Guardian Souls
By: Ghost of the Dawn
Chapter Eight: Diana
Ryo ran back to the room out of breath. It took him a while to find it, but he finally made his way back to the place the other Ronins were. Cye looked up when he came in.
“There you are,” he greeted. “We thought you might have gotten lost so Myune said she would go search for you and Shinsetsu since she actually knows her way around the place.”
Ryo gave an uncomfortable laugh. “Yeah, I got lost.” Among other things. “Sorry guys, I guess I kind of flipped out. It didn’t help any, huh?”
“Everything’s fine,” Sage assured them. He was sitting nearest to Kento and Robyn’s bodies. He had his hand floating over Robyn’s foot and was acting as if it were a natural thing to do. It seemed, in fact, it might be as no one else has a problem with it. Therefore, Ryo didn’t ask.
“They’re alright and will keep going for now,” Sage continued. “Though I would still like to get Shinsetsu here and ask how long we dare leave them like this. I would say anything longer than an hour more wouldn’t be healthy for them–or safe.”
Ryo gave a deep sigh as he sat himself down on the floor. He thought about the meeting he had with that strange man in the castle. He said he was the one they were sent here to fight. But if that was the case, then what was he supposed to do? Should he tell the other Ronins about it? Should he tell Shinsetsu? The old man had promised they would know everything in time. Would he be jumping the gun by letting it out? Should he wait until they were ready to explain what was going on?
“Hello, Ryo.”
Ryo looked up and blinked at the person sitting next to him.
“Uh, hi....Rowen.”
Ryo looked confused at why his blue haired friend looked so offended.
“I feel fine, thanks for asking,” Rowen continued in a dry tone.
Ryo blinked at him again.
“Oh good grief!” Cye cut in. “Just because Ryo’s not making a fuss over you just getting out of bed...”
“Hey,” Rowen defended. “I’ve been out for almost two days. Ryo’s one of the first people I see and I don’t even get so much as a ‘Hey Rowen, good to see you’re up’ or a ‘How are you feeling Rowen, can I get you anything?”
Cye voiced how ridiculous he thought the complaint was by huffing loudly and turning his back to the conversation.
Rowen turned back over to Ryo who smirked at him. He was going to do something a bit out of character, but oh well.
“Oh Rowen, I’m SO glad you’re alive!” Ryo cried, throwing his arms around his friend. “I thought you were gonna die! I was so worried! I don’t know what I would have done if something had happened to you! I’m so happy!”
His body was wracked with loud, heavy sobs. Sobs that were fake. Rowen looked up from Ryo’s false, crying clutches looking even more insulted than before. Cye snorted at the sight.
“What’s the matter, Rowen?” he chided. “Isn’t that what you wanted?”
Rowen sighed. “Kinda. I’m just wishing it were a pretty girl, instead.”
Ryo instantly stopped and pulled back.
“Sorry, Rowen, can’t help you there. I’m always going to have a flat chest.”
Next, Rowen did something completely in character for him. He reached out and pressed his palm to Ryo’s chest.
“No,” he sighed. “Doesn’t do a thing for me.”
“I found him,” Myune called as she walked in with Shinsetsu.
The young men all looked up. Myune’s eyes went wide at the sight of the two men kneeling in front of each other with Strata’s hand flat on Wildfire’s chest.
“What in the world ARE you two doing?!”
*******
Robyn felt numb. If she had been standing, she was sure she would have collapsed right then and there. All their work. All the walking and the dangers and the pain. It was all for nothing. The two of them could go no further. This made Robyn mad.
“What the hell?” Kento yelled into the abyss for her. “This is bullshit!”
“No kidding,” Robyn agreed. “What are we supposed to do now? How do we keep going?”
“We-we can’t....” Kento admitted.
Robyn’s heart jumped in her throat. “What? No! We can’t give up here! There has to be some way! Put me down!”
Kento did so. Robyn flinched a bit as she tried to put some weight on her right foot. It still felt broken. Sage was sure doing a slow ass job of healing her. Feeling mad and frustrated, Robyn hobbled away from Kento, suddenly feeling the urge to get some distance and clear her head.
“So, what should we do now?” Kento asked.
Robyn didn’t answer. She needed to think. There had to be a reason for this. This had to be some kind of test or puzzle or.....something.
“We might have to start over, Robyn,” Kento continued.
Still, Robyn ignored him. She didn’t want to do that. She couldn’t. There was no way she could go back there and face them empty handed.
“Robyn, we can’t go any furth--”
“I know that! Shut up!” Robyn screamed, covering her ears.
She didn’t want to hear his stupid chattering. She didn’t want to hear Kento’s voice telling her it was hopeless to think they could go on from there. Robyn gave a noise of frustration as she buried her face in her hands and slid to the floor, curling up into a miserable ball.
“Robyn?” Kento asked.
He was surprised at her outburst and even more surprised to see how easily she had crumbled at this new roadblock. The Bearer of Hardrock let out a heavy breath. Sometimes he forgot Robyn was a girl and that girls were more emotional than he was. Robyn had wanted so much for this to succeed. It almost broke his heart to see her breaking down in defeat like this. He walked over and crouched down in front of her.
“Hey, Robyn?” he tried, touching her wrist.
“No!” Robyn cried in her hands, shaking her head and shaking him off. “Don’t try to make me feel better about this! I know I screwed up!”
“Robyn, come on,” Kento coaxed, trying again to pull her hands away. “It’s not so bad. We can always try again.”
This time, he managed to slowly pull Robyn’s hands away from her eyes. His chest tightened to find there were tears there.
“Why? Why can’t I do it?” Robyn sniffed. “If I’m the real priestess, then I’m supposed to be helpful here. I’m supposed to be able to do this for you and the others. But all I do is screw up and I hold everyone back!”
Robyn suddenly threw herself in Kento’s arms, clutching the front of his robe and burying her face in his chest.
“I’m sorry!” she sobbed. “I’m sorry I’m so useless to you!”
She squeezed her eyes tight, unable to look at him, but also unable to let go of him as well. She couldn’t bear knowing she had let him down. He must have been so frustrated and mad with her. After all, she was the one who had made them push on, even made him carry her, all the way to this dead end when he wanted to start over. Robyn clenched her fists tighter and prayed he wouldn’t hate her for this.
Her eyes shot open when a pair of strong arms suddenly pulled her tighter.
“You’re not useless,” a deep, soothing voice said.
Robyn relaxed slightly in the embrace.
“I am,” she insisted. “I came with you all the way out here, but I cannot help you–not in this place or any other place you go. I’m just a burden.”
Robyn refused to look at him and, instead, opted to tell her troubles to his chest. So Kento let his cheek rest on the top of her head as he slowly stroked her hair.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” he said softly. “I don’t care what you can or can’t do. I just want you with me.”
Robyn’s heart jumped at those words. She pulled away so she could see his face.
“Do you mean that?”
“Of course,” Kento grinned. “I’ll do what ever I have to for us to stay together.”
Robyn’s blood felt like it was on fire. The heat was spreading to her cheeks, making her face warm and her head light. Together. He had said he wanted her to be with him. He wanted her.
“Oh, Kento,” she choked. “I–I do, too.”
Robyn closed her eyes. Her heart fluttered with joy as she reached over to kiss him.
“Woah, time out!” Kento exclaimed. Her lips had lightly brushed his before he realized this conversation was taking an unexpected turn. He definitely hadn’t seen this coming and quickly grabbed Robyn’s shoulders, putting her at arm’s distance.
Robyn’s eyes popped open. “Huh?” she asked at Kento’s face. He looked far more surprised than she did.
“What are you doing?” he blurted.
Robyn stared at him. The realization of what she had done made her face go far redder than it had ever been.
Oh, shit!
She quickly pulled herself out of his grasp and scooted away.
“No...oh no,” she groaned. She curled up again, clasping her hands over the top of her head and hiding behind her arms. “I screwed up again! I’m sorry, I misunderstood.”
Kento blinked at her a few times before realization set upon him as well as to what just happened.
Holy cow! All that stuff I just said to her, it totally sounded like I...
“Oh geeze!” was all he could think to say.
Kento could have punched himself. He wasn’t trying to hit on Robyn or anything. He was just trying to make her feel better. He had totally meant what he said, too, but he didn’t mean for her to take it THAT way.
But she did, Kento thought. And she said that she liked me. Woah, awkward!
Now Hardrock’s cheeks were a bit flushed. He had no idea she was starting to feel that way about him. And now he was paying for being such a bullheaded, ignorant guy.
“Oh, Robyn,” Kento tried, feeling even more awkward now that he was trying to talk to her about it. “What I said....I didn’t mean–I just....”
He trailed off, not sure what to really say.
Robyn, for her part was desperately trying to pretend he wasn’t there. She was so humiliated. She didn’t want to see or hear anything from Kento Rei Faun. So why did they now have to be stuck in this place alone together?
I want to get away! She cried inside. I feel so stupid! I don’t want him to look at me! Why do I have to be stuck here? I’m a spirit, damnit! Why can’t I just get out of here?
I want to be away from here!
Then, Robyn looked up. Nothing was as it had been. The ravine, the large void, Kento–they were all gone. She stood up and looked about. A lush, green forest grew all around her. A small waterfall splashed into a sparkling pond and the sun was shining.
“Congratulations, Priestess of Hardrock,” Anubis said as he walked through the swaying grass towards her. “You made it.”
“Where.....am I?” Robyn wondered.
“Your destination,” the red haired monk explained. “This is the border between life and death. A place where spirits wait to go back into the world of the living, or pass on to the afterlife. You found it when you realized your own spiritual existence.”
“Woah, wait,” Robyn clarified. “So you mean to say that otherwise, I never would have found it by simply walking?”
“Of course not,” Anubis announced. “This is the spirit world, you cannot get anywhere by traveling like you’re still in a physical body.”
Robyn lowered her head, letting her hair cover her face. Her fists trembled at her sides. One reached up and tapped him lightly on the shoulder. Yes, the ghost was solid in this world.
Anubis looked at her curiously. “Robyn?”
In a blink, Robyn was upon him. The startled Anubis fell flat on his back with Robyn sitting on his chest. She instantly had a hold of his collar and began whipping his head around like it was a rag doll.
“YOU BASTARD! YOU MADE US GO THOUGH ALL OF THAT FOR NOTHING!? WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY ANYTHING?”
“YyyoOOoou h-hhad to le–learn it f–OOor yourrrrrs–EEeelf!” Anubis cried as he was being abused.
Robyn was about to yell at him some more when she cried out in pain and jumped off him.
“Sonofa–“ she cussed as he grabbed her ankle. She had momentarily forgotten it was still broken.
“Oh, you poor thing,” a sweet, gentle voice said. “Let me help you.”
Robyn looked up as a beautiful young woman in an equally beautiful gown knelt beside her. She placed her perfect, elegant hands over Robyn’s ankle and a light blue light emitted from them. Within seconds the pain was gone.
Robyn blinked at it.
“It’s all better,” she marveled. “I mean, you couldn’t tell that there was anything wrong in the first place, but you fixed it.”
“That is my special ability,” the beautiful woman said with a smile. “I can see the wounds of the soul and heal them.”
Robyn looked at her and then a huge, silly smile plastered itself on her face.
“You–you’re her, aren’t you?” he gasped.
“I am,” she nodded. “Priestess of the West, Guardian of Torrent. I am so pleased to meet you, Lady Hardrock.” She bowed deeply. “Thank you for coming all this way to find me. I would not be able to leave this place without your help.”
Robyn was euphoric. “I did it,” she whispered to herself. “I did it!” She jumped on the taller woman and hugged her. “I found you! I did it!”
“Y-yes, you did!” the Priestess of Torrent replied. She laughed, a bit surprised at Robyn’s actions.
“Oh, sorry,” Robyn said sheepishly when she remembered her manners. “My name is Robyn. I am, of course, the Priestess of Hardrock.”
The Priestess of Torrent pressed her palms together thoughtfully, as if not sure of her next line. “Well, the name I had before I died was Diana. So I guess you can call me that.”
“Great!” Robyn grinned. “Nice to meet you, Diana.”
“Lady Hardrock.” Robyn turned when Anubis addressed her. “Where is your partner?”
Before Robyn could even shrug, Kento appeared beside her.
“Hey, there you are!” Kento announced. “I was wondering where you went. It just took me a bit longer to figure out how to get here.” He looked at the other woman standing beside his friend. “Well, I guess we got what we came for. We can go now, right?”
Anubis nodded. “Indeed. This quest is over. It is time to take Lady Torrent back with you to the land of the living.”
“How exactly do we do that?” Robyn wondered.
Hey, what’s going on over there? How are you two doing?
“It’s Sage!” Robyn clapped. “We found her Sage. We’re ready to come back now.”
Good. Shinsetsu is here. I’ll tell him you are ready to go.
“So....this is it, huh?” Kento rolled out. “We’re done. What do we do now?”
“The three of you should probably stand close together,” Anubis decided. “When your souls are pulled back into your bodies, Lady Torrent’s should be pulled with you.”
“What about you, Anubis?” Kento asked as Diana moved between the two Hardrocks. “Aren’t you coming, too?”
“Does he have to?” Robyn whined. She had already had her fill of the ex-Warlord.
Anubis shook his head. “I have no right to try to claim another body in any physical world. I have lived several mortal lifetimes–most of which were squandered on selfish pursuits. Even my spirit grows tired with the thought of it. I wish to at last rest in peace with my ancestors who wait for me on the other side.”
Kento looked a bit disappointed while Diana looked downright forlorn. Robyn could have cared less.
“Thank you, Anubis,” Diana bowed. “You have been a good friend to me. I wish you would come. You were the only companionship I had while waiting here. I will miss you. You know after this, our souls shall never meet again.”
Robyn blinked. How was that so? Surely everyone would meet in the spirit realm again, no matter when they died. So what did Diana mean by that and why did that Anubis guy suddenly look so sad?
“I know,” Anubis said, regret clearly written on his face. “But I will not pass on until all that was meant to be done here is finished. If you ever need to call on me, you may do so through the power of Lady Hardrock and I will guide you as best I can.”
Robyn looked over at him. Great. If anyone wanted to talk to this guy, they would have to do it through her? She wasn’t looking forward to that at all. Anubis saw her expression and raised an eyebrow, surprising her with a smirk. Robyn smiled back in spite of herself. Maybe he was okay after all.
“Well, here it is,” Kento announced. They could start feeling a slight pull now. Their spirits were being prepared to return to the side of the living. “See you on the flip side, Anubis.”
The red haired monk waved. “Good luck,” he said in almost a lonely voice.
Kento let out a deep breath and looked past Diana to Robyn. He could feel the pull growing stronger. It wouldn’t be long now.
“Hey, Robyn?”
She turned and looked at him.
“About....what happened earlier...”
Robyn blinked at him blankly. She seemed to have no idea what he was talking about.
“What happened earlier?”
Kento’s eyes went wide in surprise. How dare she act like it never happened!
“What do you mean ‘what happened’?” he demanded.
That was all he could get out before he felt a tight grip on his spirit and it was snapped out of limbo and into something solid.
********
The other four Ronins were gathered tightly around the circle on the floor. They weren’t allowed to go inside the design drawn in the floor until Shinsetsu was finished. In the middle were Kento and Robyn’s bodies, still lifeless as the symbol started to glow. This worried them a bit. Even Sage. He had no idea what was going on. Something like this was never needed for any kind of astral projection he had heard of.
The symbol grew brighter and brighter with a scorching, white light. Then, it began to shrink. The circular beam of light began to dim and retreat to the center until it was nothing but a glowing ball. It was about the size of a bowling ball and it hovered over Shinsetsu’s open palm.
While no one knew what the heck it was, the blind old man looked very pleased with it. He lowered his head to address the two bodies still lying on the floor.
“You two have done well,” he told them. “Now, awaken.”
Instantly, Kento’s eyes popped open and he sat up. He groaned as he rubbed his stiff neck.
“Man, it’s good to be back,” he quipped.
“Alright, Kento!” Ryo cheered as he and the others ran to greet him. “How was it?”
Kento thought about it.
“Weird.” Was all he could think to say.
“Robyn? Robyn, wake up!”
Everyone looked over to Cye who was cradling Robyn’s still lifeless body in his arms. The Bearer of Torrent shot an accusing look at the old mage.
“Where is she?” he demanded. “Why isn’t she waking up?”
“Oh man,” Kento spoke first. “I could feel it as we were coming back. All of us were doing fine, then it was as if something grabbed her and held her back.”
Before anyone could ask what he meant by that, Robyn’s body sprang to life. Her eyes flew open wide as she sucked in a deep breath like she had been holding it all day.
“Robyn, thank goodness,” Cye sighed. “You worried us for a bit.”
Robyn sat up, touching her face in bewilderment. She looked at the familiar faces gathered around her. “Did I make it back?”
“Sure did,” Kento grinned. “We did it!”
She smiled at him and then gasped. The Ronins became alarmed again as Robyn’s face suddenly drained of all color and she clutched herself. Her body started shaking considerably.
“Robyn,” Cye worried, afraid to even touch her. “What’s wrong?”
By now, her trembling lips were turning blue.
“C-cold...” she rasped in a breathless voice. “It’s s-so cold...”
She didn’t know what was happening. It felt as if icy talons had ripped their way into her body and torn out the very core of her, leaving even the deepest part of her void from any warmth. It was a sickening embrace, one of a presence that was now a part of her.
“I’ve got this, guys.”
Robyn hardly heard the voice before Ryo sat himself behind her and wrapped his bright red cape and his arms around her. Robyn’s body was now without any strength to either fight or comply as she was pulled tightly against his chest.
The other four Ronins looked on helplessly as Robyn leaned limply against him. Sage looked over at Kento.
“What about you?” Halo asked. “Do you feel okay?”
Kento shrugged as he scratched his nose. “Fine, I guess. A little tired maybe, but nothing else.”
“Hmm, such a strange side affect,” Shinsetsu thought out loud as he stroked his beard with his free hand. “My apologies Lady Hardrock. It is probably because of the spell to bring back Lady Torrent’s spirit with you. I had never done it before. With your powers as a guardian, you probably took the full drain of the spell to shield Lord Hardrock.”
“Really?” Kento wondered. “Sorry Robyn.”
“It–it’s okay,” Robyn said through chattering teeth. Though in truth, she disagreed with the old man’s theory. Her lack of warmth felt as though it was caused by something sneaking inside her, not by something draining her.
In the meantime, Rowen sat himself carefully down next to the two on the floor. He tipped his head and leaned over so he could get a better look at Robyn’s face. She smiled weakly at him.
“Hey, you’re awake.”
“Just in time,” he smiled back.
“So Shinsetsu,” Kento said, eyeing the old man’s glowing orb. “Is that the Priestess’ soul then?”
“Correct, Lord Hardrock,” Shinsetsu replied. “I think you’re starting to understand the way of things.”
“Nice,” Kento replied, proud of himself.
“I will now take her to perform the ceremony which will give her soul a temporary body. Lord Torrent, you may want to come. With the two of you sharing armor powers it may make it easier to stabilize her in this world.”
Cye took a hesitant step forward. His actions were automatic; being used to doing what he was told. But inside, he was still nervous about this. Now, he was going to meet some strange woman–and a dead one at that–that was supposed to be tied to him. How could he be comfortable with that?
“I’ll come with you,” Kento offered, putting a friendly hand on Cye’s shoulder.
His best friend looked to him gratefully.
“I think.....I’m going to take Robyn to her room,” Ryo announced.
The young red head already looked like she was dozing off. Ryo wrapped his cape around her and picked her up. He exited the room after Shinsetsu and Kento and Cye. The three went one way down the hall and Ryo departed the other. He carried Robyn to the room that was specifically made for the Priestess of Hardrock and went inside.
Once there, Ryo allowed himself a heavy sigh. Everyone had chalked Robyn’s condition up to simply being drained from her ordeal. But Ryo wasn’t so sure that was the case. Robyn had said she was cold, but that wasn’t the whole thing. The second Ryo’s body came in contact with hers, he could feel it sucking the warmth right out of him like a drowning man sucks up air. He actually had to turn to his armor powers for extra heat. If not, he might have ended up just like her. So it was a good thing he had gotten to her first for Ryo was sure if it had been any of the others, they definitely would have.
Ryo, of course, didn’t mention any of this to anyone. Mostly because he just wasn’t sure what to say. Maybe what was happening to Robyn was natural. He didn’t want to alarm anyone if it was. And now, he could definitely feel Robyn’s pull on his armor less and less as she settled back into her natural body temperature. Ryo was relieved. Robyn seemed to be okay now–just tired. So now there was no need to mention this to anyone.
Still, Ryo couldn’t help but wonder if he should just leave Robyn alone right now. In truth, he really didn’t even want to let her go, let alone leave the room. After looking around and giving a shrug, Ryo decided to do what he felt like and stepped right up on Robyn’s bed. Then, he sat himself down with Robyn resting against his chest like she had been earlier.
Robyn’s body still felt a bit chilled, so he wrapped them both up in a blanket and rested his chin on the top of her head, settling in to let his armor finish the job of warming up his friend. All was quiet inside. Almost peaceful. For the first time, Ryo was starting to feel like he could sit back for a moment and actually think about things without something going on.
Then there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” Ryo called. So much for that. Oh well.
The door opened a bit slower than a person normally would. When Ryo saw who it was, he could easily see why. It was Rowen in the doorway. He looked a bit winded from walking all the way down there and then hefting open the heavy door. He clutched his arm on the side of the injured shoulder, cradling it a bit.
“What’s up, Rowen?” Ryo asked, concerned as to why his wounded friend dragged himself all the way down there alone.
To this question, Rowen instantly tried to look like he just happed to pass by.
“Oh, nothing much,” he said as he looked around. “I just...” He paused in his reply, wondering what he could say to make it sound like he wasn’t purposefully tailing them. He had wanted to see Robyn and he was a bit worried about her. He also had to admit that he felt a tiny pang of jealousy when Ryo carried her out. For some reason, he couldn’t stand the thought of him taking care of her alone like that.
“I just don’t know what to do with myself right now,” Rowen finally said.
Ryo smiled knowingly at him. He could understand that just after waking up, Rowen was probably feeling a bit left behind.
“You can come sit here,” Ryo offered.
Rowen gratefully walked over to the bed and lowered himself with a heavy breath. Ryo shook his head at him. Rowen’s face was still pale and he looked tired. He really should have stayed in bed.
Rowen saw Ryo’s expression and ignored it.
“How’s Robyn?”
“Fine,” Ryo replied, looking down at the girl in his arms. “She’s almost back to normal. She’s just sleeping right now.”
Rowen looked down at her as well. He seemed to want to say something, but never did.
“I’m just going to stay with her a little longer,” Ryo continued. “It’s not like I have anything else to do, anyway.”
“Then I’ll stay, too,” Rowen insisted. He tugged at a corner of the blanket and pulled it out until it was now wrapped around all three of them; scooting in tight next to Ryo to fit them all in there.
Wildfire grinned at him. Rowen rarely acted like this. He was a bit of the stand-offish type; not one to be too into casual physical contact with friends. He was almost as bad as Sage, he just didn’t act as much. This was most likely due to the fact that his parents weren’t too involved in his life. They never hugged him or anything similar. They were so concerned with treating him like an adult, they forgot to treat him like their son.
Kento and Ryo were the physical ones. So was Cye. None of them had a problem with patting each other’s shoulder or the like. It was a favorite trick of Kento to grab one or two of them in a headlock at a time and to wrestle them all. But that was Kento’s family–a close-knit place where everyone practically smothered everyone else.
Rowen was different. While Sage seemed merely a bit uncomfortable with public displays of friendship, Rowen was downright uninterested in such things. He just didn’t want to even bother for some reason. Sure, he and Sage were more often than not together, but they always seemed just simply by each other and not as buddy-buddy as they really were. The fact that a certain rumor was spread around their Freshman year about Rowen’s sexual preferences and why he was always with Sage didn’t help.
Ryo almost snorted at remembering it. That had been an interesting year. While Sage was merely insulted at the notion, Rowen was downright bothered. He had stopped doing anything with Sage for three months straight; all for the sake a public reputation. It wasn’t until Kento had accused him of being a homophobe that Rowen began to realize how stupid he was being. Still, he had insisted Sage get himself some kind of girlfriend soon. To this, the blonde just replied he wasn’t going to get one until after high school just to spite him. Much to the despair of the female student body.
But, such as it was with Rowen. At least on normal days. However, Ryo also remembered another time. One which no one else knew of. A very hard time for Rowen and himself. It was when the other Ronins had been captured and the two of them plus White Blaze had ventured into the depths of the Dynasty all alone.
For two young boys hardly in their teens, it was a frightening experience. Neither of them knew where to go or how they were going to rescue their friends. Or if they would be able to rescue anyone at all; even themselves. Back then, all they had were each other to keep one another safe. They depended on each other for their lives.
Ryo recalled with a bit of a chill those harsh, hard times. They had wandered the large world for days, hiding in gutters and caves, sleeping where they could, trying to find a way into Talpa’s castle.
The nights there were bitter cold and they had to huddle together for warmth–one always watching while the other slept.
It was very strange to think about. In the beginning, they had been strangers. Ryo and Rowen’s first meeting was because of Talpa. Ryo had been the last one the Ronins had found. He was the one they knew the least. Yet, they stayed by his side and even looked to him for guidance. Within only a few months, he found himself terrified, sleeping next to Rowen in the middle of the Dynasty and trusting the Bearer of Strata with his life while he slumbered. Such a profound friendship in such a sort time.
Rowen’s head lolled onto Ryo’s shoulder, breaking him of reminiscing about the past. Rowen had tried to sleep, acting as if he were man enough to hold himself up. But the second he dozed off, he had fallen over to be propped up by Wildfire’s pondering form.
Again, Ryo smiled at him. To see how much his comrades in arms–his friends– trusted him made him happy and sad at the same time. He had a hard time putting into words why, but inside, he understood. As his mind began to wander off once more, he also let himself drift off to sleep.
********
It had been about a half an hour, but Cye still wasn’t used to it. For the upteenth time that afternoon, he wondered what he was doing, talking to a very coherent ball of energy. And why he was enjoying the conversation.
“So, you and Lord Hardrock have known each other since you were young? That’s really cute,” the glowing orb said.
Cye felt his cheeks grow warm. Then he felt stupid. Why was he getting flustered over a comment from a glowing ball? Sure, it had a woman’s voice, but that was the only thing feminine–or human– about it.
“It is really rare for the armor bearers to know each other until their called upon,” the orb continued.
“That’s what we’ve been told,” Cye replied.
“Yeah, all five of us have been together since we were about fifteen,” Kento offered.
He was standing on the opposite side of the floating ball of light while Cye sat in front of it. As the conversation had preceded from introductions to other topics, Cye was becoming more and more annoyed with Kento’s awful manners. While Cye was trying to act as normal and polite to the ball called Diana as possible, Kento would not stop staring, assessing the thing from all angles, or trying to poke it.
“Oh, for goodness’ sakes,” Cye finally blirted. “Would you stop that Kento? It’s rude!”
“I’m sorry,” Kento defended. “Forgive me for being curious. I’m just trying to figure out how she’s talking to us without a mouth! I’m dying to know, Diana, can you even SEE us?”
While Cye looked a bit mortified at Kento’s bluntness, a sound similar to light laughter came from the glowing ball.
“I can,” Diana’s spirit confirmed. “But not the way normal people do. I can see you by your spiritual energy–which is how you’re seeing me as well.”
“So, we look like glowing balls to you, too?” Kento pondered.
“Kento....” Cye whined, wishing he would just shut up. Why did he have to be so nosy about stuff like that?
“It’s okay, I really don’t mind,” Diana’s light, feminine voice told him. “You actually appear to me as light, too, but it a more human shaped form. But it’s kind of strange. Those with less power, I can see better, such as those working in the castle. You two, however, your spirit light is so bright, it drowns out your forms. That light, of course, comes from the sacred mantles. It makes you all easy to find, Lord Hardrock.”
“Cool!” Kento exclaimed. “You know, I think I’m getting the hang of this stuff.”
Cye just sighed loudly.
“Lord and Lady Torrent, Lord Hardrock,” Shinsetsu called. “I am now ready to proceed with the final stages of the spell where we will use spiritual energy to create a temporary physical body for Lady Torrent. I must now ask my Lords to leave the room as when she enters her body, she will not be clothed and it is unseemly for a Priestess to be seen this way by men.”
Shinsetsu motioned to a woman standing behind him. It was Caska, the one who had showed them around the castle the previous day. She had some light blue robes in her arms, patiently awaiting the arrival of the new priestess.
Cye nodded as he got up, but Kento just put his hands on his hips.
“Oh, I see,” he said with a cocked eyebrow. “You’re saying we’re perverts.”
“Oh, come on!” Cye insisted, pulling on his arm.
As they were about to leave, someone else came bursting into the door.
“Grandpa, he’s gone! What happened?”
Cye and Kento stared at the almost panicked little girl standing it the doorway. It was none other than Queen Laelia herself.
“What do you mean, child?” the elder questioned, wondering what was causing her to be so frantic.
“Lord Strata is missing! What happened to him?”
“Rowen?” Cye asked. “He woke up about two hours ago.”
“Yeah,” Kento put in. “I last saw him in that weird room with all the writing. That was a while ago. But I’m sure he’s hobbling around here some place.”
“He should be in bed!” Queen Laelia shouted at them as if it were completely their fault. “What is he doing trying to move around with that injury?”
“Can we be of some help, your Highness?” Mia asked from the hall as she and Miniko came up to them.
“She’s looking for Rowen,” Cye explained. “Can you help her, Mia? I think I should stay here until the Torrent Priestess is....”
“Solid?” Kento helped. “I’ll stay, too. You guys should probably start looking back down that way.”
“Yes,” Mia agreed. “Come, your Majesty, don’t worry about it. Perhaps Ro–I mean, Lord Strata decided to rest in his own chambers instead. He could be there sleeping safely right now.”
“Good luck with that,” Kento huffed. “Even after his head surgery, Rowen’s mom was yelling at him for getting out of bed after a few days. He’s just one of those type of guys that can’t sit still.”
“Sounds like someone else I know,” Cye glared.
Kento just looked away, as if not catching the drift.
Mia glared a bit herself. Neither of the Ronins were being that helpful at the moment.
“Come.” She held out a friendly hand to the young queen. “We’ll go find him together.”
*********
Even though it had happened a while ago, Sage was still sore about it. Kento and Cye had left the room first, obviously with the most pressing of matters. Then, Ryo had volunteered to leave with Robyn. That just left him with Rowen and Myune. Or so he thought.
In a few moments, Rowen was also off, not really saying where he was going, but Sage had an inkling. He gave a dark look in the direction his friend had gone. Rowen was so predictable sometimes. Sage made a mental note to go get him later and then make him get some rest. He was sure without his scolding, Rowen wouldn’t by himself.
But now Sage was left alone with his Guardian–just like earlier that day. And, for some reason, now it was even more uncomfortable. She just kept sitting there, looking at him expectantly. What did she want from him?
Sage didn’t really care what she was wanting or expecting. He just knew what he liked and what he didn’t. Right now, he didn’t like being in that room alone with Myune, so he stood up. However, when he did, so did she.
When he left, she followed, staying a few paces behind him as he journeyed down several different halls. It was becoming annoying, but Sage wasn’t sure what to say. He didn’t know the protocol in this place and Myune did. Was she just doing what she was supposed to do as a Priestess? Or was she just being creepy? He couldn’t say for sure and he was unsure about yelling at her for trailing him if she was just doing what she was raised to do.
Finally, he couldn’t take it any more. Sage stopped suddenly in his tracks and turned around to face her.
“What?” he demanded. “Why do you keep following me around?”
Myune looked surprised and then a bit sheepish.
“I’m sorry,” she said in a small voice. “I...I wish to continue our conversation from earlier. I just wasn’t sure what to say.”
To this, Sage softened his expression a bit.