this mission. This midnight, I'll come for the poem".
"Phew" The lord knight sighs, "It's a deal then".
The two continues the searching and finally reaches the highest floor in Geffen Tower. The place is an indoor garden full with webs, dusts, and grasses.
"What is this place? Are you sure this is the top floor of Geffen Tower, not some thousand years old haunted house?!!" Elraven comments the awful garden once he sees it, "There are so much webs and piles of dusts. And what stinks? It's so damn hard to even breathe. Eiseheim would have died of Tuberculosis before he had the chance to hide his prophecy here!!!".
Fiorentin chuckles listening to him, but she decides to try nonetheless, "Come on, Elraven. Let's give it a try, we have come this far".
Elraven grunts as the two starts searching the prophecy, between the grass, the piles of dusts, and the webs….
After half an hour searching in the top stories of the tower, Elraven and Fiorentin found nothing but dusts and spiders' web as the result of their effort. The situation forces them to return to the lower ground…
"Man, I'm beat" Elraven sits on the floor and look at the clock on his talkie, "It's already 7.30 and we haven't found anything, no wonder even Dracula and Kathryne couldn't find The Prophecy of Eisenheim after three years, the amount of dusts and webs are much more than their powers combined".
Fiorentin chuckles hearing Elraven's joke, "Hehe, that's funny. I wonder if that the real reason, though". Thinking for a minute, Fiorentin asks, "Hey, we have not tried searching in the basement, right? Maybe we would find something down there". The two goes in the basement only to found a small warehouse filled with another piles of dusts and webs. "I bet Dracula and Kathryne surrendered right after opening the basement's door. I even start to question whether Titanic sank here not in the sea" Elraven makes another joke, much to Fiorentin's chuckles…again.
"OK, OK. Let's give this 'place' a try" The lord knight tells the gunslinger to start searching, but when they are about to start, Elraven spots a light glimmering in one of the corner of the warehouse.
Suddenly, some floors on the mentioned corner opened like a manhole and revealed a stairway to a deeper underground level. Thw two approaches the opened corner and look at each other. "Wow, an underground passage. Why did this floor opened? Did you do something, Elraven?" The former princess asks the gunslinger, who answered with shaking his head.
"Should we give this hole a try?" Elraven asks the former princess, knowing that she doesn't like dark places. The girl observes the hole before answering, "I think…we should. Its pitch black inside, but…priority over phobia. Let's go". As the two enters, the floor closed again, making the stairway even darker than it already was before. The two doing nothing but standing in their points.
"Who turned off the lights?" Elraven stupidly asks the scared lord knight, who doesn't answer his question. Taking an initiative to do something, the purple glassed gunslinger searches his bag to find a flashlight, "Thanks god, I brought something useful".
Turning the flashlight on, Elraven tells Fiorentin to follow him from behind, "I will take the lead, Alexandria. Just follow right behind me". The lord knight puts both her hand in Elraven shoulders, much to the surprise of the gunslinger, making him throw out a question, "Uh, is something wrong, Alexandria? You want to take the lead?".
"No!!" She shouts with fear on her tone, "I will follow you like this. Just...get going!!".
"Well, you're the boss" And with that, the two slowly walks downstairs with a flashlight as their only source of light.
Along the way, the lord knight keeps her hands on the gunslinger. Of course, being sensitive, she feels her blood coming to her face and blushes. But being insensitive, the gunslinger doesn't feel anything. Instead, he starts humming. Seeing no reaction at all from the gunslinger, Fiorentin slowly asks herself, "Insensitive!!! A girl is clinging on his back but he doesn't even care!!! At least he should have a talk with me along the way!!! Did the poem he recite last night was only to make me happy and then he forgets about it?!!".
"Alexandria" Elraven suddenly stop walking.
"Uh, yes" The lord knight simply answers.
"Do you feel like something is watching us? Ever since we entered this stairway I think something is observing us from our backs. I think I should go check it, you stay here, alright??".
His question plus the darkness makes Fiorentin hugs him forcefully from behind, much to the surprise of the gunslinger, "Hey, hey!! Don't grab me like that, you're hurting me!!".
Fiorentin usually maintain her coolness wherever she goes, but this one time, she gets beaten, "But you said something is watching us and you're going to see it!!! I'm sca…!!". Suddenly she remembers if she says she's scared, she would lose her coolness forever, so she chooses to say another thing, "I'm…I…I don't want you to go!!! That's an order; I don't want you to go!!! Just let that thing, whatever it might be, to observe us!!! I don't care, just…don't leave me alone!!!!".
Knowing her, Elraven knows there's no need to argue and agrees, "Alright, alright. I will not go; I'm not going to leave you alone. Besides, I don't think that 'thing' is still observing us, its presence gone". After Elraven ensured her, Fiorentin slowly let go of the hug and slowly regains her attitude.
"Oh, my god!!! I was hugging him!!! But again..." Fiorentin looks at Elraven who repositions his purple glasses, doesn't really seem to care about her, "He doesn't feel anything…".
But as she soon as the feeling of upset getting into her, Elraven grabs her right hand using his left and holds it firmly. "Here, I will hold your hand like this. So, we won't get separated, alright?" The purple glassed gunslinger smiles. He was holding his flash light using his right hand and directed it to another direction, so he didn't get to see her face become the reddest face she ever puts when she slowly nods. She couldn't say anything; she's in lost words as Elraven slowly drags her.
When they continue walking downstairs, Fiorentin's mind is filled with happiness, "This is like a dream come true. His hand is…big, just like other men's, but oh, heaven…how soft it is. Maybe people wouldn't believe he is a gunslinger with a hand this soft, after wielding heavy artilleries like HAVOX and such. Way too different from me. I'm glad I'm wearing my gloves. Without gloves my hands are rough and full of scars, unworthy of being a woman's hand. If he knows it, would he still hold my hand like this? Firmly, gently…I don't think he will…".
"Holding your hand and helping you through it all"
A line from the poem he recited last night suddenly echoing on her ears, as if someone tries to make her remember, that line of oath, that line of promise. No matter how rough her hands are, no matter how many scars she had, he will still hold her hand like this, firmly and gently. And with that on her mind, inside this darkness where no one could see what she's doing, she puts a smile on her face.
****
Meanwhile, inside the town…
Frea and Felicia could be seen sitting side by side. After healing Frea, Felicia decides to take a rest for awhile. Although she seems to sit quietly, Felicia is actually thinking something, "Should I ask Frea on how she feels about Fio? Well…here goes nothing".
"Uh, Frea" Felicia calls the soul linker who quickly turns her attention to the paladin, "Would you mind listening to a story?".
"Story? Sure, go ahead".
"Well, it's actually about my parents" Felicia starts, "You see, a lot of people always wonder how my mother and my father could fell in love in the first place. My mother being so serious and my father being so goofy…well, you know, around twenty three years ago, when my mother was still working in the library and my father was still a soldier in Prontera Kingdom, they were known for their…uh, differences. While being a talented paladin, my father likes to throw pranks on his comrades, but he never stopped and never afraid of being expelled mainly because he was King Tristan's (who was still a prince by that time) best friend, so he wasn't really afraid doing too much pranks. But my mother, being the head librarian in Prontera's Library, she was so strict and straight…well she still is".
"Where is this story going?" Frea asks herself as Felicia continues, "Someday, my father went to the library to borrow a book, a children story book called "Daddy Long Legs". My mother actually really liked the book and wanted to read it, but because she is known for her seriousness among her coworkers, she chose not to read the book at all despite her own wish. When my father borrowed the book, she purposely asked my father to summarize the story so she could review it. Although she asked my father in a cold voice, my father somehow feels something inside her. Three days later, my father returned the book with the summary…being the whole story inside the book. My father actually rewrites the whole book as the summary so my mother could read it. At first, my mother couldn't believe how he could do that. But my father genuinely explains that he could feel her wanting to read the book but too shy to admit it. Although my father likes goofing around, he's actually very sensitive. And that's how their relationship began. A year after that, they got married. And the following year, I was born to this world".
"Hm, that's a good romance story. So…what's your point, Felicia?" Frea knows Felicia wants to ask another thing. "Well" Felicia answers, "My parents' story pretty much tell us how a love could be born in such a…weird way and involving an odd couple. You see, what I actually want to ask is…"..
"You want to know my opinion on Princess Fiorentin falling in love with Elraven, Felicia?".
The sudden statement, stated by a smile from Frea, shocked the paladin to the limit that she could not even say anything anymore, not believing Frea already knew about this 'unrequited' love.
"There's no need to look so surprised" Frea explains, "I can tell that much. Her heart beats only grow faster and faster whenever Elraven is around. And the way she acts, the way she talks to Elraven, only an insensitive man like Elraven wouldn't know about her feelings".
"So" Felicia sighs, "Do you hate Fiorentin after knowing this?".
"No, why would I? I mean, she leads thousand of soldiers against Valdomir, it's only normal fopr her wanting to feel some love for and from a man. She can love him all she wants, but you need to remember one thing" Frea answers, "Elraven is an honest person. Being insensitive, he wouldn't aware of what other feel about him. He just do what he thinks is right. I don't know in what way the princess takes his kindness, but he only does it for being her friend. And that's that. That's why I let her took El with her, I knew Elraven wouldn't be affected by her doings at all".
Felicia rolls her eyes for a moment, cannot argue with what Frea just said, "Well, that might be true. But, you know…a bond could be created by interacting each other continuously. You can let them be for now, but what if….Elraven starts feeling something for her? What are you going to do?".
Frea suddenly falters, thinking of what her answer would be for Felicia's question. But she remembers Elraven has sworn to protect her live, "That wouldn't be a problem, Felicia. He wouldn't fall for another woman".
"You sounded so sure" The dark skinned paladin questions again.
The soul linker couldn't help but smirk, "He doesn't have a heart to dump me even for a princess. And not to mention Princess Fiorentin has already an appointment about a wedding, right?".
It is so clear Frea was mentioning Sir Alphard. Felicia slowly rolls her eyes, not wanting to ask anything anymore. "Besides" Frea voices her statement again, "If Elraven were to choose between me and her, I'm sure she would pick me over the princess. She is a kid, I am not. I could give him something she couldn't and I knew things she doesn't. Our bond is deeper than you thought, Felicia".
"Well, if so…" Felicia weakly smiles before asking, "Why did Elraven fall for you in the first place? I mean, you're beautiful alright. But, he must have had another reason, right? There's no guarantee he wouldn't feel the same for Fio".
"One thing about love you should know, sister" Frea answers with confident, "Love has its own way to reach you, a unique way, an unthinkable way, and so many others. There's no explanation on how someone could fall in love. It just happens. Why did he fall for me? You should ask him not me. And yes, there's no guarantee he wouldn't feel the same for the princess. But I believe in him, so I believe he also believes in me".
Felicia gazes upon the sky, taking a deep breath before finalizes, "Well, if you say so…I guess only time will tell. Thank you for not hating Fio".
Although Frea responds by slowly nods, no one says anything anymore after that. As the night goes darker, the moon shines brighter.
****
Several minutes later, back inside the stairway…
Elraven and Fiorentin finally arrive at the end of the stairway. The ground is now flat, and the moment Elraven lights his surrounding, he could see an entrance to a cave. "Wow, this is an underground cave. Hopefully we're already close to the prophecy" Elraven voices his wish, but the lord knight doesn't really seem to care. Him holding her hand is everything she needs right now.
Elraven lights the inside of the cave to reveal some passageway, but the corner of the passageway couldn't be reached by the light. Before he could go deeper, the flash light runs out of battery. "Huh, the lights out?!" Elraven shakes the flashlights several times but it didn't turn back on. Without him realizing, Fiorentin takes this chance to circle both her arms to his left arm, gaining on him. "Who cares about light?" Fio says to herself with a smile, "Together with you like this is all I need".
"Uh, we need another source of light. Maybe I can use my power" The purple glassed gunslinger notices as he forms a butterfly made of light using his right hand. "Let's use this as our new flashlight, shall we?".
"Elraven" The lord knight quickly lets out a soft voice, "There's no need to rush yourself like that. Say, I'm a bit…tired. Why don't we sit down there for a moment? We'll carry on the mission afterwards".
Elraven doesn't want to waste any other time, but he couldn't find it on his heart to refuse also, "OK. If you wish for it, then it's alright". After that, the two sits quietly, side by side, with the former princess still circling her arms to the gunslinger.
Looking at her, Elraven could spot she is closing her eyes and smiling, making the gunslinger wonders, "Why do I have the feeling that she wouldn't let go of my hand? I knew she dislikes darkness, but something inside me tells me this is too much. Not that I mind or anything, but…". The light butterfly floats closer to the two, making Elraven able to see her face clearly. For the first time since he knows her, Elraven feels captivated by her facial figure. "Wow, she's beautiful…" The gunslinger admits to himself, right at the moment when Fiorentin poems her eyes and looks at him staring at her.
"Is something wrong with my face, Angel of Darkness?" The lord knight questions him in a teasing tone, and after gaining some confidence, she states, "If you like me, all you have to do is admit it".
But much to her surprise, Elraven quickly replies, "You're beautiful. I like you, Alexandria". The butterfly flies in circle, lighting both comrades as the two staring at each other. "Excuse me" The lord knight speaks in a hopeful tone when she rises, "Did you just say…you like me?".
"Yes, I did. I like you, Alexandria" The black haired man insensitively responds, making the lord knight lost in words, "He likes me, he likes me!!! He likes me!!!!! That means…".
But her hope soon shatters as Elraven insensitively continues, "I like the whole Sagramore. What's not to like?! You are dependable, strong, and captivating, Felicia is pretty and mature, Olivia is cute and funny, and George is cool and friendly. The generals and Miss Talia are just as good. And although Sir Alphard misunderstood my doings with you, deep inside I knew he didn't mean bad. We're just friends anyway, so what to worry? He's good looking and charming. He and you would make a very good couple to lead Rune Midgard back to its glory. That's why, I like all of you".
The sound of a mirror shatters pieces by pieces showing what Fiorentin is feeling on her heart at the moment. She couldn't believe what Elraven meant by like is different from her representation, "…So, he didn't like me at all?!! All his doings with me was just because he…considers me as his friend? And all I did this night…he didn't even bother taking it as a sign or sort?!! Nothing more than that?!!".
"And I believe" Without noticing Fiorentin is slowly clenching her fists at the time something inside her snaps, Elraven still insensitively continue his blabbing, "Having an alliance with Einbroch wouldn't be a hard thing to do. With me on both sides, an alliance is a shoe in. That's a good thing, right?".
"Elraven, shut your mouth" Fiorentin angrily states much to Elraven surprise. Not knowing what he did, the gunslinger stands and dare himself to slowly asks, "Uh, is something wrong, Alexandria? Did I offend you?".
"Yes, you did. In many, many ways" The lord knight fiercely stares at him. The moment she stares was the moment the butterfly flies across her face, so her angry golden eyes could be seen clearly by the insensitive man.
"Huh?!! What did I say to offend her?!! Oh, I know!!! This gotta be the alliance thing, come to think of it; I don't know the alliance phone number. But what to do?!! It doesn't even exist yet, how did she expect me to know its phone number?!! But…wait a second; she looks like she's going to kill me!!!" Elraven couldn't help but worrying about his safety when Fiorentin slowly pulls out her Claymore, "Wha…what, what are you going to do with that?!!" .
"What? What I wonder?" She replies coldly as she raises her weapon. Her eyes are filled with the intention of killing.
"No, Alexandria!!! Please, please!!! We can talk about this!!!" Elraven tries to persuade the lord knight as he realizes that he is cornered to the cave wall and the former princess is approaching him, "If you're angry about the alliance thing, I'm so sorry. Alexandria, I mean it!!!!! Please, lower your weapon!!!".
The lord knight stops and with a questioning expression on her face, she slowly asks, "Alliance…thing?".
"Yes!!! You're angry because I blabbed about the alliance when I don't even know its phone number, right? Right, Alexandria? If that the case, I'm sorry!!! Please, don't kill me!!!" Elraven, still not knowing the real problem is, continue his insensitive apologize.
Fiorentin starts trembling in anger, "You….who was talking about phone number?!!! I don't even know what phone number is!!!".
Her shouting puts Elraven in lost words situation, he doesn't know what to say or do when the lord knight points at him and loudly says, "There's a limit of how insensitive a man could be!!! And you!!! You have crossed the limit!!!!!!". Too bad, the gunslinger insensitively replies with, "Limit? What limit?".
DUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGHHH!!!!
At that moment, without hesitation, the lord knight launches an extremely powerful uppercut right to his jaw. Sending him flying to seventh heaven before crashing on the ground loudly, bloodied and battered.
BRAAAAKK!!!
The gunslinger nearly fell unconscious when he landed. Good for him, the spell of Dionysus quickly heals him. But his mind is still wondering when the things went wrong, as the butterfly floats in circle above his head, "Why did she give me an uppercut?!! I have apologized about the phone number…and…what limit was she talking about…?".
Fiorentin regains her attitude and pick the butterfly out of Elraven's head. "I will take the butterfly with me. You can either think about your mistake and follow the path or sit there and wait. Bye!!" The lord knight, using the butterfly as her flashlight, carries on the journey.
As Fiorentin progress, Elraven slowly rises and mutters, "It hurts. She is so mean. I wonder why she acts like this all the time". When Elraven tries to follow the lights he sees from the butterfly, suddenly everything becomes dark and he couldn't see the light anymore.
"Huh, what is going on?" Elraven asks himself when suddenly a big aura presence hits the entire area, "This presence is humongous!!! just like....Beelzephir and Ifrit!!". The gunslinger suddenly hear someone saying, "Don't blame your insensitivity on her, Guardian. You're not aware of other's feelings, that's your own fault and you should not blame others". Elraven quickly turns his attention back and spots someone is standing behind her.
The whisperer was a woman, with several wings on her back and battle armor. Her head is covered by a helm, so he couldn't see what her hair looks like. Her beautiful face is captivating, just like a goddess. But her green eyes are so sharp; it feels like her eyes are trying to thrust him on his heart.
"You…who are you?" Elraven asks in a captivated tone, other than Frea he never witnessed such a beautiful woman like the one standing in front of him.
"My name is Randgris Valkyrie" The woman politely introduces herself, "I am one of the Valkyries serving for Odin".
"Oh, the servants of Odin Frea has told me about you" The gunslinger mentions the story Frea told him earlier tonight, "What is a Valkyrie doing here? And I believe this is a different place from the passageway, right?".
"I'm here for you, Guardian" Randgris explains with a deep tone, "I have to ensure that Eisenheim was right to choose you. And yes, we are inside the barrier I created, so no one would interfere".
The gunslinger rolls his eyes upon learning her intention, "What? Ensure? What are you talking about?". All of a sudden, Randgris chokes Elraven right on his neck and strikes him harshly to the wall. "What are you doing?!!" Elraven quickly pulls out his Tristan and unloads the bullets right on Randgris' Face, but much to his dismay, the bullets didn't scratch her even a little.
"Nice try, Guardian. But your human weapon will not affect me, not even a slight" The Valkyrie calmly responds to the attack, "There's no need to attack back. You will have to come with me for awhile".
"What?" Elraven mutters when the wall suddenly turns into a warp portal and suck him inside. He suddenly stands in a granite platform inside a temple like building, much to his surprise. "What? Where is this?!! What is this place?" The gunslinger observes his surroundings as Randgris comes out from a warp portal.
"Calm yourself down, Guardian. I'll have to question you about some promises you made during the journey on Rune Midgard" The Valkyrie loudly exclaims, but the purple glassed gunslinger's curiosity cannot be stopped so easily, "Wait!! What is this place?!! Why did you take me here?! I cannot leave Alexandria on that dark passageway alone!!!".
"That is your problem, not mine" A strict answer for the gunslinger, "Besides, who told you to make an oath to both women?".
"Oath? Women?! What are you talking about?! I don't get it" Elraven hesitantly responds.
"You swore to protect Freyja from the wrath of Ifrit. And at the same time, you also swore to accompany the princess. Don't you know those oaths would only put you in more problems?" The valkyrie straightly asks.
"I don't see the problems you mentioned" Elraven, crossing his hands, defends himself, "Would you be so 'kind' to clarify your points, O great valkyrie?".
"There's no need to be so cynical, Guardian. What I stated was the truth" Randgris coldly responds, "Freyja, although now human; still have a big role on bringing your race to win this war. And the princess, she is the key to the new era of this world".
"Wait a second, wait a second!!! I asked you to clarify your points, not telling me some sort of fairytale and make me more confused than I already am!!! And what's with this role and key?! Are we reading the same page?!!" The gunslinger loudly protests the valkyrie's way to explain.
"You need to be patient; Guardian" Randgris, still with her cold voice, responds "Let me start with a truth, on why this war happened in the first place". Elraven, although still unsatisfied, listens quietly as the valkyrie begins her story, "After Ragnarok fell upon the gods and goddesses, the humans started to rule this earth while the survivors of Ragnarok either recuperated themselves or blurring among humans. Two of Ragnarok's survivors are Eisenheim and Beelzephir".
"Hm, so what Frea told me was true. Beelzephir is also Ragnarok's survivor. This is getting interesting" Elraven tells himself the moment Randgris continue, "Both men are Loki's son, so it's only normal if they holds up to Loki's ideal, wishes to live peacefully with humans, since Loki never hated humans. Eisenheim who has a good swordsman skill his whole life, blurring with the people in Prontera while Beelzephir being skillful with magic, founded The Wizard Association in Geffen, and as the time goes, they life quite a happy life with humans, until humans started to wage war against each other to conquer more lands. Beelzephir was so upset with the race he regarded fit to rule this world after the gods were gone, so he decided to wipe your race from the earth forever and summoned the destroyer of Midgard, Satan Morocc".
Elraven stares directly right to Randgris' eyes after she named the satan, trying to ensure she wasn't lying. "And then" Randgris, returning the stare, continues, "Satan Morocc unleashed his almighty power and turned a fertile land into a desert known as Sograt Desert. But a warrior from Prontera, named Thanatos, sacrificed his life to seal the satan in Morocc for eternity. Upon learning his plan has failed, Beelzephir decided to take the matter to his own hand and start unleashing his power in Midgard. He destroyed most of Rune Midgard's land and regarded by many as Beelzephir The Chaos. Eisenheim, being the only god strong enough to stop him, battled him for seven days and seven nights, and finally managed to defeat him after stabbing his heart. But that didn't kill Beelzephir, so Eisenheim sealed him inside the Ice Dungeon for good. Fearing someday Beelzephir would rise again; Eisenheim used all his remaining power to look into the future and created a prophecy known as The Prophecy of Eisenheim".
Elraven stops staring at Randgris and closes his eyes, trying to focus more on Randgris' story. "And then" Randgris advances, "To rule this land with peace, Eisenheim founded a Kingdom known as Prontera Kingdom, and changed his name into Eisenheim Adler, the very first king of Prontera. And the era of Prontera Kingdom for the next three hundred years began".
"Wait, Eisenheim Adler?!! Does that mean he is…Alexandria's ancestor?" Elraven quickly asks the valkyrie, who slowly nods, indicating his statement was true.
"But what Eisenheim prophesied turned out to be true, Beelzephir has some followers who treasured his ideal for generations, believe the land for gods is better than the land of humans. Six years ago, one of his followers, Jose Martinez, awakened Beelzephir from his seal".
"That bastard!!!" Elraven curses when he learned the name of the culprit who started all this. Randgris stays quiet for a second before continuing, "Beelzephir asked Ifrit to join him and unsealed Satan Morocc. That's how this war began".
Elraven looks down to the floor as he tries to get a hold of himself. Learning two truths about this world in one night ain't easy even for him. "But this war has been told in The Prophecy of Eisenheim. The truth is, Eisenheim has foreseen all of this, that's why he created Prontera Kingdom. So, his blood will remain alive, because only someone who possesses the blood of god could harm a god. That's why; I said the princess is the key for human's race to win this war. Only her stands a chance if one were to face Beelzephir The Chaos. You have met him in Payon, your attacks didn't affect him at all, right? That's because you doesn't have the blood of a god inside you".
Elraven, still in shock, slowly mutters, "Then, what about Frea?".
"Freyja" Randgris rights him, "Apparently, she also knew about Beelzephir and Eisenheim, she just doesn't remember it yet. But she's the only one with an access to a sacred treasure, the key to defeat Beelzephir the Chaos for eternity. The sacred treasure is placed right here on this temple, Guardian".
"So, that's why you said she still has some role in this war. Where is it? Where is the sacred treasure?" Elraven questions the valkyrie impatiently.
"I shall not tell you. I'm here to see what quality you have, not helping you" Rangris answers calmly.
"Quality? What quality?" The gunslinger quickly responds the valkyrie. Randgris looks at him with anger on his eyes before starting, "You are regarded as The Guardian within The Prophecy of Eisenheim, while the princess is regarded as The Savior of humans. But the truth is, Beelzephir is also regarded as The Savior for gods while his Twelve Swords of Pandora is regarded as The Guardian, his guardians".
Doesn't feel familiar with the name, Elraven question the valkyrie slowly, "Twelve Swords of Pandora? What is that?".
"Swords of Pandora are the term used to refer to twelve entities swore themselves to support Beelzephir in any ways possible so he could recreate the glory days of gods. The entities are either gods or godlike creatures. Albert Gahn, Ifrit, Thanatos Phantom, Great Demon Baphomet are four of them. The other eight is yet to reveal themselves on this war" Randgris simply explains, "Back to the topic, as The Guardian you should have swore to protect only the princess, not Freyja herself. If they were to face danger at the same time but in different places, who would you choose to help, Guardian?".
"What? I will…" Something suddenly holds Elraven from answering, thinking if what the valkyrie said was true.
"You're weak, Guardian" Randgris carries on, "How could you swore to protect them both while you're weak as a human. The Swords of Pandora by all means are the biggest threat for your race to win this war. You have met one of them haven't you? Did you already forget the result?".
Elraven suddenly remembers Ifrit, who nearly killed him after destroyed Alberta and his family there. "If Ifrit didn't spare your life, you're already dead by now" Randgris continues with a cynical voice, "You cannot choose, Guardian. If something were to happen to them both, you should choose to help the princess and forget about Freyja. The princess is far to be important to be left alone. Do I make myself clear, guardian? Answer me!!!".
The gunslinger looks down to the floor for a moment, thinking on how he should answer. Making up his mind, he stares at the valkyrie and exclaims, "I know I'm weak, I realized that. But, if I were to choose who to save between them, I can't choose, I will help them both".
The statement resulted in Randgris glaring fiercely at him. Nonetheless, Elraven continues, "I have sworn to both of them, and I have no intention, not even the slightest. One's life cannot be more important that another. I knew this, because I love Frea, or Freyja as you call her, and I won't let Ifrit kill her. But at the same time, do you know how lonely Alexandria is? Losing the people important for her all the time, and now she's in such a pivotal position? If she were to lose more and more people she loved, she wouldn't be able to stand anymore, so I will not leave her alone, because I have sworn to accompany her. And I'm sure I can do it, because I'm not alone. You're wrong to say I'm the only guardian she has. Sagramore and its people are also her guardians, not only me. And soon enough, The Military of Einbroch will join her, and there she is, with so many guardians protecting her. So, I'm with my decision, I will protect them both, no matter what".
Randgris falter upon listening to him, "…So, this is what humans regarded as bonds? To not let other wandering alone…how beautiful…but is this enough for them to win?".
"Are you sure about your decision, guardian?" Randgris asks him one last time, as elraven simply answers, "Yes!!!". Seeing deep inside his eyes, the valkyrie realizes something and voices it, "You have such a strong eyes, guardian. Deep inside those eyes, I could see power. But unfortunately, I couldn't see hope".
Elraven rolls his eyes and asks back, "What do you mean by that?".
The valkyrie puts a little smile for the first time since Elraven meet her and answer, "Felicia Hammond, Olivia Hammond, and George Bardahl. Power wise, the three combined wouldn't even harm you. But you should take a look deep inside their eyes. Their eyes are not only filled with powers, but also hope, something that you doesn't have, guardian. And remember this, as long as your eyes are filled only with powers, you will lose another person you love, because power isn't enough, guardian. The Swords of Pandora hold far greater powers than yours; you cannot defeat them only with powers".
Elraven puts a sad face the moment he slowly asks the valkyrie, "If what you say is true…then how do I fill these eyes with hope?".
"That" Randgris smiles, "Only you yourself would know the answer".
Elraven stays quiet after that, not knowing what to say anymore. "Well, I've seen enough of your quality. I hope you would hold this secret until after tomorrow's far before you tell it to your comrades. I believe, just like what Freyja said, they don't need more issues to deal with currently" Randgris states, "Now, I suggest you go to that warp hole and return to the passageway. The princess doesn't know that The Prophecy of Eisenheim is the only thing supports the whole cave. When she takes it, the whole cave will crumble".
"What?!! You should have told me earlier!!!" Elraven shouts in disbelieve as he runs to the warp hole, leaving the valkyrie alone, smiling, "So, that is the guardian. Still needs more to learn, but he passed the test with a good score".
****
Back inside the passageway…
"He doesn't follow me, huh? Well, whatever. It's not like I would get lost without him anyway" Fiorentin tells herself when she glances at her back and not finding Elraven following her. As she continue her journey, she finally arrives in the corner of the cave where there's a sphere could be seen floating above a small stone table. "What is that?" Fiorentin carefully touches the sphere. All of a sudden, the sphere suddenly vanishes and an old book, dusty and black, could be spotted fall into Fiorentin's hand. "Is this The Prophecy of Eisenheim?" Fiorentin opened the book and reveals an unknown language written inside it. The book only contains seven sheets of paper with writings all over it.
GRAAAK!!! GRAAAK!!!
She suddenly heard something crumbling, when she realizes the whole cave is falling apart. "What?! This is not good!!" The lord knight tries to run back to the entrance, only to find the passageway has been shattered. "What should I do?!! If only I have wings like Elraven I wouldn't have to be in such danger!!" The lord knight protests herself when the point she's standing crumbles and she falls, heading straight into a bottomless abyss.
"This cannot be happening!!!" The former princess says to herself as she falls…before she feels someone, in a bridal style, grabs her and flies her to safety. "Phew, right on time!!" Elraven, with his light wings on his back, exclaims much to the surprise of the lord knight, "Elraven?!! Where have you been all the time?!!".
"Uh…I…uh, it's a long story!!" Elraven answers with a worried face, "Now, hold on to me!!!! I'll fly you back!!!". With that, the gunslinger flies as fast as he could; avoid the rocks crumbling from above along his way. Along the trip, Fiorentin couldn't help but looking at his face, grateful for him saving her.
After a dangerous trip for several minutes, they finally arrive at the stairway safely. Elraven puts the former princess down (although she possibly doesn't mind being carried longer), and sighs, "Phew, we made it".
Looking at the girl who is taring at him, he slowly asks, "Are you alright, Alexandria? You're not hurt, right? Is that The Prophecy of Eisenheim?".
Looking at the book she holds, she answers, "Yeah, I guess so. The book was confided in a sphere and an unknown language is written all over it. I guess this is it…hopefully".
"Well" Elraven looks at the clock on his talkie, "It's already 8.12, and we better get going now. Let's hope that's the right book. I think Miss Talia could read it".
"Yeah, hopefully" The former princess says. The moment she tries to walk, she suddenly trips to the ground. "Ouch!! Ow, ow" The former princess grabs her left ankle, feeling a pain on it. Elraven quickly helps her, "You should be more careful when you are walking. Can you stand?".
"I will try" Fiorentin answers but she feels too much pain, "I can't. I think I sprained my ankle". Elraven rolls his eyes, searching for a solution, he forgot to bring white potion so there's only one way to solve this problem, "Alexandria, I'll carry you on my back. Just hold on to me and everything will be alright".
Fiorentin blushes listening to his resolution, "Wha...what? No, there's no need to go that far!!! I will just…". The former princess tries to stand again, but when she falls, Elraven holds her and stares directly right into her eyes, telling her not to argue anymore. "I'm your angel" He said, "It is my duty to catch you if you fall". Somehow, his words sound like a mucis to her ears. Recalling the memory they had in the Grave of Fireflies, the former princess quietly climbs his back and circles her hands around his neck, making herself comfortable with the condition she's currently in.
Along the way above, she doesn't say anything but praising lord to give her the chance to be this close with the gunslinger. At some point, she feels safe with him, knowing that he will not let something happen to her. He saved her from falling tonight, twice. And inside the barrier of silent, Elraven could hear her whispering,
"Thank you, for not letting me fall"
"Did you say something, Alexandria?" Elraven asks the former princess only to find her asleep on his back. "Huh?! Oh, well" Elraven mutters as the butterflies above his head fading into little spheres of lights, leaving the two alone, maybe showing his blessing for them.
****
At the same time, inside Umbala Jungle…
Valkyrie Randgris could be seen standing in front of the large figure, this time, a smile is decorating herself.
"Did he pass the test?" The large figure asks with a smile too.
"He still needs to find hope, that's a long hard way to go, but I think he will make it" The valkyrie confidently answers.
"This is the first time you ever sounded so sure with humans" The large figure calmly states, much to the enjoyment of Randgris, "It sure is".
****
My god, this is the longest chapter I've ever written!!! It's one more chapter before the big fight and I shall make the big fight as long as this chapter. Well…wish me luck!!!
Hope u like this chapter!!! C u next chappy!!! (^^)