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This is my first attempt at fanfiction, I hope people like it.
I claim no authority over Bandai Visual, Emotion,
AnimeVillage.com, nor any other copyright holder of
The Vision of Escaflowne. This fanfic is for the enjoyment
of the fans. This fanfic is not to be posted anywhere
without the author's prior approval. E-mail me for constructive criticism;
flames will be ignored.
The Heart of a Warrior
by Diocletian
I've always loved Fanelia, it is so green, full of life, not like Asturia. The fallen leaves crumpled under my boots as I waited in the shadows for King Fanel to say goodbye. I stayed out of sight, and caught little dialogue between them, but I did have a good view of the lake as a strange woman sprouted wings.
The feeling of life in the Forest of the Dragons was no longer the foremost on my mind. The Draconians still lived! A surprise indeed. Well, I would have much time to think on our journey. We had to hurry if we were to meet Voris before the twelfth moon. Little did I know that our gathering would be the beginning of the end for us, for Gaea. We eventually went our separate ways: Balgus returned to Fanelia, Voris to Freid, and myself to Asturia, where I would soon meet Schezar. Allen… it was he who gave me the final part of myself, turned me into a master, but not in time enough to stop Zaibach. I suppose I would have died at their hands, with Voris and Balgus.
Perhaps I was fated to live, to pass on my knowledge to the children of Gaea, so that they might teach it to their children, and stop another Great War. Perhaps not. I like to think so. Allen Schezar first came to me after the Royal Tournament of the Sword. Prince Aston, the King's brother brought him to me, "A young prodigy of the sword," he said, "A student of Balgus, he claims." That was soon verified. "There is an opening in the Knights Caeli, I believe. I present Allen Schezar to you as a candidate, I'm sure my sponsoring him shall not be in vain. Good day, Commander Tiorius." A veiled threat. There was nothing terrible that he could do to me, but royal favor is something of which one cannot have enough. So, this Allen Schezar would now undergo the trials. A student of Balgus should have little trouble.
Allen Schezar stood on the cold, gray flagstones that made up the floor of the quarters assigned to him in the Asturian Royal Guard building adjacent to the Royal Palace in Asturia's Capitol, and put down his duffel. Lieutenant Valuno, who led Allen to his quarters, closed the door behind him. "You will be ready at sunrise. Someone will collect you. Sleep well," Valuno had said. The room was more like a cell. There was a window overlooking the waterway into the palace, a small bed, and a stand on which was a clock. Allen got into bed and closed his eyes.
Lieutenant Valuno briskly walked down the hall, back to Commander Tiorius' offices. When he reached the door, marked with the symbol of the Knights Caeli, Valuno knocked three times and waited for the Commander's signal. "Come."
"Commander," Valuno saluted.
"Has he been accommodated?" Tiorius asked.
"Yes sir. I instructed him to be ready at dawn"
"Good. That will be all for today, Lieutenant. Dismissed."
"Yes sir. Good evening, sir." Valuno left the office, closing the door behind him, and headed for his home.
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The light streaming in through the window alerted Allen that it was time to get up. It didn't take much to wake him. Years of living on the edge had conditioned him to be ready to go on a moment's notice. Robbing travelers and engaging them in duels had been all he had known after his mother died. He prepared himself for the day, which he was sure would involve some sort of fight. He strapped his sword belt on, and ran his fingers through his shoulder-length blonde hair just as a brisk tap superseded the opening of the door, where Valuno stood. "Follow me," he said as he turned to his right, and strode down the hall.
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"How does he progress?" Tiorius asked.
"Well, sir. He has held his own against his sparring opponents so far," Valuno said.
"And what do you think, Valuno? Of his potential?"
"I am not a swordsman, sir, only your aid, but from what I have seen, he has excellent technique, and has defeated the guards you sent to him with ease."
"And?" Tiorius asked, pressing Valuno for his opinion.
"And, sir, after defeating both Carnon and Dio, I believe he may moved to the Guymelefs now."
"He was Balgus' student," Tiorius thought. He spoke, "Excellent. Move him to the 'melefs, then. Tell Gaddes to report to the Guymelef bay."
"Gaddes, sir?!" Valuno almost yelled.
"Yes, Gaddes. He needs the workout that I am sure Schezar will give him."
"Yes sir," Valuno sensed the discussion was over, and went to inform Gaddes of the match. After what he had seen of Allen Schezar so far, Gaddes was in for the fight of his life.
That's it so far.
Come back to Kerry's homepage
for more updates.
Ja ne!!!
-Diocletian