I'm going to start uploading character images for Suikoden VI to my deviantart gallery in addition to Suikoden VII. This morning I uploaded a redo of Daunte, along with Arin, Roen, and Felicity. I'm planning on updating my galleries every Monday. I'm taking requests on characters featured in Suikoden VI, so if there's a character you would like to see next feel free to drop a comment here or on my deviantart page, and I will move the name up the list. I've already received requests for Gunther, Sloan, Keiran, and Mihr so they will be next.

As a reminder, Poll #6 closes tomorrow at 5 PM GMT. I will post the results of that poll in the next chapter.

Chapter One: Part Eight

"The True Wind Rune?!" King Franz launched from his chair and stood straight up at his desk. "Astraea has the True Wind Rune?! My daughter has a True Rune?!"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Albert said, his hands clasped tight behind his back. "The True Wind Rune was once a treasure of the Holy Kingdom of Harmonia that went missing 11 years ago. It appears to have been…hibernating. On the island where the Massacre of Innocents occurred."

"Do you know where the True Rune was prior to this, Albert?"

Albert nodded. "The Grasslands on the Northern Continent, Your Majesty."

King Franz leaned his hands against the surface of his desk. He looked down at his hands, as though in contemplation. "So," he said after a moment. "Another True Rune has decided to take refuge here in Zelant."

"Indeed, Your Majesty," Albert said.

King Franz looked up. "This is the second True Rune, Albert. It did not choose me, as the first did not."

His tone had lowered, sounding menacing. But Albert wasn't intimidated. "It was a blessing that the first one didn't choose you, Your Majesty," he said calmly. "And while it is a great shame that the True Wind Rune was discovered by Princess Astraea and not you, it is lucky that Her Highness was chosen by the Rune. She is still young and she is your daughter, which means that you can exploit the power that she holds."

"You said the first one could not be removed by a runemaster or runemistress," King Franz said. "Is it the same for this one?"

"…I'm afraid so, Your Majesty," Albert said. "Not just any ordinary runemaster or runemistress can remove a True Rune. Why, if the tales of Lady Norma and Ernst are true, then not even cursed runes can be removed by any ordinary runemaster or runemistress!"

King Franz nodded, locking his jaw. "I have heard that Lady Norma was able to remove her husband's cursed rune with ancient magic, and the aid of a wizard named Levi."

"Levi's reputation reached as far as Harmonia," Albert confirmed. "While he did not reach the immortal status of Crowley and Mazus, he was still a genius."

"But he is dead," King Franz said.

Albert nodded. "I had heard he died roughly ten years ago, Your Majesty."

"But the other two you mentioned—Crowley and Mazus—they may be alive?"

"Oh, they are most certainly alive," Albert said. "But their current whereabouts are unknown."

"But it IS possible to remove the True Rune from Astraea?" King Franz said.

"Technically, yes," Albert said. "It is possible to find a runemaster or runemistress powerful enough to affix True Runes to people. The Holy Kingdom of Harmonia has been doing it since…well, for a long time. And we could ask Lady Norma about the technique she used to remove Ernst's rune, but…"

King Franz shook his head. "She wasn't strong enough to bring back the youths with a Resurrection Rune. Furthermore, the rune she helped remove from her husband wasn't a True Rune. Getting the True Wind Rune off Astraea…may also be beyond her capabilities."

Silence lingered in the office for a long moment. "How long before we start?" King Franz said suddenly.

"Ah, yes," Albert said. "Per your requests the notices have been coming through me directly and not the Intelligence Bureau. Another letter is forthcoming, but it should be any day now."

"Good," King Franz said, nodding. "Then Astraea will go out with her own unit to engage the Bianca Alliance."

For the first time since their meeting started, a cold hard feeling of discomfort settled in Albert's stomach. "I must strongly advise against this plan of action, Your Majesty. Princess Astraea came returned to us just hours ago—"

"Then she will be the perfect symbol on the battlefield," King Franz interjected. "She will boost the morale of our troops. Most importantly she will be the perfect weapon to utilize."

"Your Majesty—"

"You said that we cannot remove the Rune from her. You also said that we can exploit this power, Albert. So we're going to exploit it. When the time comes, she will take the vanguard and vanquish our enemies."

Albert swallowed hard. The discomfort in him grew. He doesn't know. His Majesty knows nothing of the power of the True Wind Rune. Or…its intentions.

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Albert said with a salute. "I will go and see if there are any updates on the situation."

"Good. Report to me directly and no one else."

Albert smiled thinly. "I intend to."

"What were the injuries you sustained, Your Highess?"

Doctor Louyse Metrodora was a no-nonsense physician but she was also one of the best doctors on Zelant. At forty-five she was a fairly beautiful woman but she had deep stress lines in her face. Her black hair had streaks of gray in it, but she usually wore it in two plaits. Her eyes were amber and always calm. She wore a white coat over a black dress.

After the discovery of her True Rune, Dr. Louyse arrived to the castle and insisted on seeing Astraea for an immediate examination. The people of Blutkrieger were still celebrating in the streets but the doctor was all business. So Astraea sat in her small clothes on the edge of her bed in her bedroom. As Dawa was still on Potsfurt, most of her siblings save for Brendan and Kion decided to wait with her. They were all currently waiting in Astraea's sitting room.

"I..was stabbed three times, Doctor," Astraea said.

"Please indicate to me where on your body you were stabbed, Your Highness."

Astraea touched her upper left arm, her lower left side, and her upper left side. "I see no injury on your arm," the doctor observed. "What about your right side?"

Astraea lifted her camisole slightly and showed Dr. Louyse her right side. "No sign of injury there, either," Dr. Louyse said.

"I was also hit by two arrows, Doctor," Astraea said as she lowered her camisole. She tapped the upper left and lower right parts of her back. "Here and here."

"Please lift your camisole in the back, Your Highness," Dr. Louyse said.

Astraea complied, and the doctor examined her back. "No marks," Dr. Louyse said. "I do not even see scar tissue." Her fingers probed at Astraea's spine. "Prince Denzel said that you broke your back, Your Highness. Is that also true?"

Astraea nodded. "Ah—yes. I jumped from a cliff and landed on rocks."

"Do you know the point of impact on your back?"

"I don't. I just know that I felt this…searing pain in my lower back, and I—I couldn't feel my legs."

"How would you describe the pain? Throbbing? Numbing? Like pins and needles?"

"Pins and needles," Astraea said. "Like I had something sharp lodged in my back."

"Hmm." Dr. Louyse moved back around to sit in front of her. "You can lower your camisole, Your Highness."

Astraea complied. "It sounds like you suffered a spinal cord fracture of your lumbar vertebrae," Dr. Louyse said matter-of-factly. She picked up her clipboard and scribbled on it. "That would explain the intense pain and the paraplegia in your legs. But you have walked since your return, Your Highness?"

Astraea nodded. She glanced at the symbol of the True Wind Rune on the back of her right hand and held it up to show Dr. Louyse. "Sir Albert said that it was because of this. He said that this was a True Rune."

Dr. Louyse hummed to herself and looked at the rune symbol closely. "I've never seen a True Rune in person in my life," she mused. "Only in textbooks out of Harmonia. I don't remember if that True Rune was featured though."

"It's the True Wind Rune," Astraea said. "Did the textbooks have all 27 True Runes?"

"They did not. But my—the True Wind Rune. Wind Runes mostly are healing, but Cyclone Runes mostly are offense magic. Perhaps this rune—the parent rune of both—is a blend of the two?"

That may explain why Sir Albert knew the True Wind Rune on sight, Astraea thought. Though Albert Silverberg had not been forthcoming with any further information; after examining the True Rune he ran out of Astraea's room without another word.

"How is your level of pain now, Your Highness?" Dr. Louyse asked, taking her seat again and looking at her clipboard..

"Physically, zero," Astraea said.

"And mentally?"

Astraea ducked her head and didn't say anything. Every time she closed her eyes she saw blood…and the dead faces of her half-siblings. Milo…Barrett…Ritta…

"It's you, isn't it? The girl who conquered Bhayankar!"

"Astraea knows us all."

"Sister! I finally meet my sister!"

"I understand," Dr. Louyse said after a moment. She scribbled a little more on her clipboard. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence she spoke again. "I'm going to recommend you visit the hot springs—"

"Hot springs?" Astraea looked up at this.

"A man named Lundgren established one near… Hríw Ethuil, I think it's called?" Dr. Louyse's brow furrowed slightly. "The elf village to the north," she clarified. "Lundgren has set up bathhouses around Zelant and they've had therapeutic properties. A hot spring is a different experience, though. It can relax your mind and body."

Astraea fidgeted slightly. "…Will a hot spring really help me?"

Dr. Louyse smiled slightly. "I think it's a good start." She stood up. "I will present my recommendation to His Majesty to get his approval."

"Th…Thank you, Doctor." Astraea hugged her arms. Her throat felt tight.

"We are warriors, Your Highness," Dr. Louyse said. "But even a sword will break if not properly cared for. You need that care after what you've been through."

Astraea nodded again and rose from the bed. "Are we done here, Doctor?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Astraea?" Denzel called suddenly through the bedroom door. "Miss Drake is here."

"Miss Drake?" Astraea hurried to get changed.

"I'll go and see the King," Dr. Louyse said. "I'll make sure he accepts my recommendation, Your Highness."

After Astraea dressed they went to her door. Dr. Louyse opened the door to Astraea's sitting room. Sigrun, Philomena, and Elly were sitting at her table and Denzel and Vahan were leaning against opposite walls beside their assists. Ferdinand and Aravine stood beside their charges. Elly quickly stood as Astraea entered the room. "I hope you'll excuse me, Your Highnesses," Dr. Louyse said, saluting respectfully before leaving the room.

"Princess Astraea," Elly said, moving towards her. The usually stoic woman had a deep look of distress on her face. She knelt before Astraea and bowed her head. "My Lady, I beg your forgiveness for the failure of our intelligence. The Massacre of Innocents happened due to the negligence of the Intelligence Bureau. Though you have been brought home safely, I am still pained by your ordeal. And I am pained for the lives that were lost. I am truly sorry for everything you had been through."

Astraea looked around the room at her siblings. Sigrun, Vahan, and Philomena wore neutral expressions. Denzel looked angry, but his eyes were on Elly. Astraea looked down at her again. "…How did this happen?" she said finally.

"I don't know, Your Highness," Elly confessed, her head still lowered. "We are still investigating this, but…we do not know how we missed this."

Astraea swallowed thickly. She knew that she could condemn Elly for the Intelligence Bureau missing the assassination plot, or she could accept her apology. Ultimately though, she did not blame them. The only people she blamed were those responsible for what happened. "Stand please, Miss Drake," Astraea said, motioning to her.

Elly swiftly stood, keeping her head bent. "Thank you for your honesty," Astraea said. "And I accept your apology."

"But—" Denzel began.

"Denzel, don't," Sigrun told him discreetly.

"But I want to get justice for my brothers and sister," Astraea said, her tone hardening. "I want justice for everything who were killed. We are going to get justice for them, aren't we?"

Elly nodded and raised her head to look at Astraea over her glasses. "We will, Your Highness."

"Indeed we are," a voice spoke from the door. Everyone turned to see Albert entering the room. "I'm pleased to see the rest of the royals here," Albert said, his eyes looking around the room. His gaze fell on Astraea last. "His Majesty has called you all to the Onyx Chamber. We are mobilizing."