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Note from the Author: This is the second chapter of a finished project. I was originally just going to keep this story to myself and a select few friends to try and get it published, unfortunately many complications have arisen in the attempt to get it published process. (Mainly the length of the story for a novel belonging to a new and unknown author) and really I would much rather just have people read and enjoy the story more then anything else so I am posting it here.
I hope you enjoy this work of fiction and hopefully one day it will become published. So for now, story and characters are copywritten to me (Kurapika L. Suki/ K.L. Seunnapha) but that pretty much doesn’t need to be said as it says that at the bottom of the page anyway
Chapter Thirty Seven
Siren’s Assignment
A woman is wandering through the woods singing to herself as she made her way through the trees following a small cat that was walking ahead of her, she trips and falls landing on the ground, the woman beginning to whine to herself as she pushes herself back up, only to find that she had lost site of the animal she had been chasing. She stares ahead of her with a disappointed and upset look filling her face.
A noise catches her attention as someone walks up to her, Clor kneeling down next to the woman and holding the cat out to her. “Did you loose this?”
The woman smiles when she sees Clor holding the cat, she squeals taking the cat from him and holding onto it and hugging it tightly. “Mine! Mine!!”
Clor smiles gingerly, happy to see the girl in good spirits but a little disappointed that she had not greeted him. “Eh? You’re not going to say hello to me? And after I came all this way to come and see you?”
The woman smiles up at him as she places the cat on the ground, turning to Clor as she opens her arms latching them around him. “Clor!!”
Clor smiles as he rubs the top of her head playfully. “It’s good to see you again Swan. It’s been a while hasn’t it?”
The woman nods her head yes. “Yes!!!” She pushes away from him as she turns to her fingers looking them over. Using them to help her count the years the two of them had been apart. “Four… four years…” She holds one of her fingers half way up showing it to Clor as well. “Half too!!” She looks back down at her fingers. “Can’t forget half… the half is important too…”
Clor looks a little surprised to hear this. “Four years? Really?”
Swan nods her head to confirm the question. “And a half, you can’t forget the half.”
Clor smiles to himself, realizing that this information was very possible, after all it was hard to really get away from the work entrusted to him by the royalty as much as a slacker as he was. “It really has been hasn’t it?” He holds his hand out to her running his fingers through her hair. “You’re hair has gotten taller from the last time we met.”
Swan bursts out in laughter as he places her hands on Clor’s shaking her head. “No Clor!! You used the wrong word!!” She tilts her head leaning her face in his hand. “Hair doesn’t get tall! It gets long!”
Clor nods his head. “I guess you’re right, how could I have made such a simple mistake? If hair got taller it would be standing straight up into the air now wouldn’t it?”
Swan laughs again shaking her head. “It’s not standing!!!”
Clor stares at her curiously, although he was glad to see a familiar face he had not expected to find her in the middle of a forest that was known for its demon attacks. “How come you’re outside of town? Don’t you know how dangerous it is for you here?”
Swan looks up at him still holding a smile on her face. “No danger! Swan is safe in town, Swan is safe in the trees! Big brother makes sure it is safe for Swan!”
Clor tries to explain not wanting something bad to happen to her. “But there are demons around here, you know that don’t you?”
Swan shakes her head. “No! No danger! Swan is safe!”
Clor sighs to himself not bothering trying to explain this to her, he instead switching to another topic. “Hey… would you happen to know where your brother is?”
A disappointed look fills Swan’s face. “Akito…?” She grabs onto Clor’s arm tugging in protest. “But Clor came to see me!”
Clor sighs not really wanting to deal with another discussion like this. “But-”
Swan shakes her head unwilling to tell or even let Clor near her brother. “No! Clor didn’t come to see Akito!”
Clor grins nervously to her trying to sort everything out. “Hey… I didn’t say anything like that.” He sighs to himself as he tries to explain. “I just need to talk to him.”
Swan shakes her head not changing her mind. “No!!”
Clor frowns. “Why not?”
Swan makes a bitter face as she begins to explain what she knew would happen. “Clor talks to Akito… Clor leaves… Swan don’t see Clor anymore for years and half years!”
Clor smiles slyly at her knowing by the way she was acting that it would only be a short mater of time before he was able to find her brother. “From you not wanting to answer I guess that means he’s not traveling and is here with you in town.”
Swan shakes her head as she starts banging her fists again Clor’s armor. “No!! No more Akito!”
Clor sighs as he turns away from her, slightly agreeing to her request. “Fine… but when I do see him I’m telling him about how bossy you’re being.”
Swan looks horrified. “No!!” She begins to whine not wanting to get lectured by her brother for being bossy. “Don’t get Swan in trouble… you’re mean…”
Clor smiles down at her. “I’ll think about it.”
Swan looks up at him sadly. “Think nicely…”
Clor laughs as he gets back to his feet. He had known Swan for years so he was used to her irregular way of talking. Swan had been born mentally impaired, so she thought and acted like a child most of the time. Though she was childish she did have her moments of adulthood, after all she had been one of his first girl friends and would probably have been his last if her brother wouldn’t have been so against it.
Swan looks past Clor when something catches her attention. “Visitors!”
Clor turns to see what Swan was talking about, spotting a group of knights leading Angel and her group in the direction of the town near them. Clor is shock to see them in the custody of knights working under the royalty. “Angel…? What’s going on?”
Swan looks back at Clor curiously for a moment before then turning back to the group spotting and looking at Angel. She bits her lip glaring at her jealous that Clor recognized the young girl, Swan turning to Clor demanding that he explain. “Who!?”
Clor watches the group clearly seeing that they were obviously being lead towards the prison the town held. “This could be a problem…”
He is about to follow after them but is stopped when Swan grabs onto his arm, the woman not allowing him to go any further. “No Akito!! Stay here!”
Clor pulls away from her knowing that if he didn’t act quickly something terrible was bound to happen. “I can’t stay, I have to go.”
Swan looks upset to have Clor pull away from her, the woman quickly turning and running away from him refusing to look or speak with him. Clor worriedly watching her run off. “Hey!” He sighs to himself turning away from her and following the group he having to do something about this first.
Hitsumi, Angel and Li are guided by the knights to the town that had purposely been left off of their rout. Although Li would have normally put up a fight over something like this she was still in no condition to fight and her condition was deteriorating.
Hitsumi looks over at Li in silence unable to make sense of what was really happening. Li not the type at all to find a keep a gem, that more something that he did. Li never carry things around with her for their worth in money he had confirmed that when he had found out about Li’s dagger, normally she only carried things with her that would be useful to her.
The group soon enters the town, the building built with bricks and stones, the gray tones giving the place and still and chilling appearance.
Angel looks through her surroundings, the atmosphere that surrounded her an unwelcoming one. “This place... it's so cold...”
Li looks towards the largest building in the town. “The town is where the Continent of West sends all of its prisoners. The largest and most well built prison is here and because demons populate the thick forests the prisoners are reluctant to try and escape.” She looks to Hitsumi knowing that this was a place he would not want to be stuck in. “This prison is why Hitsumi’s father insisted that we try to avoid this town at all costs. He was worried someone here might recognize him.”
Angel glares over at Li upset that they were now stuck in a situation they had been told to avoid. “Well because of you we're in here anyways!”
Li narrows her eyes at the accusation. “Me!?”
The princess bitterly explains to Li why this was completely her fault. “If you hadn't have pocketed that crystal!”
Li grinds her teeth snapping back at the princess, the youth knowing that this was not her fault at all. “I didn't pocket it!!”
The knight that had captured Li speaks up silencing the two of them before anymore could be said. “You’re in no position to speak so I suggest you remain silent! I don't want to hear another word out of you!”
Angel looks over at the knight surprised to see him so angry with them. “I'm sorry...”
Li gives the knight a cold glare knowing fully that it was his fault they were in this mess. She holds her tongue also knowing that despite this she did not want to start a fight with him in the condition she was in as doing so would guarantee her loss.
Hitsumi looks towards Angel. “Angel do you think you can explain to them the mistake they’re making? They work for your family after all…”
Angel looks over at him. “I don’t know… I’ll have to talk to their commander… but I’ve never been to the West Continent… so most of them would have never before seen my face… I don’t know how I will be able to convince them of who I am”
Hitsumi grumbles a little annoyed. “Aren’t you able to somehow contact your uncle about this? He’s seen you before hasn’t he? I bet he could explain everything to them…”
Angel lowers her head. “Echo is the only one capable of doing that… I asked him to get help though so I’m sure that he’ll be able to get us out of this.”
The group soon find themselves in front of the prison entrance, the large stone doors slowly being opened to let them inside.
Hitsumi nervously watches the large doors being forced open, clearly it would be difficult for him to try and escape something like this, in fact it would probably be impossible. “I really hope you’re right about Echo…”
The group is lead inside the building, their footsteps echoing through the large and empty halls, the silence making them more uncomfortable with each step they took.
The three are brought to a stop when they arrive at an entrance to a room, one of the knights leaving their side and walking inside as he begins to speak to someone within the room, the knight that had left soon returning and guiding the group inside. “This way.”
The three are placed in front of a large well built man who carried an expression on his face that could only belong to a very cold and serious man. He looks the group over one by one before turning back to the knight that had brought them in. “Who are these people? Why is it so important for them to be brought to me?”
The knight’s leader holds his hand out towards the group as he begins explaining the situation to his commander. “We were continuing to investigate the remains of the transport as you said, but when we arrived to finish the search these three had already found and were trying to escape with the Keeper’s Tear. We were lucky to have caught up with them just in time.”
The commander stares down at the group in disbelief. “You suspect that they are the ones responsible for attacking the transport? Just these three?”
The Knight nods his head knowing that ordinary traveler would not dare rummage through the bodies of hundreds of the royalties men without knowing and desiring what they were looking for. “There was a wizard with them as well but he escaped. Some of my men are tracking him down as we speak.”
A look of understanding fills the commander’s face. “A wizard... it's no surprise then that the transport was overthrown. Most people know that the wizard race has been split down the center, half of them will willingly work for the royalty, while the other half will betray the royalty as soon as they acquire the chance.”
Angel shakes her head as she loudly begins to speak up, she knowing that Echo would never betray her or her family. “That's not true Echo is most loyal to me and would do anything to keep me safe! He would never betray the royalty!” She looks straight into the commander’s face still yelling as she explained further. “Even if Echo is a wizard he could not perform such a successful attack! He’s still a child! Besides… we were just passing through!! It was already like that when we arrived! We were just trying to find out what had happened not steal anything as your accusing us of!”
The Commander stares at Angel as he begins to question her, she being rather brave to speak up to him like this, it not something that happened often. “Who are you?”
Angel frowns, it was annoying when people did not recognize her in important situations such as this. “Angel Higashi! Princess of the East Continent!”
“Angel?” The commander smirks as he begins to laugh, not one to easily be played for a fool. “Impossible. The family of East was killed in the castle massacre, that of course includes the princess.”
Angel shakes her head trying to explain to him. “You're mistaken!! That was my double, a knight pretending to be me so that I could escape.”
The Commander glares down at her refusing to believe something that could so simply be taken a trick. “A simple and painfully obvious lie that anyone can make up young lady. Tell me this, why would a royal princess travel with only three guardian who are not even members of the royalty?”
Angel narrows her eyes as she turns towards the others. “I was first told to travel alone! I had to gather what I could! And Echo is a member of royalty! He’s Siren’s student!”
The commander turns to Li now talking to her instead of Angel. “What about you? Can you come up with a better explanation then that?”
Li shakes her head no. “What Angel says is the truth. The princess was seeking help and we came to her aid.”
The commander takes a moment looks her over, his attention on her face he most concerned with what he was right now seeing. “Violet eyes…” Li frowns taking several steps back.
The commander begins questioning Li further, he curious as to how she would possibly reply. “What is your name?”
Li looks back at the others before turning back to him and answering his question. “Li.”
The Commander smiles at her. “Really? That’s a rather simple name don’t you think?”
Li narrows her eyes not really liking where this conversation was leading. “I suppose it is… it’s easy for me to remember… difficult to forget.”
The commander continues to speak to her still curious as to how she would reply to him. “Just out of curiosity, would you be able to tell me how you would go about spelling that name of yours?”
Hitsumi speaks up that not seeing the point to this. “What kind of question is that!? How hard could it be to spell Li?”
The other knights within the room look over at one another, they not really understanding the reasoning for this question either. Just as Hitsumi had said it was a very simple name.
One of the knights speaks up answering for her. “It’s simple… only two letters long. L-I, Li.”
Another knight shakes his head correcting his counterpart. “No that’s not it at all, It’s spelt with three letters. L-E-E, Lee.”
The commander turns back to Li. “We seem to have encountered a problem here, could you clear it up for us?”
Li opens her mouth to answer him but stops, her jaw slowly closing as she thought the question over she not able to come up with an answer to provide him with. “I don't know...”
Hitsumi turns to Li hardly believing what she had said. “HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW HOW TO SPELL YOUR OWN NAME!? ARE YOU STUPID OR SOMETHING!? IT ONLY 2-3 LETTERS LONG!”
Li turns to Hitsumi explaining the situation to him in a bitter tone. “It's because it's not my name! I never thought of a spelling for it!”
Hitsumi looks shocked to hear this. “Not your real name… but why would you tell us to call you that name when it really wasn’t yours…?”
Li sighs as she points something out to him. “You’re the ones who started calling me Li… I never told you to call me that.”
Hitsumi frowns as he thinks back realizing that Li was right, Li have never actually told them her name, they had been calling her Li from the beginning because Hitsumi had been told by one of the bandits in his group that Li was her name so he had never even thought to assume otherwise. “Well… why didn’t you ever tell us that we were wrong?”
Li turns away from him. “There was really no reason to… I didn’t like you and I knew that I would eventually leave… but I never got around to it… and I became used to the name…”
The Commander snaps his fingers bringing Li’s attention back to him. “What's your real name?”
Li stares at him unwilling to answer. “What use is my name to you?”
Angel turns to Li not wanting her to start up a needless argument. “Just tell him your name…”
Li frowns as she turns back to the princess for a moment before looking back at the commander and answering his question. “Leanne...”
Hitsumi stares at Li in silence not having expected her to have such a girlish name. “Leanne?” It felt awkward for to say Hitsumi not used to referring to her by this name instead of the name he had previously known her by.
Li glares coldly at the commander. “Do you need me to give you the spelling of this name as well?”
The Commander shakes his head. “There is no need.” He sighs now remembering well who this person was. “Leanne, why would you go around under a fake name? It isn’t as if the name came from nowhere, someone must have heard you say that this was your name for it to reach your companions.”
Li continues to give him her icy glare. “That's none of your concern.”
The Commander narrows his eyes not pleased with the hostility Li was holding towards him. “You do understand that things are starting to sound very bad in terms your innocence.”
The Knight that had caught Li points to her as he speaks up. “This is the one we found the Keeper’s Tear on.”
Li turns back to him as she raises her voice and begins yelling. “I didn't have it! You put it there!!”
The knight glares back at her. “Are you accusing me?”
Li’s voice grows even louder. “Of course I am!”
The leader of the knights shakes his head, not willing to believe Li’s words so easily. “I highly doubt that Akito would do anything of the sort, he has faithfully served us for over fourteen years. Why would he betray us now?”
Li turns to the other knight that had spoken. “I can’t tell you why he would, I don’t know why! But I can tell you that I’m not guilty of taking it!”
The Commander turns to Hitsumi, finished with trying and talk to Li. “And what about you Hitsumi? Do you have anything to add?”
Hitsumi nods his head. “Of course! I- ” He falls silent, the words we was about to say leaving his mind as an uneasy look fill his face. “How did you know my name?”
The Commander walks up to Hitsumi lifting his hand to him and running a finger across the scar on his face. “I would be called a fool if I had never heard of such a famous bandit, you’re described to be loud and obnoxious with a scar on your right check.”
Hitsumi stands silently on spot not saying another word regarding it. The commander turns away from all three of them explaining the situation as he saw it. “Why would someone like you come to the West Continent? Bandits usually don't cross into another territory, unless of course you were after something big. Shale we use the Keeper’s Tear as our example?”
Hitsumi speaks up refusing to be put away from a crime they didn’t commit. “You're mistaken! I didn’t come here to take anything! I was asked by the princess to accompany her to her uncles castle!! She...” He trails off when he realizes that none of his captors were paying any attention to what he had to say. He hangs his head there it obvious that anything he could say was going to change the Commander's mind.
The Commander turns to the knights giving them their orders. “Take them away and confine them.”
Angel pulls against the knight that held her, she trying desperately to explain things not wanting to be thrown in a prison cell. “WAIT!! You don't expect me to spend a single minuet locked away in a cell!! I told you! I'm the princess you have to believe me!! I’m not making this up!”
A guard walks into room stopping and watching Angel being dragged past him kicking and screaming, he stares at the scene them until she is out of sight before turning to the commander. “Sir, there is someone who wishes to speak with you.”
The Commander looks slightly annoyed to be bothered again so soon. “Who?
The guard shrugs his shoulders unable to provide him with an answer. “He… wouldn’t give me his name… he said that if I did you would refuse to see him…”
The Commander looks slight confused. “Refuse…? What did he look like?”
The guard begins to give the commander a description, the man being easy for him to remember. “A knight of the royalty, his armor was as white as ivory while his skin was very dark.”
The commander frowns when he realizes that this man could only be the one person. “It’s Clor that useless Zimiko knight…” He turns away from the guard refusing to put up with Clor right now. “He is correct in assuming that I do not wish to see him. Send him on his way.”
The guard nods his head. “Yes sir…” He turns to leave but finds Clor standing in the doorway preventing him from leaving.
Clor looks past the guard to the commander as he begins talking to him in an annoyed voice. “You can’t just send me away! I spend a long time traveling here you know.”
The commander narrows his eyes, annoyed to hear the all too familiar voice. “Who gave you permission to enter these quarters?”
Clor pushes past the guard making his way into the room. “Well seeing as my family blood line is well respected and held in high regard within the royalty I think me wanting to enter is well, reason enough.”
The commander turns to face him lifting his hand and pointing to the door. “Get out.”
Clor frowns refusing to move. “You’re being rather immature don’t you think? I came here on orders you know, you’re a high ranking commander now so you should know that you’re supposed to put business ahead of personal issues?”
The commander gives him a cold glare he knowing that Clor was right on this particular aspect. “Why have you come here?”
Clor smiles glad that he didn’t have to put up too much of a fight, though he knew that was going to change as soon as he brought this particular issue up. “I’ll get to that as soon as possible… but first I need you to tell me why you locked the group of people ahead of me up.”
The commander holds the gem his men had found on them so that Clor could see it. “They are thieves who tried to steal the Keepers Tear.”
Clor whistles as he stares at the Keepers Tear, a charge like that could get you behead within hours. “That’s a serious accusation…” He looks back to the commander. “So are you sure it was them?”
The commander nods his head as he walk to the back wall of the room placing the keepers tear on one of the shelves. “They were caught red handed.”
Clor sighs as she shakes his head at the comment. “Red handed hu…? That’s a load of crap… are you aware of who you just lock away?”
The commander sighs as he turns back to Clor not in the mood to drag that discussion any farther then it had already been pulled. “Are you here to convince me that the woman that was here is actually the dead Princess of East?”
Clor frowns as he scratches the back of his head. “Apparently you’re going to be difficult to convince…”
The commander shakes his head unwilling to hear what Clor had to tell him. “You have always provided me with less then satisfactory service… how am I to believe that this is not another mistake made on your behalf.”
Clor narrows his eyes as he begins talking back in his defense. “Hey… I’ve made mistakes I’ll admit to that, but I KNOW that woman is the Princess of East! I never forget or confuse the faces of woman whom I’ve met on my travels, if I didn’t I might end up calling one woman by the name of another and that would lead me into a lot of unwanted trouble.”
The commander waves his comment off, finding that to be a rather baseless argument. “This matter is no concern of yours.” He looks back at Clor speaking before Clor has a chance to start up again. “Now, why have you come here?”
Clor slouches slightly as he gets back to the job at hand. “You know the royalty isn’t going to be pleased when they find out about this…” He pulls a letter from a pack at his side holding it out to him. “It’s a mission given to me by that damn old man wizard that feels it is his born duty to needlessly overwork me.”
The commander stares at the letter. “Siren?” He takes it from Clor’s hands and begins to read it over.
Clor sighs as he crosses his arms and leans back against the wall, just thinking about this mission was depressing. “Too many pacts are being made with the demons between the human… the royalty wants it put to a stop immediately.”
The commander looks up from the letter. “They expect you to seal the pact creator?”
Clor nods his head. “Right now there is only one demon capable of making pacts with humans, he is one of the high lords, not nearly as powerful as the fledglings but still capable of creating pacts with humans. His name is Yami…”
The commander looks back to Clor. “So the demons have names now do they?”
Clor looks back at him. “Only the demon’s leaders have names.” He looks back at the commander getting back to the point. “The reason I came here is because I’m looking for someone who’s made a pact with this demon. If I go through them should be able to find the pact maker.”
The commander stares at Clor this being the first time he had heard of this. “Someone within this town has made pact with the demons?” He shakes his head that such a thing could not go unnoticed in a town as small as this. “Everyone in this town lives in fear of the demons… they can not leave this town without being attacked. If someone here were to make a pact it would be painfully obvious.” He hands the letter back to Clor. “I’m afraid you’ve run into a dead end coming here. You’ll have to find the person capable of taking you to the pact maker somewhere else.”
Clor shakes his head knowing well that could not be the truth. “But Sir… sightings of a demon that resembled a man are strong around here. The demon that resembles a man is the Yami the demon lord, he would not come around here unless it was because of a pact as its the only thing his followers cannot do for him.”
The commander shakes his head. “As I said before… this town is small… if a pact was made it would be quickly be noticed. There is no one with such a pact here.”
Clor sighs as he folds the letter up placing it back in the pouch. “If you say so…”
The knights that had escorted the princess and her party away soon return, the knight who had imprisoned Li stopping dead in his tracks when he sees the Zimiko knight, a look of shock and recognition filling his face. “Clor…?”
Clor turns towards the doorway when he hears the familiar voice. “Akito!” He smiles at him as he begins talking to him. “You have perfect timing! I know you hate me and everything but your commander is being more of a pain then usual, today he’s being nothing less then a complete ass!” The commander frowns and he begins grumbling to himself Clor continuing to talk to the other knight. “Do think that you can try talking to him for me?”
The commander raises his voice not wanting to hear another word from the Zimiko knight. “That is enough Clor. You are dismissed.”
Clor turns back to him with a look of annoyance. “Fine…”
Akito shakes his head overcoming his shock of seeing Clor, and quickly questioning him before he left. “Clor what are you doing here?”
Clor turns back to Akito with an annoyed look on his face. “Running into dead ends apparently…”
Akito watches in silence as Clor turns back to the commander bring the first topic up once more. “Regarding your most recent addition of prisoners.”
The commander growls lowly under his breath. “I told you before that it was no concern of yours? Why is it you insist on putting your nose where it does not belong?”
Clor continues ignoring his obvious request to shut the hell up. “I believe you should at least question them individually about it… after all it would be unreasonable to lock them out without giving them the chance to explain themselves.”
The commander points towards the door wanting Clor out now. “I repeat, it is none of your business.”
Clor refuses to move as he continues trying to explain. “You’re making a terrible mistake.”
The commander turns to the knight who still stood in the doorway. “Akito… please show Clor out, he seems to be having trouble leaving on his own.”
Clor narrows his eyes he knew this man to be stubborn but now was not the time for him to be acting in such a way. “You’re being unreasonable!”
Akito places his hand on Clor’s shoulder bringing his attention off of the commander and onto him. “This way please…”
Clor growls as he finally obeys the order given to him to leave, following Akito who was to lead to the exit. Clor looks back at Akito in annoyance. “How can you stand working under him? Ever since I first met him he’s always gotten on my nerves!”
Akito glances back at Clor. “You just don’t like dealing with him because we were all in the same division and he got promoted before you.”
Clor turns back to Akito. “That’s not true I don’t dislike him because he got promoted before me, everyone gets promoted before me so I’m used to it by now.”
Akito shakes his head, it wasn’t as if every knight working under the royalty was getting promotions, after all he himself was in the same position he had always been in. “You’re still young, give it time.”
Clor frowns as he begins explaining. “Age has nothing to do with it! Both my older sister AND my YOUNGER brother got promoted before me! Eymon got promoted to commander when he was sixteen, SIXTEEN!!!” He sighs to himself as something even more depressing came to mind. “Kara is worse! She got promoted when she was FOURTEEN!! I didn’t even know it was possible to get promoted at that age!” He holds his hand to his chest talking in an annoyed tone. “And then there’s me…Twenty-three years old and STILL a KNIGHT! The same thing I was when I was ten! Hell I was even a knight before I was ten!”
Akito sighs haven heard Clor make his point more times then he could count. “Well I’m sure that if you worked as hard as your siblings did you would be a commander too. The Zimiko’s are protégés after all, your family always develop the skills and strength to become knights faster then anyone else, so you really should have no excuse.”
Clor gives Akito an annoyed glare. “Hey! Hey!! You act like I don’t work at all! I work hard just like everyone else… I just do other things on the side too you know.”
Akito sighs as he explains to Clor why he could really care less. “Every time I see you you're complaining about the same thing.”
Clor grunts as he crosses his arms in annoyance. “Well apparently it really bothers me.”
Akito nods his head in agreement. “Apparently.” He comes to a stop when he reaches the entrance of the building having finished his task of leading Clor out. He steps to the side waiting for Clor to make his way past him. “You should be on your way, though I would love for you to stay and hear you continue to complain I have business to attend to.”
Clor looks disappointed to have to leave so soon after arriving. “Aw come on… I just got here… I’ll leave later, I’m tired of traveling right now.”
Akito frowns as he crosses his arms staring at Clor bitterly. “You’re still as lazy as ever…”
Clor shakes his head his reason for wanting to stay around a little longer not really due to him being lazy this time. “No, no, Swan got upset because she was convinced that after I talked to you I would leave. I don’t want to prove her right it would make me feel bad.”
Akito looks up at mention of his sisters name, he gives Clor a cold glare obviously not pleased that Clor had come into contact with her. “So then you ran into her?”
Clor frowns as he responds in an annoyed manner. “No need to get so uptight, we just ran into one another that’s it.”
Akito stays silent for a moment, the knight thinking something rather important over. He looks back at Clor speaking to him in the most pleasant way he could manage. “Hey… since you ran into her you might as well stick around a little longer. She’s really missed you.”
Clor stares at Akito in silence, he completely shocked by his words that he was having trouble finding something to say.
Akito smiles as he tries to make an even more welcoming offer to him. “We’ll have dinner at my place.”
Clor continues to stare and after a while of doing so finally speaks up. “What the hell is this all of a sudden? You’ve hated me for years.”
Akito shakes his head. “We’ve just had our disagreements that’s all, several years have passed since we worked in the same division… it’s long over by now.”
Clor frowns at him not one to so easily believe something like that. “I slept with your baby sister… you were ready to kill me…”
Akito shrugs his shoulders. “Back then sure, this is now I’ve long gotten over it.” He pats Clor on the back. “She hates me for leaving the city of the Palace of South and moving here. She’s been so upset about it that she hardly speaks to me anymore… I think that seeing you would cheer her up.”
Clor looks back at the building he had just been shown out of. “What kind of work are you doing here anyway… you’re were one of the highest ranking knights in the royal army before you left to come work and live here… and from what I heard there’s nothing really big happening in this town…”
Akito nods his head. “It’s a simple job… I just make sure the prisoners don’t escape, but even though it’s simple it take most of my time and I’m always working. Right now I have more on my hands then usual.”
Clor nods his head. “You do sound rather tired…”
Akito explains his situation to him. “I’m part of the group dealing with the case of the Keepers Tear…” He sighs tiredly to himself. “It’s a real mess this one…”
Clor looks back at him in disbelief. “The one that threw the princess in jail? How could you not have realized who she was!? You’ve got to know who she is, I mean you’ve seen her before haven’t you?”
Akito shakes his head. “No… unlike you when I worked within the royal army’s main forces I was not sent to work outside of the Southern territory. I’ve never seen the princess of East before.”
Clor continues to try and convince the knight that he was right about the princess’s identity. “Well… even so… she looks just like the other members of the royal family… there’s no denying that they’re related.”
Akito smirks as he brings another point up. “And I’m sure I would have known what the royal family looked like if the content of South still had its prince.”
Clor frowns bitterly at the comment, everyone in the royalty well aware that Clor was partly to blame for what had happened to the late Prince of South “Everyone has to continually remind me of that don’t they.”
Akito nods his head. “Well it was your fault…” He sighs changing the topic back to the previous one. “Regarding the prisoners… I’ll look into it for you… but right now I think you should leave the premises. The commander is already an irritable person to deal with it’s no good making him even worse.”
Clor frowns as he turns away from the building walking forward and beginning on his way. “I have my own business to do anyway… I’ll see you later then…”
Akito quietly watches him leave before turning and heading back inside of the building.
He looks up at the leaves of the tree he was in at a complete loss of what he was supposed to do now. “What do I do? I have to get everyone out of there but…” He slouches his shoulders unable to take in everything that had suddenly happened. “This is bad, how could this have possibly happened? What would my master tell me to do in a situation like this?”
You young wizard brightens up, if there was one thing that was simple for wizards to do it was contact one another through means of magic. “THAT'S RIGHT! Siren! He must be able to fix this problem!”
He gets to his feet balancing himself easily on the branch as he pulls his staff in front of him and begins chanting a long spell.
The princess turns back to her father to speak with him. “More warriors have arrived…” She walks over to him a look of concern on her face. “A war really is going to take place here isn’t it…”
The king nods his head. “It looks that way…”
The princess narrows her eyes. “Why must it be held here? The Castle of West is a symbol of safety and refuge… to bring a war to a place the people see to be safe means that symbol will be lost… where will they turn to if this place is turned into a war zone?”
The old wizard who stood by the kings side turns towards the princess answering her in a harsh manner. “The castle of West was never meant to be a symbol of safety.” The princess narrows her eyes at him as Siren continues. “It was made to protect the royalty’s weapon against the demons.”
The princess shakes her head. “It doesn’t matter why the barrier was placed here! The fact still remains… this is a place of hope to the people! We will crush it if we bring the war here!”
Siren narrows his eyes. “Do you believe we have a choice? If the demons regain their power what do you think they’re first target will be? It will be this castle because of the weapon he have stored here.”
The princess clenches her fists knowing that Siren was correct, she turns back to the window watching the recent addition of warriors enter the courtyard of the castle to join the many others that have already arrived. “You act as if the revival of the demon mother is unavoidable…”
The dust on the floor begins to rise off of the ground startling the princess. Siren watches in silence as the dust gathers forming into Echo’s image, the young wizard calling to him in worry. “Master!”Siren stares at his pupil rather annoyed, Echo did not pick the best of times to come and speak with him. “What do you want?”
Echo turns to Siren, his voice worried and full of urgency. “Something terrible had happened!”
A worried look fills Siren’s face when he hears this. “Terrible?”
The King looks at Echo’s figure then turns to Siren. “Siren? Who is this wizard?”
The Princess of West walks to the dust figure, knowing well who it was. “That’s Ec-”
Siren interrupts the princess answering the question that was intended for him to answer. “This is Echo, the pupil I sent to guide the princess here.”
The princes stops standing next to Echo’s form, as she begins to questioning him on what was wrong. “Echo what’s going on!? What’s terrible? Did something happen to Angel? You must tell me what has happened.”
Echo turns to the princess to answer her. “The truth is-”
Siren taps is staff on the ground interrupting Echo, the old wizard turning to the boy and lecturing him. “Echo have you forgotten that you are not permitted to speak with the members of the royal family!? Keep silent until I allow you to speak.”
Echo nods his head and he takes and step back bowing to him as he waited to be given permission to speak.
The Princess isn’t as willing as Echo is to obey Siren’s order. “What!? But I’m the one that asked him to explain! Surely he is able to answer when the royalty asks for him to speak.”
Echo turns to the princess a little surprised that she would take the responsibility for his mistake.
Siren sighs as he points his staff to the entrance of the throne room directing the princess to it. “Princess, if I could ask you to please leave.”
The Princess of West looks shocked by the request. “What!? Why!?”
The King turns to her backing Siren’s request. “Please, retreat to your room daughter, such conversation should no be held into the presence of a princess.”
The princess turns back to her father unwilling to follow such an order. “NO! Why would you not allow me to hear this conversation!? Angel is my cousin and I worry for her safety! If something has happened to her then I would like to know what!”
The King stands from his seat raising his voice to his daughter. “Isha! That was an order not a request.”
The princess frowns at him. “But...” She bits her bottom lip clearly understand that it was unwise to disobey him. He was more then just a king after all, he also being her father. “Yes...” She turns towards the entrance of the room walking forward and leaving the chambers.
The king turns to Siren. “Please have him explain the situation Siren.”
Siren looks back to Echo. “Explain the situation.”
Echo nods his head and he gets to his feet speaking directly to his master. “Angel Princess of East has been arrested and imprisoned.”
Both the king and elder wizard looked shocked to hear this, Siren being the one of the two to speak up. “What!? How did this happen!?”
Echo begins to explain the events that had happened. “On our way to the castle we happened upon a congregation that had been destroyed. The princess and her guardians were blamed for its destruction and taken away.”
Siren looks back to the king confused, he turning back to Echo with a troubled expression on his face. “Why would Knights of the royalty arrest you so blindly?”
Echo lowers his head not sure how well his master would take this piece of information. “Because the Keeper’s Tear was found on one of our party members…”
A look of absolute horror fills the king’s face. “Keeper’s tear!? You don't mean!?”
Echo nods his head as he confirms just what the king feared. “Yes... the congregation that we stumbled upon was the one delivering the keeper’s tear to you.”
The kings places his hand on his forehead, a tired and stressed feeling overcoming him when he heard this. “How could this have happened? Some of my best men were-”
Siren glares down at his student appalled that he would let such a thing happen to the princess. “Echo, how could you have let something like this happen!?”
The king walks up to Siren placing a hand on his shoulder. “Excuse me Siren... I must attend to fixing this mater at once.” He begins walking towards the exit of the room.
Echo watches him leave, the small wizard angrily raising his voice and yelling over at him. “Why is the Keeper’s Tear more important then the princess!?”
The kings stop as he turns back to Echo. “What?”
Echo frowns as he explained a fact that had been troubling him since running into the slaughtered collection of the Kings men. “You sent so many of your best men to deliver the jewel to your castle, but I was the only one sent to protect and guide the princess here. Why!?”
Siren stares at Echo in silence as Echo continues. “The keeper’s tear protects the castle and everyone inside, I understand why that would be important but... if the demons capture the princess... an even worse fate will befall all of Fynta!! So why isn't the Princess of East protected in such a way!?”
The king frowns turning to Siren, Siren nodding his head as he turns back addressing Echo. “Echo...”
Echo turns back to his master nervously answering him, he now realizing that he had probably angered the both of them by saying what he had just said. “Yes?”
Siren talks to Echo in a cold tone, a manner of speech that Echo had not heard from his teacher. “Have the princess stay in the prison.”
Echo looks shocked to have him give such instructions to him. “But Master!”
Siren begins to explain to Echo the reason for his decision. “She will be safe from the demons there. It is the last place they would search for a princess.”
Echo begins to protest knowing that the prison was not an acceptable place for Angel to be staying in. “But...”
Siren continues with his instructions unwilling to hear Echo speak anymore of it. “I will send troops to retrieve the Princess and the Keeper’s Tear. You are leave the princess’s side and to come here to the Castle of West, you are now relived from your duty of protecting the Princess of East, there is no need for you to remain there any longer.”
Echo eyes widen in shock. “But…” He shakes his head grinding his teeth together as he gathers the strength he needed to protest Siren’s decision. “But Master!”
Siren point his staff accusingly towards Echo. “You have been foolish since the very beginning! How could you have placed the princess’s life in the hands of thieves!? It was that decision that placed the princess in that predicament in the first place!”
Echo shakes his head and he placing his hand to his chest, knowing that his companions were not the ones to blame. “It wasn't their fault! It-”
Siren once again interrupts him not one for listening to people’s excuses. “I should have never entrusted you with such a dangerous mission.”
Echo glares back at his master, he knew and took responsibilities for his actions but this was not something that had been his fault, and it was clear that he and the others were not to blame. “Li and Hitsumi... the people that I have asked to help me. I trust them with my very life, and I would not entrust them with Angel's otherwise.” He raises his voice to Siren knowing that he had not made a mistake in allowing those two to help them. “They are more dependable then most people I have worked with inside of the royalty.”
Siren angrily swings his staff through Echo's image, blowing the dust and Echo's image away and ending the link between the two. He sighs heavily, a thick worry clouding his mind. “Of all the things that could have gone wrong.”
The king looks over at Siren trying to think of the best way to solve the problem that had arisen. “I will send the troops right away. We need the Keeper’s Tear as soon as possible.”
A worried look fills Siren’s face as another complication become apparent. “That is the same transport I entrusted Lucifer to…”
Princess of West stands silently outside the entrance of the throne room, clenching her fists in response to what she had just hear. “Just leave her there? They won't even inform the jail keepers that she isn't a criminal?” She quickly walks away from the door not wanting to be spotted by them.
The Princess of West retreats to her room so that she would be able to think over such matters on her own, the situation as troubling as it was horrifying. “I wish there was something I could do…” She turns towards the window of her room walking up to and looking out of it. “But... Kara, my personal knight... was sent away on a special assignment. I'm forbidden to leave the castle without her by my side.”
A worried look fills the princess’s face. “She has not contacted me once since she left that day...”
The large gates of the castle begin to open, the Zimiko knight known as Kara waiting for the gates to fully open so that she could leave and be on her way, the concerned voice of the princess calling over to her and keeping her in place for a moment longer. “Kara! Where are you going!?”
Kara turns back to the princess smiling, the Zimiko knight smiling warmly to her. “I've been sent on a special assignment.”
The princess doesn’t look happy to learn of this. “Assignment? What assignment?”
Kara keeps the warm smile on her face as she continues to speak to the princess. “I am find something that the royalty has long lost sight of.”
The princess’s face is covered with a troubled expression. “But you're the most powerful Commander here! Why would they send you!?”
Kara laughs slightly the princess having answered her own question without realizing it. “It's because of that that I am being sent... they need someone powerful enough to destroy it. Don't worry, I promise I will return alive and well.”
The princess shakes her head unable to believe the knights words when she knew clearly just how many had fallen trying to finish this particular assignment. “But… everyone who has been sent on that mission has never returned.”
Kara smiles as she reaches over placing her hand on the princess’s shoulder. “If I said don't worry, you don't have to worry.” She takes her hand from the princess’s shoulder turning and continuing on her way. “I'm the best warrior under this countries command, as well as I am still your Knight. If you keep those two facts in mind then you will know that I will indeed return.”
The princess closes her eyes unsure of what she could possibly do to help her cousin in her plight. “My father only allowed me to leave the castle if Kara was with me. If she were here she would help Angel.”
He sighs to himself as he looks over at his arm still deeply wounded from the attacks he had received earlier, the gouges he had received from the battle preventing him from moving in his animal form. “It is much more tiring as well… stupid knight…”
The wizard stops when he sees the grass start to shift against the wind, another wind rising from the ground as dust start to lift around him. Lucifer narrows his eyes at the unwelcome magic link. “No way! If he thinks that I am going to speak with him after this he is sour mistaken!”
Siren’s image forms in the dust near Lucifer, the old wizard sighing in relief when he sees Lucifer’s figure. “Good… you are still alive, you’ve managed to escape then I see.”
Lucifer glares over at the image yelling at it in hostility. “You stupid, good for nothing basterd of an old fart!” He lowers his body to the ground changing into the form of a female panther refusing to speak with him, the panther continuing on its way to limp in the direction she had before been headed in.
Siren sighs as he tries to get the younger wizard to calm down. “Please do not be mad at me, I only went through such measures because I wanted to be sure that you arrived here safely.”
Lucifer stumbles and falls to the ground, unable to properly walk in the form she was in. She grunts in annoyance as she lays her body on the ground knowing that she could not travel any farther then she had already in this form.
Siren continues trying to convince the panther that he had made the right decision regarding what had happened to her. “The demons have been getting stronger in the last few weeks as they have come close to opening the rift once again. I did it only because I worry about your safety.”
Lucifer changes back into her human form not thinking that she would be able to get out of this situation unless she was able to talk back to the elder wizard. He glares at Siren hatefully not needing help when it came to safely traveling a land he had treaded upon for thousands of years. “I am perfectly capable of handling demons on my own! If you can recall I was the one who fought the demons when they were at full power as well as I was one of the people who weakened the demon mother enough for her to be sealed!”
He narrows his eyes insulted that Siren would think him to need help. “I do not need protection from demons. They are the ones who need protection from me!!”
Siren the wizard sighs as he continues trying to explain his reasons. “It was only a precaution.”
Lucifer points to him accusingly not for a moment believing a single word that was coming out of his mouth. “How stupid do you believe me to be!? It was for no such thing!”
Siren shakes his head. “You know how important you are to me.”
Lucifer growls under his breath, he knew the reason why his superior would do such a thing to him and it wasn’t something as pretty as a safety precaution. “You think that I am hiding information from you! That is why you did this to me!”
Siren sighs as he tries to assure the younger wizard that that was not the case at all. “Lucifer you know well I trust you more then any of the other wizards alive.”
Lucifer frowns as he begins yelling at the wizard’s image thinking that it was impossible for the old man to trust anyone. “You trust me as much as you trust Whisper!”
Siren narrows his eyes at the mention of Whisper’s name, the tone of his voice now bitter and hateful. “You know that’s not true.”
Lucifer takes a breath calming himself down so that he would be able to speak to Siren in a normal and serious manner so it didn’t sound as if he were simply just lashing out in defense. “I am not withholding any information from the royalty…”
Siren frowns knowing well there was no point in denying Lucifer’s accusations. “I have no reason to believe otherwise.”
Lucifer glares at him hatefully, grinding and baring his teeth a low growl escaping his throat.
Siren shakes his head knowing well that worrying over things that had all ready happened would bring about nothing of use, the wizard switching to a more important topic that would prove to be of more use to him. “You are on your way to the West Castle I presume?”
Lucifer narrows his eyes and annoyed look filling his face, the wizard in black answering in a dry and flat tone voice. “The Castle of West…” He begins yelling at the old wizard once again. “Do you really expect me to jump to my feet and go there as quickly as possible after an experience like that? You must be joking!”
Siren frowns as he fights back with Lucifer not allowing him to win this argument. “We really do not have time to procrastinate, at the rate things are going-”
Lucifer interrupts the wizard before he is able to finish speaking. “I know, I know!” He talks in a sarcastic manner. “The revival, the end of humanity and the rise of demons. The whole world will be plunged in darkness.” He grabs onto his neck making choking sounds. “Endless pain and torment will soon follow, turning this world in to a burning lifeless hell under the rule of demons. Wizards will be killed, humans will be enslaved. Everything will die! Blah, blah, blah…”
Siren glares at the wizard less then amused. “This is serious!”
Lucifer turns back to him. “Of course I know that… but after hearing about it for as long as I have you get sick of it.” He sighs shaking his head. “I have fought the demons enough to learn that each war ends up the same.”
Siren narrows his eyes. “This war will not be the same as the others! This is the last, the final deciding war against the demons! There are only a few demons remaining and if we’re able to kill them off then there will be no more demons left within the world.”
Lucifer frowns tilting his head to the side and sweeping his hair over his shoulder. “And if the demons release their mother? The humans will loose you know, their race is not yet ready to handle another attack by her. It will be the last battle all right, but we will not be the ones on the winning side.”
Siren frowns at Lucifer’s words, refusing to believe that humanity would fall. “We will not loose this one…” He looks back at Lucifer giving him his orders. “Come to the West Castle at once. We can not afford wasted time.”
Lucifer closes eyes as he thinks the order over, he not having to dwell on it long before coming up with an answer “No… I will not head to the castle at once.” He smiles as he looks back at the older wizard. “I am not betraying you or anything like that, I just have several things to do before arriving that is all.” He stretches his arms out taking several steps back from Siren’s image. “I few personal errands, they should not take long at all I do not think.” His smile turns dark as he stares at Siren’s image. “You do not mind do you?”
Siren glares at Lucifer knowing fully that right now he really had no choice, he having no way of stopping him the way things were now. “Of course I do not mind…”
Lucifer hums to himself as he walks up to Siren to get a closer look at his face. “Oh? The tone in your voice tells me otherwise.”
Siren narrows his eyes laying the line that Lucifer must follow before him again. “Remember, if you want your name and freedom back you must win this war.”
The smile leaves Lucifer’s face once he is reminded. He nods his understand knowing well what his objective was, fully intending to carry it out. “Do not worry… it will be won…”
Siren nods his head as his image starts to break apart. “I expect to see you soon.” His image soon completely vanishes leaving Lucifer alone.
Lucifer closes his eyes smiling once again in his sinister way. “But it will not be won in the way you are hoping it to be won Siren…”
He tightens his hands into fists clenching his teeth as he tried to hold back his tears. “How… I didn’t make a mistake… I did everything correctly…” He brushes the tears from his face knowing that Siren would not do such a thing to him unless it was for a good reason.
He takes a deep breath to try to calm himself down, it was selfish for him to act like this, this mission was not from his enjoyment but for Angel’s sake. He tightly shuts his eyes as he lets the harsh reality sink in. “I guess... if this is what Siren commands… then it would be better this way...”
The small wizard is interrupted when he hears the sound of someone crying near him. Echo opening his eyes looking around him for the source of the sound, his gaze soon turning to the ground under the tree he was perched in, Echo finding a small girl kneeling beside the tree with her hands covering her face as she tried to hold back her tears.
Echo looks a little surprised to see her, the wizard wiping the last of his own tears before turning to her. “Why is she crying? When did she get here?”
