"Y...a...suo..." What?
Who is it that I hear? An angel? I'm surely dead after that
pain... so much pain. I no longer feel it... thank Althena... but
what happened?
"Ya... suo!" That
voice again. So familiar, so much closer, yet so much darkness
clouding my mind.
"Yasuo, wake up fool! Lemia
says that you're fine. Come on, you no good lazy mooch! I bet
you're really awake and just pretending you're not just to annoy
me!"
NOT an angel... but right now I
couldn't care less; she was clearing my way back... from where? I
knew this question was going to plague me now. I pushed it the
best I could to the back of my mind as I concentrated on opening
my eyes. There's one... now the other. "W-where am I?"
"You're laying on a couch
in a room next to Master Ghaleon's. Don't get all excited though,
he's no where to be found. So just take it easy."
I grunted, sitting up slowly.
Goddess, my body ached so much, like a herd of Albinos ran over
me. "Already trying to boss me around I see. You sure don't
waste time."
"Don't start with me! I'm
genuinely concerned you jerk! Whether you decide to believe that
or not makes no difference to me. I'm just glad that you're among
the living again. I'm going to go get Lemia. Stay put!"
Portia ordered as she left the room.
"Woof woof, yes
master." I turned sharply at the soft sound of giggling.
"Ms. Ausa?"
"Ms. Ausa is my mother.
Please, call me Mia, all my friends do. More importantly, how are
you Yasuo? Portia has been here with you the entire time. A big
heart that girl has."
"I'm fine thanks. A big
heart? Portia? More like a big mouth!" I replied rubbing my
aching joints.
"True, she does have a lot
to say. But as I said, she was with you the entire four days you
were out."
"FOUR DAYS!" Just what
the hell had happened to me!
"Yes. No one is certain
what had happened to you; Portia found you lying on the floor of
the Vane library. There was no sign of struggle, or any remnant
of magic. It is only you whom can answer what happened before
that." Mia explained, then stood. "I am sorry that I
can't be of more help. I'm glad to find that you are feeling
better. Please stay as long as you wish."
I wasn't sure what to say. Four
days? "Thank you Ms. Mia, you are too kind." I said
with a grin.
"Visit anytime you like.
See you later Yasuo." Mia replied, and giggled as she left
the room.
Four days? That was just
unbelievable! Just what did happen? I racked my brain trying to
recall what I had been doing. I'd said something to Portia that
made her leave, and then... nothing. "Bah! This is
useless!" I spat as I stood up from the couch. "I can't
remember anything but the agony...the darkness."
"Darkness my child?" I
turned to see Lemia enter, Portia following behind.
"Yes, an intense anguish,
followed by a void...that is all I can remember of what happened.
Nothing else."
"Hmmm..." Was all
Lemia said in reply, as she walked to a window looking out into
the guild's courtyard. I looked to Portia; all she did was shrug.
Portia sat and that marked the beginning of several minutes of
uncomfortable silence.
"I do believe we have a
problem Yasuo. A very big problem."
Lemia said turning from the window.
"A problem, Ms. Ausa?"
I could barely speak. Her resonance so monotone, so unfeeling. It
was rather frightening.
"As you should now Yasuo,
the magic guild does not tolerate the practice of pestilent arts
within its walls. It is very distressing to find that you have
desecrated such a sacred rule."
I sat in total and complete
shock. "WHAT!"
"DO NOT back talk me you
insolent imp ! Until it is decided you shall
spend your remaining days in Vane locked within a dungeon cell!
Be grateful that I am so merciful
! Guards ! Come take this, this urchin
to the dungeon!" Lemia shrieked.
"No!" Portia cried out
as the guards swarmed into the room. I couldn't move if I'd
wanted, I was absolutely frozen in place, no doubt was my
expression of immense shock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It ain't so bad down here
my boy...once you get used to it." An elderly man said from
the cell beside mine.
"Well old man, I don't plan
on staying down here too long." I replied. I just couldn't
believe it! I'd been thrown in JAIL! And for what? For something
beyond my control! It didn't help my frame of mind that half my
neighboring jail mates had been thrown down here for petty things
as well. I had little hope that I would be out of here anytime
soon, but I had to stay optimistic. Besides, that Alex of Burg
was in the same boat as me, he had to be important enough for
someone to come get him out.
The old man laughed. "Let
yerself believe that my boy. I say you'll last a week, two at the
most. No one's lasted too much longer than that."
"Look old man, you're not
helping any. If you don't have anything uplifting to tell me just
leave me be all right?" I snapped. Another time I would feel
bad for doing so. But not now. Now, I had to think of a way to
get out of here. Out of Vane. Should I talk to Mia before I left?
Would she believe me? I'm not sure she'd believe half the things
her mother had said to me..."Mia?" I couldn't believe
it! Speak of the devil! And with her was that flying white cat!
"Yasuo! What're you doing
down here!" Mia exclaimed, coming up to the bars.
I sighed. "Please don't
take this wrong...but I think there's something up with your
mother. All I told her was what I could remember of what happened
before I was found in the library, and she had me thrown down
here!"
A pained look crossed Mia's
features. "Yes. I believe you. There IS something going on.
I'm unsure of what it is now. I'm here to help my friend
Alex," Mia explained. "He too was ordered to be thrown
down here for no reason."
"Mia! You can't let the
prisoners out! You know what the punishment is for such an
act!" A concerned guard called to Mia.
"I will deal with my mother
sir. If she says anything of this, send her to me!" Mia said
as she freed me from my cell. "Listen Yasuo. It's apparent
that it is unsafe for you here in Vane. I will try my best to
find you a safe place to stay."
"Worry not Mia. I'll figure
something out. Have you heard from Portia? Is she ok?"
"Yes. Portia's been asking
me about you for days now. This was the first chance that I had
to escape my mother's watchful eye. Perhaps you can find safe
haven with Portia. Please, hurry before my mother returns."
"Thank you so much Mia. I
will never forget your kindness. Now, go help your friend."
I smiled and took off. There was no way I was going to stay any
longer than I had to!
I was running out the guild
entrance when I practically mowed down Portia. "Yasuo!"
"Come on! No time to talk
now!" I exclaimed and grabbed her wrist, racing for her
house.
I took a seat at the kitchen
table once we reached Portia's house and she told me all about
the events that followed my imprisonment. Though I was only
imprisoned for a couple days it's a memory that will stay with me
forever. Never again do I want to experience the filth and the
thought of possibly dying in that squalor. If not for present
circumstances I would rip the clothes from my body and burn them.
I sighed, now was not the time for such thoughts. The guy Alex
from Burg had checked into that Dragonmaster in Lann -which just
as I thought was a fake - and after his return was deemed a
threat to the guild, the lame reasoning behind his imprisonment.
"We've got to find out
what's up with Lemia, Yasuo! This is all so exciting!"
"Exciting! Portia I do
believe you've lost what little mind you've managed to retain!
We, rather I, have to leave Vane. As weird as Lemia is acting I
don't think it's a good idea to go nosing into her business. You
may already have a cell with your name on it. Or you could if you
keep sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong." Yeah, I
was preaching, but I didn't want to see anything bad happen to
her.
"I guess you're
right," She sighed. "So, what're you going to do
now?"
She seemed sad, but before I
could get a good look at her face she turned away to wipe the
kitchen counters. "I don't know. I don't really like the
idea of living with my old man in Reza. I've got to find work...
I heard someone's hiring in Nanza."
"The thief capital of the
world!" Portia exclaimed and turned back to me, eyes wide.
"No, that's Reza. In Nanza
I'd be helping people cross the border. Nothing wrong in that.
Besides, I'm sure that with my magic skills I'd be a great
asset." I explained. "And before you interject, what do
you suggest I do if I don't go there?"
"You could always move to
Meribia! I know Black Rose Street isn't... What is it?"
Something clicked. "Black
Rose Street." I repeated. "Black Rose Street..."
"Yeah, Black Rose Street,
where most of the Vane drop-outs live... NOT that you're a drop
out. It's not like you have much of a choice." Portia
babbled on.
"You're not helping...
anyway, you're right. Meribia sounds like a good place to start!
Thanks Portia!" I stood. I suddenly had so much energy! I'm
not sure what, but I knew that a key to what had happened to me
in the library was awaiting me in Meribia.
"No need to thank me... Cuz
I'm coming with you!" Portia stated adamantly, her arms
crossed a mischievous look in her eyes.
I groaned. This was gonna be a
LONG day!
§ Chapter
One § Main
Page § Chapter
Three §
