[Fiction][Gaius Fafnir Chronicles] The Lost Guide Our Path
I guess i just finally gave in. I was actually allowed to put this up already, but I was iffy about it. See cea_chan has a fic that comes before this (chronologically). Even if the two aren't directly related, it just might be confusing later.
Soooo, if you want, you don't have to read this now :P I just want to have it up.
For reference: ( The FAQ )
First there was: ( The Name with A Destiny )
==============================================================================
Story Title: The Gaius Fafnir Chronicles
Arc: Prequel
Chapter Title: The Lost Guide our Path
Rating: PG
Tags: Fantasy
==============================================================================
These were dreams they believed in, even if they had to part to fulfill them
"You're getting better at this, Cay."
As always, he was embarrassed by the praise. He felt his cheeks turn red as he protested, "If Anania weren't here, we wouldn't succeed as well."
The huntress beside them laughed, "Lind, your brother's so modest. Kids would normally jump and be giddy about the compliment."
"Well, that's my little brother," Aeilind sighed.
"It's true though!" Cahyim insisted. "I would've lost strength to Heal if Anania wasn't here to take care of the monsters."
They were in the forests near Payon, by the not-so-secret Hunter's Guild. Aeilind had purposefully brought him out here, to the creatures that were more powerful than what he was used to. She fought, though she did not use all her strength, so that Cahyim could practice his Healing and the supportive prayers he had learned from the Sanctuary. When it looked like he was about to lose his stamina, Anania would interfere, finishing off the creature with her arrows.
Aelind smiled, "Don't worry, Cay. I know I can handle them. But, really... If it was always safe, then you would not have to practice so much would you?"
"I suppose not," he admitted. The truth was, that was why he liked being with Aeilind and Anania, instead of training with the Prontera Reserve. When he was assigned to small teams in the caves in Payon, there was hardly any danger, and he usually wasted his strength to heal only the most minor of wounds.
That was why he was so glad when the higher officials had finally let him train with his stepsister. And since her father was once their head knight, he did not even have to report back to the Knight's Guild, where the recruiter of the Prontera Reserve was located. Adrien Reignhart trusted his daughter with Cahyim's training, and indeed, Aeilind had been living up to the challenge. She had also enlisted the help of Anania Forsyth, a huntress and a close friend of hers.
If Anania was not busy, the three of them would venture to fields with fiercer creatures. To an extent, of course; Aeilind did not want to wear her stepbrother out so much. It would be troublesome for a creature to arrive, right when Cahyim did not have the strength to Heal them. She learned that well when she had brought him down to Glastheim, the deserted city. They had managed decently, but she started to worry about his stamina, even if he'd insisted that he was fine.
"Oh, she's back..." Cahyim murmured to the others.
They followed his gaze to the young girl that floated through the bamboo thickets. Her long black hair enveloped her, her pink kimono flaring out as she continued. Perhaps noone knew on first glance the truth, that she was not alive, a restless spirit. She was harmless, but travellers often struck against her first. Not knowing any better, she would take out her dagger to defend herself. Even when defeated, she would return not long later. It was a timeless cycle, that noone knew the reason for.
"The Sohee..." Aeilind frowned. "Let's move then. Even if she won't attack us first, I think we've bothered her enough today."
Even as they moved away, they glanced back towards the poor girl, as she paused, bringing up her hands to hide her face, her sleeves falling gently before her.
"I almost feel sorry for her," Anania said sadly.
"Me too, that's why I want to help her."
Both girls paused to turn back to the acolyte. Cahyim just nodded at them, a determined expression on his face.
"Help her? Help her how?" Anania asked him. She must have been curious about the boy's innocent statement.
"I'm going to raise her," he said matter-of-factly.
Aeilind stared down at her little brother, in utter surprise. "You will do what?"
"I will raise her," Cahyim repeated. "When I am a priest, and I've learned how to guide a lost soul back to the body, I want to raise the Sohee."
She watched him, an astounded look on her face, even as he continued, "It must be lonely for her, wandering like this. She must have wanted to do something, that's why her soul can’t rest, no matter how many times we vanquish her."
"But she carries a knife and attacks us," Anania said, incredulously.
He insisted. "She just doesn't realize she's hurting people. She must be so confused. So I want to help her."
His two companions glanced at each other uneasily. Cahyim did not understand what was so wrong until Aeilind broke the silence. "Cay…" she said softly. "You can’t raise the Sohee."
Cahyim looked up at her, a confused look on his face. "I can’t?" He looked in the direction of their other companion, but the archer only shook her head. "But… Is that not what the Resurrection spell is for…?"
"Yes, but… if that were possible, then we can raise anyone, isn’t that true…?"
"I… I guess so, but… then how do we…?"
"It… It isn’t truly raising someone," Aeilind explained. "With the help of the blue gemstone, which guides the flow of the holy power, one who is on the brink of death can be brought back to consciousness."
"It is a very precise time," Anania continued. "Once the soul has passed the veil into the afterlife, the chance is lost. And, the Sohee… She has been dead for years… perhaps centuries!"
"Oh..." Cahyim quieted.
There was a long silence. Cahyim could only look at the floor, embarrassed for his stupidity. He had been so obsessed with the idea that he could help her. To be honest, it was all he thought about since he first joined them here. He wanted so much to help people, and he had just decided the first time they were in that area, that the Sohee would be one of them.
He wondered if his father ever had such foolish thoughts.
The silence was broken by a loud squawk. Anania looked up to the sky and lifted her hand. A falcon swooped down and landed on her finger. Cahyim watched as the huntress pet the falcon lightly, before taking what looked to be a piece of paper from its beak.
Anania looked over the note's contents, before glancing back up at the brother and sister, "Well... This seems to be a bit important, and besides, it's getting a little late. I need to get back. Cay, can you warp me back to town...?"
"I only have Payon..." Cahyim admitted. He was not skilled enough yet to be able to memorize more than one place for his Warp Portal.
But Anania smiled, "That’s perfect."
He nodded in return and took out the blue gemstone. After he murmured a little, he threw the stone on the ground and the portal opened. Anania gave them both a wave before she entered it, disappearing from their sight, on her way to Payon. The portal soon closed after her and Cahyim collapsed to the ground.
"That’s tiring," Cahyim murmured, seating himself better.
"You're just not used to it yet," Aeilind chuckled at him, sitting on the ground beside him. "Soon you'll be able to keep it open for longer, and allow more people to pass through. You’re doing very good progress though."
"That's with your help though," he turned a little red, again embarrassed by her praise.
She smiled wider, "You'll be a priest soon enough, and you'll even be able to Resurrect people."
Cahyim felt his cheeks burning even hotter and Aeilind laughed softly. "You must've thought I was really stupid," Cahyim murmured to himself, glancing out into the trees.
"Of course not. You didn't know. I'm sure that you hadn't taken up those lessons yet at the Sanctuary."
Cahyim said nothing, continuing to watch the grass.
"Really, Cay. How are you going to get along with other people if you'll be that timid?"
The comment had surprised him. He looked up at her, a confused look in his dark green eyes, "… Um… I'm sorry…?"
She sighed and shook her head, patting him on the head. "At this rate, Cay, everyone will pass you by and not notice you. You need to be more outgoing!"
"Um, okay?" He winced as she patted him again. "But they don't not notice me," he continued. "Father Abelard praises me often…"
"Oh Cay, that’s not what I meant!" Aeilind sighed. "How do you expect to make friends if you're always quiet or alone studying? You even said you hardly say a word when you train in the caves, just staying in a corner and watching the others."
"There isn't much to say. Besides, I don't want to waste my time, correcting what they think is right."
Aeilind groaned softly. That was another thing. She was proud of her stepbrother for being as bright as he was, but it sometimes meant that he was also too smart for his possible friends. He could scare them away that way, or with his famous name.
"Others might not want to partner with you, Cay."
"But I also practice with you and An."
"Well, that doesn't really count, I think. We're family. And I was assigned to help you train by the Reserve." When the boy scowled at her, she corrected herself, "Not that I don't like hanging out with you, Cay. I'd probably still be here even if I didn't need to be. I was the one that said I would. I just... thought you should probably learn to meet kids your age."
Cahyim frowned. "Why are you talking about me meeting other people though, Lind?"
Aeilind paused. Her hand lowered, and she looked away from him for a while. Cahyim watched her, and was surprised by the look on her face: an expression of sadness, with an odd mix of anxiety and excitement.
"...... Aeilind...?"
"...I'm leaving," Aeilind stated firmly.
It took him a few moments to gather himself together again. "… What?"
"There's a call to arms… back home in Izlude…" she continued. "A battle is coming again..."
"Lind…"
"I want to protect my hometown. And, with that, the rest of Rune-Midgard."
"... What will you do there?"
"... Defend Izlude. Maybe be sent out to Yuno. Yuno's their capital."
"Oh," That was all he said. That was all he could say. It was true that he had heard about the war with the Schwarzwald Republic. But he felt it was so far away, he never really thought about it.
"... You didn't hear about it, did you? You were probably still young. You didn't hear about when they invaded us."
Again, he did not know what to say. He only remembered his father being away, as usual, while his mother worried herself sick. He did not know then it was because of a war.
"We were the first ones they attacked... in Izlude," she said quietly. "At the same time, they attacked the Mage Guild in Geffen, and Prontera Castle. Defenses were strong in Geffen and Prontera. There was hardly any damage. But we were hardly prepared for it in Izlude... I heard that was what they planned, since the Swordsman Association had just moved there. That was what they were after, to discourage our armies from growing. It was almost seven years ago...
"......That was when we lost mom."
Cahyim looked up at her, alarmed, "Oh... Lind... I'm..."
"It's okay," she smiled a little at him, even though the smile showed sadness. "I still miss her so much, but I'm also glad that he met your mom. He's been much happier...
"But.. still... this war... I can't forget that day...
"They came from the air on flying machines. They dropped down to the center square, just enough warning for some to get away. They had a single wizard, but there were magicians with him unlike anything I've seen. They seemed to be able to cast anything, spells that they normally should not know. There were exploding bottles, and liquids that ate at your armor... then ate at your skin when there was no more armor... They controlled plants that lashed out with their vines, or bore teeth to attack."
As she told her story, Cahyim could only listen, entranced. He tried to imagine what it must have been like, but could not. He even felt ashamed that during the entire time, he never even knew what had been happening.
He finally found the voice to speak softly, "Lind... I.."
Aeilind smiled at him, though, interrupting him. "It's okay, Cay... You were really young... so... I'm pretty sure noone would have told you, especially your mom."
"Still..."
Aeilind shook her head, glancing back out into the thickets. Cahyim watched her gaze change, and he knew that the greenery before them was not what she was really seeing.
"It..." her voice turned soft again. "... It was a fire that got her. She had run to help someone inside a building. The child got out, but it collapsed..." She looked at him again, eyes filled with sadness.
"And you know what the worst part is? ... Anyone could have started the fire... the mages from their side... the wizards from ours... an explosion gone wrong. I have learned that that is the terrifying thing about war. People are blind... their conscience is dampened... You don't know if you are fighting friend or foe. Anyone can be brought to their deaths.
"... So, I want to fight, not just for her, but so that we don't have to lose more people. So that noone will have to. I just... want it to end."
He saw her off on the day she left. Before even Maida and Adrien arrived, he was already standing outside their small home, watching people bustle by on the streets of Prontera. Aeilind stood beside him, awaiting the message that it was time to leave.
"Why can't I visit?" he asked again, no matter how many times he was discouraged.
"I know it's just so close by," Aeilind said. "But you'll all be safer here. The knights and crusaders protect the city. Besides, what about your training?"
"The training at the Reserve isn't good enough," he said without thinking.
Aeilind only laughed. She sobered quickly after, glancing at the floor, "Cay, with that attitude, you won't make friends."
"Lind... I don't need to-..."
"Cay..."
He looked up at her reluctantly.
"I'll try," he finally promised.
"That's good. I mean, if you went so far as to have a crush on the Sohee, then that would be really unhealthy!"
"LIND!" Cahyim exclaimed, his cheeks turning red, just as Maida and Adrien made it outside.
She smiled. She gave her father and her stepmother another hug, then she took a step back. The message boy had arrived. They shared a few words before Aeilind turned to leave. She gave them another wave before disappearing into the crowds.
Cahyim had gained a sister more than three years before. It saddened him to have lost her again so soon. But he knew he will cherish the little time he spent with her forever.
He thought about what she said, about how he needed to meet others. He sighed a little. He knew it would not be easy, and he doubted there was anyone he could meet.
But he said he would try. And he will try for her.
Soooo, if you want, you don't have to read this now :P I just want to have it up.
For reference: ( The FAQ )
First there was: ( The Name with A Destiny )
==============================================================================
Story Title: The Gaius Fafnir Chronicles
Arc: Prequel
Chapter Title: The Lost Guide our Path
Rating: PG
Tags: Fantasy
==============================================================================
These were dreams they believed in, even if they had to part to fulfill them
"You're getting better at this, Cay."
As always, he was embarrassed by the praise. He felt his cheeks turn red as he protested, "If Anania weren't here, we wouldn't succeed as well."
The huntress beside them laughed, "Lind, your brother's so modest. Kids would normally jump and be giddy about the compliment."
"Well, that's my little brother," Aeilind sighed.
"It's true though!" Cahyim insisted. "I would've lost strength to Heal if Anania wasn't here to take care of the monsters."
They were in the forests near Payon, by the not-so-secret Hunter's Guild. Aeilind had purposefully brought him out here, to the creatures that were more powerful than what he was used to. She fought, though she did not use all her strength, so that Cahyim could practice his Healing and the supportive prayers he had learned from the Sanctuary. When it looked like he was about to lose his stamina, Anania would interfere, finishing off the creature with her arrows.
Aelind smiled, "Don't worry, Cay. I know I can handle them. But, really... If it was always safe, then you would not have to practice so much would you?"
"I suppose not," he admitted. The truth was, that was why he liked being with Aeilind and Anania, instead of training with the Prontera Reserve. When he was assigned to small teams in the caves in Payon, there was hardly any danger, and he usually wasted his strength to heal only the most minor of wounds.
That was why he was so glad when the higher officials had finally let him train with his stepsister. And since her father was once their head knight, he did not even have to report back to the Knight's Guild, where the recruiter of the Prontera Reserve was located. Adrien Reignhart trusted his daughter with Cahyim's training, and indeed, Aeilind had been living up to the challenge. She had also enlisted the help of Anania Forsyth, a huntress and a close friend of hers.
If Anania was not busy, the three of them would venture to fields with fiercer creatures. To an extent, of course; Aeilind did not want to wear her stepbrother out so much. It would be troublesome for a creature to arrive, right when Cahyim did not have the strength to Heal them. She learned that well when she had brought him down to Glastheim, the deserted city. They had managed decently, but she started to worry about his stamina, even if he'd insisted that he was fine.
"Oh, she's back..." Cahyim murmured to the others.
They followed his gaze to the young girl that floated through the bamboo thickets. Her long black hair enveloped her, her pink kimono flaring out as she continued. Perhaps noone knew on first glance the truth, that she was not alive, a restless spirit. She was harmless, but travellers often struck against her first. Not knowing any better, she would take out her dagger to defend herself. Even when defeated, she would return not long later. It was a timeless cycle, that noone knew the reason for.
"The Sohee..." Aeilind frowned. "Let's move then. Even if she won't attack us first, I think we've bothered her enough today."
Even as they moved away, they glanced back towards the poor girl, as she paused, bringing up her hands to hide her face, her sleeves falling gently before her.
"I almost feel sorry for her," Anania said sadly.
"Me too, that's why I want to help her."
Both girls paused to turn back to the acolyte. Cahyim just nodded at them, a determined expression on his face.
"Help her? Help her how?" Anania asked him. She must have been curious about the boy's innocent statement.
"I'm going to raise her," he said matter-of-factly.
Aeilind stared down at her little brother, in utter surprise. "You will do what?"
"I will raise her," Cahyim repeated. "When I am a priest, and I've learned how to guide a lost soul back to the body, I want to raise the Sohee."
She watched him, an astounded look on her face, even as he continued, "It must be lonely for her, wandering like this. She must have wanted to do something, that's why her soul can’t rest, no matter how many times we vanquish her."
"But she carries a knife and attacks us," Anania said, incredulously.
He insisted. "She just doesn't realize she's hurting people. She must be so confused. So I want to help her."
His two companions glanced at each other uneasily. Cahyim did not understand what was so wrong until Aeilind broke the silence. "Cay…" she said softly. "You can’t raise the Sohee."
Cahyim looked up at her, a confused look on his face. "I can’t?" He looked in the direction of their other companion, but the archer only shook her head. "But… Is that not what the Resurrection spell is for…?"
"Yes, but… if that were possible, then we can raise anyone, isn’t that true…?"
"I… I guess so, but… then how do we…?"
"It… It isn’t truly raising someone," Aeilind explained. "With the help of the blue gemstone, which guides the flow of the holy power, one who is on the brink of death can be brought back to consciousness."
"It is a very precise time," Anania continued. "Once the soul has passed the veil into the afterlife, the chance is lost. And, the Sohee… She has been dead for years… perhaps centuries!"
"Oh..." Cahyim quieted.
There was a long silence. Cahyim could only look at the floor, embarrassed for his stupidity. He had been so obsessed with the idea that he could help her. To be honest, it was all he thought about since he first joined them here. He wanted so much to help people, and he had just decided the first time they were in that area, that the Sohee would be one of them.
He wondered if his father ever had such foolish thoughts.
The silence was broken by a loud squawk. Anania looked up to the sky and lifted her hand. A falcon swooped down and landed on her finger. Cahyim watched as the huntress pet the falcon lightly, before taking what looked to be a piece of paper from its beak.
Anania looked over the note's contents, before glancing back up at the brother and sister, "Well... This seems to be a bit important, and besides, it's getting a little late. I need to get back. Cay, can you warp me back to town...?"
"I only have Payon..." Cahyim admitted. He was not skilled enough yet to be able to memorize more than one place for his Warp Portal.
But Anania smiled, "That’s perfect."
He nodded in return and took out the blue gemstone. After he murmured a little, he threw the stone on the ground and the portal opened. Anania gave them both a wave before she entered it, disappearing from their sight, on her way to Payon. The portal soon closed after her and Cahyim collapsed to the ground.
"That’s tiring," Cahyim murmured, seating himself better.
"You're just not used to it yet," Aeilind chuckled at him, sitting on the ground beside him. "Soon you'll be able to keep it open for longer, and allow more people to pass through. You’re doing very good progress though."
"That's with your help though," he turned a little red, again embarrassed by her praise.
She smiled wider, "You'll be a priest soon enough, and you'll even be able to Resurrect people."
Cahyim felt his cheeks burning even hotter and Aeilind laughed softly. "You must've thought I was really stupid," Cahyim murmured to himself, glancing out into the trees.
"Of course not. You didn't know. I'm sure that you hadn't taken up those lessons yet at the Sanctuary."
Cahyim said nothing, continuing to watch the grass.
"Really, Cay. How are you going to get along with other people if you'll be that timid?"
The comment had surprised him. He looked up at her, a confused look in his dark green eyes, "… Um… I'm sorry…?"
She sighed and shook her head, patting him on the head. "At this rate, Cay, everyone will pass you by and not notice you. You need to be more outgoing!"
"Um, okay?" He winced as she patted him again. "But they don't not notice me," he continued. "Father Abelard praises me often…"
"Oh Cay, that’s not what I meant!" Aeilind sighed. "How do you expect to make friends if you're always quiet or alone studying? You even said you hardly say a word when you train in the caves, just staying in a corner and watching the others."
"There isn't much to say. Besides, I don't want to waste my time, correcting what they think is right."
Aeilind groaned softly. That was another thing. She was proud of her stepbrother for being as bright as he was, but it sometimes meant that he was also too smart for his possible friends. He could scare them away that way, or with his famous name.
"Others might not want to partner with you, Cay."
"But I also practice with you and An."
"Well, that doesn't really count, I think. We're family. And I was assigned to help you train by the Reserve." When the boy scowled at her, she corrected herself, "Not that I don't like hanging out with you, Cay. I'd probably still be here even if I didn't need to be. I was the one that said I would. I just... thought you should probably learn to meet kids your age."
Cahyim frowned. "Why are you talking about me meeting other people though, Lind?"
Aeilind paused. Her hand lowered, and she looked away from him for a while. Cahyim watched her, and was surprised by the look on her face: an expression of sadness, with an odd mix of anxiety and excitement.
"...... Aeilind...?"
"...I'm leaving," Aeilind stated firmly.
It took him a few moments to gather himself together again. "… What?"
"There's a call to arms… back home in Izlude…" she continued. "A battle is coming again..."
"Lind…"
"I want to protect my hometown. And, with that, the rest of Rune-Midgard."
"... What will you do there?"
"... Defend Izlude. Maybe be sent out to Yuno. Yuno's their capital."
"Oh," That was all he said. That was all he could say. It was true that he had heard about the war with the Schwarzwald Republic. But he felt it was so far away, he never really thought about it.
"... You didn't hear about it, did you? You were probably still young. You didn't hear about when they invaded us."
Again, he did not know what to say. He only remembered his father being away, as usual, while his mother worried herself sick. He did not know then it was because of a war.
"We were the first ones they attacked... in Izlude," she said quietly. "At the same time, they attacked the Mage Guild in Geffen, and Prontera Castle. Defenses were strong in Geffen and Prontera. There was hardly any damage. But we were hardly prepared for it in Izlude... I heard that was what they planned, since the Swordsman Association had just moved there. That was what they were after, to discourage our armies from growing. It was almost seven years ago...
"......That was when we lost mom."
Cahyim looked up at her, alarmed, "Oh... Lind... I'm..."
"It's okay," she smiled a little at him, even though the smile showed sadness. "I still miss her so much, but I'm also glad that he met your mom. He's been much happier...
"But.. still... this war... I can't forget that day...
"They came from the air on flying machines. They dropped down to the center square, just enough warning for some to get away. They had a single wizard, but there were magicians with him unlike anything I've seen. They seemed to be able to cast anything, spells that they normally should not know. There were exploding bottles, and liquids that ate at your armor... then ate at your skin when there was no more armor... They controlled plants that lashed out with their vines, or bore teeth to attack."
As she told her story, Cahyim could only listen, entranced. He tried to imagine what it must have been like, but could not. He even felt ashamed that during the entire time, he never even knew what had been happening.
He finally found the voice to speak softly, "Lind... I.."
Aeilind smiled at him, though, interrupting him. "It's okay, Cay... You were really young... so... I'm pretty sure noone would have told you, especially your mom."
"Still..."
Aeilind shook her head, glancing back out into the thickets. Cahyim watched her gaze change, and he knew that the greenery before them was not what she was really seeing.
"It..." her voice turned soft again. "... It was a fire that got her. She had run to help someone inside a building. The child got out, but it collapsed..." She looked at him again, eyes filled with sadness.
"And you know what the worst part is? ... Anyone could have started the fire... the mages from their side... the wizards from ours... an explosion gone wrong. I have learned that that is the terrifying thing about war. People are blind... their conscience is dampened... You don't know if you are fighting friend or foe. Anyone can be brought to their deaths.
"... So, I want to fight, not just for her, but so that we don't have to lose more people. So that noone will have to. I just... want it to end."
He saw her off on the day she left. Before even Maida and Adrien arrived, he was already standing outside their small home, watching people bustle by on the streets of Prontera. Aeilind stood beside him, awaiting the message that it was time to leave.
"Why can't I visit?" he asked again, no matter how many times he was discouraged.
"I know it's just so close by," Aeilind said. "But you'll all be safer here. The knights and crusaders protect the city. Besides, what about your training?"
"The training at the Reserve isn't good enough," he said without thinking.
Aeilind only laughed. She sobered quickly after, glancing at the floor, "Cay, with that attitude, you won't make friends."
"Lind... I don't need to-..."
"Cay..."
He looked up at her reluctantly.
"I'll try," he finally promised.
"That's good. I mean, if you went so far as to have a crush on the Sohee, then that would be really unhealthy!"
"LIND!" Cahyim exclaimed, his cheeks turning red, just as Maida and Adrien made it outside.
She smiled. She gave her father and her stepmother another hug, then she took a step back. The message boy had arrived. They shared a few words before Aeilind turned to leave. She gave them another wave before disappearing into the crowds.
Cahyim had gained a sister more than three years before. It saddened him to have lost her again so soon. But he knew he will cherish the little time he spent with her forever.
He thought about what she said, about how he needed to meet others. He sighed a little. He knew it would not be easy, and he doubted there was anyone he could meet.
But he said he would try. And he will try for her.