"As I am sure you
know, you have a very long journey ahead if it is Damon's Spire
you are trekking to... And just why are you seeking out the all
knowing one?"
I have been in Nanza for
two days now and Kirei, the one whom by some miracle had
persuaded Kyle into letting me go, had been with me as well.
There was some indescribable link between us. Perhaps it was her
beauty and mystery that had me so captivated. She has told me so
much, yet I still know little about her. I have not told her
about this... Sickness as I call it now that has taken over my
life. I did not want her to be pulled into this web that I had
become entangled.
"Why does anyone go to
him? For answers my dear Kirei." A slight breeze moved my
hood and I quickly pulled it forward again, Kirei did not seem to
notice. She also has not commented on the fact that during these
past two days I have kept my face hidden from her.
"Now now Yasuo, if I
did not know any better I would think that you are keeping
something from me." She smiled and I could not help but
smile in return.
"A wise one you are
Kirei."
"No matter, I shall
have to put the puzzle pieces together myself if you'll not help
me," she replied with a mischievous grin. A mischievous grin
not unlike one that belonged to another beautiful female...
Portia. She was all right. There was no need to worry about her
safety while she was staying at Althena's Shrine. Phacia had
promised to take care of her until I returned. I do no doubt that
she would do everything in her power to keep that promise.
"You are wandering
away again Yasuo."
"What?"
"Wandering away... of
the two days that we have been together, I have noticed that your
mind wanders... where to?"
Perhaps it was not only a
mischievous grin she had in common with Portia. "I am just
planning on how to reach Damon's Spire."
"Okay." Though I
knew little of her, I could tell she was saying much more. She
knew that I was lying.
We stopped in front of the
Goddess statue. "This is where we say our farewells
Yasuo."
My stomach tightened
slightly, but I knew this was for the best. Best for her to get
away before something happened to her. It appeared that Lemia
Ausa was bent on capturing not only I but also all those close to
me.
"Yes, I suppose it
is."
"Do not sound so sad
Yasuo. We will meet one another again. Maybe even sooner than you
think." She rose on tiptoe before I could object; I felt the
whisper of a kiss on my cheek.
I had only closed my eyes
for a moment, and she was gone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I woke suddenly from a
dreamless sleep to a commotion outside. I rushed to the closest
window to see a blonde-haired, plump, woman with a painted face
much like a clown, in the courtyard surrounded by demons. There
was another scantily clad woman, with long blonde hair, and many
tribal-like tattoos coloring her exposed skin.
"...What's the world
coming to when a decent lady has to be so vulgar to protect
herself..."
I threw my clothes on, made
sure that my hood was in place, and ran down the tower stairs
hoping to help the lady in distress. As I barged through the door
leading out to the courtyard my eye caught the discarded clothes
and Kyle flipping high into the air in a most exaggerated
fashion.
"...You and your boys
need to learn some manners sweet cheeks..." Kyle said,
deftly catching his sword; I assume he had thrown it into the air
for effect as well. From the look in the blonde's eyes I could
tell that she was far from impressed, and only angered further at
Kyle's display.
The two exchanged a few
more insults before a group of people burst onto the scene. Alex
of Burg, that loud-mouthed, flying cat of his, Mia, Nash, and the
beast-girl Jess that had been arguing with Kyle.
"Later children!"
The blonde threatened and disappeared.
"Yasuo? Yasuo! It's
you! I'm so relieved that you are all right!" Mia ran to me
and we exchanged a friendly hug. She pulled away and looked
around. "But where is Portia?" Her eyes widened and she
gasped. "Nothing has-"
"Not to worry
Mia," I rushed to assure her as I tugged self-consciously on
my hood. "Portia is safe. She is staying at Althena's
Shrine."
My words only seemed to
bother her further. "What is wrong Mia?"
"I found out what had
happened to my mother Yasuo... That woman that you just saw is
Xenobia; she was impersonating my mother. All along my mother was
in the cell next to yours with some sort of brainwashing mask on.
She could not even remember who she was or why she was there.
Once Alex, Nash, and I reached the Star Chamber we found Luna.
Xenobia, Royce, and Phacia are sisters, and members of the Vile
Tribe. They were trying to take control of Vane. The rumor of the
Magic Emperor is true. He is seeking to take over Lunar. He has
taken Luna and the White Dragon Quark... Portia."
"Is no doubt in his
hands as well," Yasuo interjected. "But perhaps not, I
will go back and see for myself."
"I am so sorry Yasuo.
If only I had known... If I had done something sooner!"
"As I said, do not
worry Miss Mia. I will see to it that Portia comes to no harm.
Magic Emperor or no." I rested a hand on Mia's shoulder and
gently squeezed. As I had thought many times in the last few
days, Fate dealt a cruel hand to me. I knew my time was short. It
would not be long till whatever was happening to me took over
completely. I could not leave Portia behind, let her die. No
matter what happened to me, I had to save her.
"Take your HANDS OFF
Mia Ausa you... you peasant!" Nash ordered smashing my hand
with his magic cane.
A cry of pain escaped me
and I cradled my hand to my stomach. He had broken my wrist; I
could feel the abnormal position of the bone pressing against my
skin.
"Nash!" If Mia's
eyes had been daggers Nash's wounds would have run deep.
"Jessica, can you heal him?"
"No!" I snapped
and move away. I could not control it. It was coming. My anger
rose with a staggering force. Not now! By
Althena not now! My heartbeat drummed in my
ears and I could not hear the words coming from Mia's moving
lips. A red haze blurred my vision... and then I ran.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The pain was gone. My wrist
no longer broken. Thank the one whom has
given me this peace. I was dreaming again. I
had to be. I remember how I had been running. Trying to run from
the change, the sickness. Now, I was lying in that canopied bed
in that room with those tall windows and gossamer curtains.
I heard a sleepy moan, and
that is when the cloud of confusion lifted from my awareness. I
opened my eyes to find the golden-haired woman beside me, her arm
around my waist, her naked warmth pressed against me under the
furry blanket.
I sat up slowly so as not
to wake her. This strange beauty was so innocent in sleep. I
still knew nothing of her. Just as I knew nothing of Kirei...
Her eyes opened to look
into mine. "You have come back to me. I
knew you would."
"Who are you?"
"What a silly
question. You know who I am. I am most hurt that you play these
games."
"I do not play
games."
"So serious,"
she began in a sinful whisper as she traced my collarbone with a
fingertip. "Does it matter? Can we not
spend our time together without questions?"
My body tensed, and I sat
up to move away from her questing hand. "Yes, it matters.
Who are you? And why are you coming to me in my dreams?"
"Who is to say that
this is not reality and you have no just woke from a dream?"
I growled as I left the
bed. I pulled my clothes on in jerky, frustrated, movements.
"Have it your way. I will find the answers myself!" I
retorted as I walked for the door.
"Yasuo."
I couldn't move.
"You are mine. This
time you will not walk away from me."
"I will. You may be
able to control me against my wishes... but you still can not
have me."
There was silence for the
moment.
"You are the chosen
Yasuo. You can walk away from me that is true; my power over you
is limited. But you can not walk away from your destiny no matter
how deeply you wish it."
She would tell me nothing.
Answer none of my questions. So be it. I opened the door and
walked out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was night, and I was
cold. Shivering. I needed new items and equipment. The weak herbs
had dulled the pain of my broken wrist, but I had run out long
ago and the pain would return soon. I made camp a few miles from
Nanza. The walk had not been as draining as I had suspected. Then
again, somewhere in the hills is where I had fallen asleep or
passed out--I could not remember--and had the dream, that is
where I must have gain extra strength. No matter what the
golden-haired woman said, I could not believe that this was the
dream. Although lately I have wished that it were, I knew in my
soul that it was not. If this were the dream, my sickness would
be gone. It has yet to leave me without some kind of pain.
I moved the wood around in
the dying campfire as I drew the hooded cloak tighter about me.
"Yasuo."
"Leave me."
"Yasuo, do not give
up."
"I said leave."
What was I to say to the voice? None of the voices I had spoken
to lately would tell me anything that might help bring about an
end to my suffering. All of that aside, how was I sure that I was
not hearing things on account of what was happening to me? I am
surely going insane. I looked into the fire hoping to calm my
ragged nerves.
"Yasuo, you must
find Portia. Find Kirei. Go to Damon before it is too late."
"I know. You tell me
things that I am already aware of."
"Now. There is no
time to waste. I will heal you. Find Portia... Find..."
"Find Kirei, yes, I
heard you the first time."
"May the Goddess be
with you..."
"Indeed." I replied sarcastically as I gathered my things.
