The White Darkness

By Helbaworshipper

Lotis Theives Arc: A Prince's Qualifications

Kyo felt like his mind was in a haze at the moment. He had been working hard to fight and evacuate citizens of the Wakamiya Kingdom. So right now he should know what part of the evacuation or where he was. However, he couldn't quite tell as he moved up what looked to be an older time and place. It was still Wakamiya Kingdom, but before anything with his mother. He could tell from the lack of prosperity in various areas.

The maram felt strong, however… Slowly lifting a hand up, he put his hand to the mirror that Chris had handed to him. It was sudden, but he had told Kyo that sometimes the test was simply to keep using your lotis until you learned how to call it. Taking a deep breath and forming a ball of light to lead him towards the castle, he was stopped by the sound of a conversation.

"Well, if it isn't the most desirable farm girl." The voice was even more familiar. He saw the dark skin and braids. It was a younger Billy! At the moment he was in a field with a woman he couldn't quite make out the shape of. The woman seemed to be raising a brow.

"I'll tell you..." It was his mother's voice. He had heard about her origins plenty of times. However, just hearing the voice made his heart ache. He slowly brought his hand up towards his chest as the conversation came back. "…and if I have to marry such a horrible mess it'll be a mess!"

"The remains of the fallen rival to the Weilhausen family certainly has high standards." Billy's voice came back as he approached the still not quite defined figure. "Look, you can say no to him all you want. However, you need to defend this world."

"Then I'll just run away!"

"He's going to run after you..." The area felt almost heavier at the words. "You know it's harder to run from royalty than a normal army." He tried to feel what he could as something made him look away. A woman he recognized looked at him for a moment. He felt as if he was falling towards her as the haze left his mind. Yet he was…

He blinked as he realized he was somewhere else. It was a familiar, yet unfamiliar room to him. He turned around as he realized he was quite drained of energy. A hand gently and softly adjusted his hair. He felt comfortable here. It was only when he heard the woman speak that he understood what was going on.

"You were almost pulled into a trap." The tired gaze and scarred skin. This was his mother's normal warmth. "However, it's far more serious." He blinked, realizing that he was being healed like he had been in the tent. "Why did you come without taking the trial?"

"Why are you asking? Are you… alive?" He asked, more confused than anything else. "Alice needs help and the war..." He felt so much to ask and yet so little ways to say it.

"Lotis can keep the memory of people alive for a long time." She slowly lifted a hand up to his face. "I am not alive and know what is going outside. I am simply existing as Lotsuan once did until he reincarnated. Not all are allowed such a fate." He nodded, trying to enjoy the feel with the little energy he felt he had. "What is Alice to you?"

"Alice is..." He thought for a moment, confused. Yes, Alice was someone he truly cared for. Yet in which way did he? He had never felt that Alice was someone that he could live without. Yet he would go months without her presence and still live. His father would say that was a normal thing. "I feel like I don't know."

"Alice is the prize for the one who truly makes a decision." She spoke, thinking about it carefully. "How much longer, Kyo… Can this war really go on?" Her voice shook as he finally saw tears leaving her eyes. "Lotsuan saved this world to give it peace and yet it refused. Alice tried to live in this world peacefully."

"Then I'll end it." Kyo's mind thought to his father, Mayura, and the Weilhausen's. "I'll make sure Alice can make a choice."

"And if that choice isn't you?" A sting in his chest. It wasn't something that could be quite explained as heart ache. It was something like… Like something he knew. He knew that Alice as what he wanted, but for what?

"I don't know..." He spoke, watching the woman smile a little while her tears flowed. "I'll decide when I get to it."

"Then wake up and fight for it." The woman's hand slowly lowered to his mirror as it began to glow.

What he hadn't expected when he woke up was to be held down by a considerable amount of rope. From what he could tell, he was in a part of the crumbling castle. At the moment he was sitting in probably a sturdy chair. He couldn't quite see, but the sounds the smells were similar. This wasn't maram, but regular bindings. He slowly lifted his head up as he heard the sound of a figure approaching.

"So you have awakened." It was a male voice he knew well. He could feel the intent as the man slowly tightened his probably simple, but fancy blindfold. He started to try and speak as he realized he was quite tightly gagged as well. "I have to admit I didn't expect them to hunt you down and tie you up like this, but it's better than having to listen to your drivel."

"My lord, what you asked for his ready." A maid perhaps? He waited as he heard a chuckle from the noble.

"How lovely, we can bury the last of the royals with the castle." Ah… So that's what the maram had done. He certainly felt himself rather helpless like this. However… He couldn't allow that to happen right now. Alice needed him in some way. He focused as the haze tried to take over him again. He figured some sort of people were above to bury him in some rubble above. He focused on a flame at this point. A small enough flame to at least free him. "Your highness, I am certain you'll try and get out, but I was promised a lot to let you die." The man's voice was leaving as he finally felt the flame moving up the rope.

Right now what was most important was getting out of this area. He slowly moved his hands and forming a iru knife to cut the rope he could reach as his hands freed. He finally stood up and moved out of the chair just as the first rubble fell. As he removed the blindfold and gag, he noted it was indeed the castle. The dungeons even.

"Na Sadaru Lotis Ran." He spoke, his mother's tears coming back to him as he felt something surge out of him. A set of white lotis robes like hers. Well, he hadn't expected it to match them. He didn't have time to think about it right now. He had to leave quickly and make sure that whatever happened now… finished what this place had plans for.

The castle as he left finally fell completely. However, the noble that he had heard bragging was not exactly pleased as he realized it. He had been trying to do a crying plea to Mei Lin as she saw him come out. The other citizens and lotis thieves looked about as amused as he felt. The scene was rather ironic as he had come out as the last bit of the castle had given out.

"So, Count," Kyo spoke, looking at the man as he exited. "What were you telling her?"

"Your higness, this is a misunder-"

"Stop lying about things when I know you wanted it." He spoke, nodding to Mei Lin he was okay. She motioned for the others to continue getting the citizens evacuated. "What did Eric promise you?"

"Eric?" He blinked, looking a bit confused. "It was a woman who promised me. Your maid."

"Kayna..." He felt his mind trying to calm down. Still, he had to keep himself ready for the next part. "Well, despite what she promised, I didn't die." He spoke as he lifted a hand to his mirror. "Not only that, you were trying to destroy a Lotis user."

"She told me that if I did it I could get your powers!"

"What a shame." Mei Lin commented with a chuckle. "There's no bloodline guarantee that that method works. For Maram it might work better, but… There's a heavy price to pay for it."

"So you're saying she was going to corrupt him?"

"Nope," she knelt down and picked the man up by his collar. "She was just using him as she'd use anyone. Even if he was good at maram, he'd be a foot soldier."

"How is camp?"

"Most everyone is in the big tent for now." She spoke, starting to figure out what to do. "Should we take him with us?"

"I suppose so," he handed Mei Lin a rock. "Want to knock him out?"

"I've got an easier way." She commented back as she began to drag him to one of the carts and put him in the middle of a bunch of people. "Keep this guy down, he tried to make sure you didn't get saved." It made him laugh as the people began holding him down in various ways. "Let's get back to camp before this mess gets worse."