Tales of the Abyss: Melodia, Verse 1
Verse 1: Grave
Daath’s Inn .
Green eyes opened as he felt the small trace of light entered his cabin through the small opening from the window. He yawned slightly and decided to pull up the curtain. It was morning already, but he didn’t feel so refreshed. He couldn’t sleep very well last night. His mind still bother with much questions from the other day, though Tear had reprimanded him to put it away for later, because they had something more important to do today.
Luke looked around. Everyone seemed had awake, as he didn’t see either Guy or Jade—who shared the same room with him, due to the lack of vacancy room available in that inn—on their beds. So he decided to tidy himself slightly before finally emerged from his room. As he expected, he found the blond and the brunette sat down around the dining table, along with Tear.
“Good morning, Luke. You wake up early today,” his lover commented.
“Yeah…can’t sleep too well,” the redheaded shrugged. He looked around, didn’t see the presence of a certain blonde princess and a money-lover girl from the same group. “Were Natalia and Anise still sleeping?”
“Yes. They still awake until late in the night, that is why they oversleep.”
“I see…”
Guy offered them his handmade sandwich, which Luke accepted with much gratefulness. “We’re going to face them again today; huh…I don’t really like it. I wonder what will make them give up,” he grunted as he took one of the sandwiches into his mouth.
“It is inevitable. As long as they still hold their faith for the Score, we have to confront them and persuaded them to give up, though I have little hope for it,” Jade said, sipping his warm coffee afterwards. “It will be much better if we confront their leader directly. Talking to his vice is merely a waste of time…”
“I guess I have to agree, but…I think it won’t be easy if we ask them for their leader to show up,” Luke said, finished his breakfast.
“There is nothing wrong with trying,” Tear stated. “I’d say we should try, even for once.”
“That’s pointless.”
The four turned their attention and found Anise, garbed in her pink and black uniform. She seated herself between Luke and Guy, who was—despite the fact that his phobic had reduced a lot—decided to move to Jade’s side. The black haired girl chuckled as she saw this but decided not to tease the poor gentleman anymore. She took one of the sandwich and munched it before saying,
“Me and Florian had tried that way before, but they refused with a reason that their leader is too busy meditating, trying to hear Yulia’s guidance.”
Luke lifted an eyebrow. “Wait, trying to hear Yulia’s guidance? You mean…their leader can hear her voice or what?” he inquired.
“Yes, apparently so,” Anise nodded, stirred some sugar into her morning tea. “They said that he is chosen—chosen to hear her voice, and the main reason he started making this group was because Yulia told him to.”
“What nonsense. If he can hear Yulia’s voice, why doesn’t he ask her to read the Score for them?”
The group turned their head once more, only to see Natalia frowned as she made her way toward the dining table and sat next to Tear. She sipped her morning tea once before continued her statements.
“Yulia can read the Score, right? Why doesn’t their stupid leader asked her to read for them, so he can tell his groups what will happen in the future?” she put down her cup of tea on its plate again before folding her arms and added, “I bet he lied to them about it. They just were trying to provoke them to rebel against us.”
“That’s possible,” Jade nodded. “We maybe really should try to find this leader, to find out whether he truly chosen or not.”
Everyone agreed. They continued their breakfast in much more pleasant air, didn’t discuss anything about the strange organization until they heard a lot of commotion. Guy rose to his feet and approached the window, tried to see what was happening out there, when he saw those people marched on Daath’s main street once again.
“It’s them again!” he announced, looking slightly irritated.
“What? It was too early!” Anise got up and looked through the window, convinced herself. “Oh darn it! It’s really them!”
“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s stop them!” Luke said, reached his sword and ran ahead, followed by his friends.
Once they were out, they could see the group made their way toward the Cathedral. Irritated, Luke and Anise ran ahead, leaving the others. They finally came toward the staircase and waited until the marching group arrived. Rhett spotted their presence, signaling for his men to stop. Tear and the rest finally catch up on them as well, now they confronting the Vice-Captain.
“Good morning. I am deeply apologizing for causing such commotion at this early time in the morning,” Rhett said warmly, as if he was in good terms with the Saviors.
“Yeah, sure are. Who would expect fifty men to infiltrate the Cathedral at time like this?!” Anise shouted, enraged.
“Anise, calm down,” Natalia grabbed the younger female’s arms, calmed her down. “What is your business today? We are not giving up to your proposal, as it is very impossible for us to grant your request.”
“Ah, today I am not here to argue with you,” Rhett smiled. “I am here, to deliver a message from our leader.”
Luke frowned. “A message?”
“Indeed,” the black garbed man nodded. He reached out for a letter in his pocket and showed it those people before them. “It is addressed for the Saviors of Auldrant, you see. Our leader quickly make this letter once I reported to him that I finally had encountered you, and he seemed eager to deliver his words to you, so I am coming here as fast as I could.”
The redheaded took the letter and opened it. He started reading it. “What’s this…?” he frowned, as the letters were too vague for him to read. “Wait, isn’t this Ispanian Language? How am I supposed to read this?!”
“I’ll translate then. Give it to me,” Tear asked. Luke handed over the letter to the brunette as she read for them:
Greetings,
I am the leader of Score Restoration Organization. You may refer to me as Canon. I am the chosen one, who receives aural harmonics from our guide, Yulia Jue. It is reassuring as the Saviors of Auldrant finally confront us.
As you see, I am assigned to restore the Score by Lady Yulia. I shall not forfeit for it to happen. This is her order: to return the world to its natural state—led by the Score. I also receive her words, that soon the Shinning One shall emerge and she shall aid us to return this world to its rightful tracks.
I hope you can understand. We are not rebelling or anything. We are merely following order from our guide, Yulia. I hope you understand. I shall patiently wait for your decision.
Signed,
Canon.
The letter didn’t cease their anger; it made them even flared with mad. Luke glared at Rhett, but the man didn’t move even an inch. The redheaded had his hand gripping his sword, yet the Vice stayed unflinching. Guy, noticing that a battle will broke out if he didn’t do anything; he quickly stood before his best friend could draw his blade.
“Luke, don’t do anything rash!” he chided.
“Stay away, Guy! I have to give him a lesson!” Luke scowled.
“Guy is right. It’s pointless to hurt the Vice-Captain now,” Jade added, fixed his eyeglass. “We shall gain nothing.”
“Well then, it seems my presence here is not wanted. Beside, my job has done as you read the letter. I shall bid my leave,” Rhett bowed politely. “May the next time we meet, we shall be in the same path.”
“Like hell it is!” Anise shouted, though they didn’t hear anything because they had been away from the Cathedral.
“Jade, do you have any ideas?” Guy asked, as the brown haired man seemed to be in contemplation.
“Hmm…I couldn’t make any assumptions right now. However, it seemed this Canon person tried to give us proof that he is indeed the chosen one,” Jade explained. He took the letter from Tear’s hand and pointed a line to everyone. “He said that he heard Yulia told him ‘that soon the Shinning One shall emerge’. Let’s see if this ‘Shinning One’ will truly appear before them.”
“But then…how are we supposed to know?” Natalia wondered.
Everyone started thinking too. It was then when a light beamed down from the sky, causing the whole Auldrant to shake in tremor. People in Daath became rather panic, feared the sudden earthquake. The Saviors of Auldrant, who watched the event clearly, was rather surprised as well. The light created a tall tower which connected the land with the sky, but it soon dispersed and everything returned to normal.
“What was that?” Tear asked to none in particular.
“It’s like something shoot the sea from the sky!” Anise exclaimed.
“Whatever it is, we should check it. Who knows that it maybe a monster or something dangerous?” Luke suggested.
“Or…it maybe the ‘Shinning One’ those folly speak of,” Jade remarked nonchalantly.
“Hey, that’s possible!” Natalia smiled. “Come on, we should see what it is!”
“Alright. Let’s use my new Cornelia!” Guy said cheerily.
The six then ran toward the exit of Daath, only to be greeted by a large airship that reminded the group with Albiore, the airship that they used to travel all over Auldrant seven years ago. This new airship, Cornelia, was invented by Guy himself, along with the help of Sheridan
The blond nobleman took his seat and let his friends only some seconds to gawk seeing the greatness of his Cornelia, because he quickly turned on the engine and they were forced to take their seats. Guy drove the airship to the location where the light was seen some minutes ago. The groups tried to see what the light had left, but they could see nothing from such height.
“Guy, could this airship float on the water like Albiore?” Luke queried.
“Sure. My Cornelia can do anything that our longtime friend Albiore could!” Guy said happily.
He hovered over; find a wider place before he changed Cornelia to water-travel mode. They returned to the place, and Anise finally found something nearby.
“Hey! I think I saw a small boat over there!” she exclaimed, pointed at a small dot from afar. “Guy! Quick! Go over there!”
“Roger, Anise.”
The driver then led the airship to the pointed place. An indeed there was a small boat there. The group looked through the window and could see a girl, not much younger than Anise, slept or maybe fainted on the boat. Everyone was exchanging glances, confused with the fact that witnessed.
“How come she is sleeping peacefully there, on a floating boat that maybe will lead her to a strange place?” Anise asked jokingly.
“Was that a matter right now? We have to help her!” Tear suggested. “Guy, please open the hatch. I’m going to try reaching for her.”
“No, Tear. I’ll do it,” Luke said, stopped his lover as she tried to come out of the airship when Guy had finally opened the hatch.
The redheaded then stepped out of the airship, walked over the large wing. He jumped into the water and swam toward the boat, pulling it so he could take her into the airship. Once he was entering the ship with the unconscious girl, Tear handed over a towel so he could dry himself. Luke thanked her, and let Natalia and Anise put her down on one of the seats.
“Hmm…she doesn’t seem wounded,” Jade said, looking at the girl up and down.
“Could she be the ‘Shinning One’ they talked about?” Guy asked, unsure.
“Well, she didn’t look shiny to me, more like bloody,” joked Anise.
Indeed. That girl looked far from holy or pure. She had fiery hair, like Luke, and sun-kissed skin like Tear. Her clothes, though seemed very awkward and not resembling any fashion style of any countries on Auldrant, also dominated with bloody red and sparkling golden color. Though her sleeping face did gave the group an impression of a sleeping angel—so peaceful, soothing, and calming.
For a moment there, the six were stayed still, unflinching. They didn’t know what to do. And then, the girl’s fingers started to move, signaling that she slowly regained conscious. Then slowly, she straightened her head and opened her eyes, revealing a pair of enchanting emerald eyes that resemblance Luke’s. She looked at her surrounding, noticing that she had surrounded by six strangers.
“Uhm…?” she hummed, eyes puzzled at everyone there.
“Oh…sorry to startle you,” Tear started apologetically. “Are you feeling better now? You were unconscious.”
The girl nodded and said nothing more. She looked around. She was completely oblivious to this place, and couldn’t help but to stare curiously at all engines Cornelia had in there.
“Oh uh…may we know why you faint out in vast sea like that?” Natalia tried.
The girl looked at the princess and simply shook her head, didn’t understand. “Can’t…remember,” she managed to say.
“Huh? Don’t tell me she’s got amnesia!” Anise startled.
“You don’t know your name?” Guy asked this time. And once again, the girl shook her head softly. “Oh this is bad…how are we supposed to know if she is the ‘Shinning One’ or not?”
“Shinning…One?” she repeated, unfamiliar with the terms.
Jade sighed. “It’s futile. She know nothing, it seems. Asking any questions to her right now is pointless,” he explained, fixing her eyeglass position and looked disappointed at the girl.
“Could she be a victim of sea piracy?” Natalia suggested. “It’s possible. She is a passenger in a ship, then the ship was attacked and she’s the only who could escape. She maybe become traumatic and got amnesia like this because of the assault.”
“Maybe.”
“In any case, we should take her with us,” Luke commented. “Anise, can we leave this girl in the Cathedral?”
“Yes, I think. But you have to ask Tritheim first, though I’m sure Florian is completely okay with it,” the black haired officer explained simply. “Oh, and we have to giver her a name! We can’t refer to her as ‘her’ or ‘you’ forever, you know.”
“That’s right. How about…Frelia? It means ‘crimson sky’ in Ispanian Language,” Natalia offered.
However, the girl shook her head. “Do not like ‘Frelia’,” she said falteringly.
“Oh…you’re picky, aren’t you?” Anise smirked funnily. “Well then…how about Schia? Valerie, maybe?”
The girl shook her head, twice. Natalia and Anise kept trying to giver her names, but as far, she refused. Didn’t want to meddle with their games, Guy returned to his seat and drove Cornelia to Daath. Jade also stood away from them, contemplating with the events he had gone through so far. Tear looked at her lover, which was replied by a mere shrug as the redheaded seated himself next to the nameless girl, decided to be a spectator meanwhile the brunette forced to join the game.
“Allishia? Patria? Millidia?” Natalia stated.
The girl shook her head. “No like.”
“Wina? Alexandra? Regina
Another shaking head. “No like.”
“Celia? Zephyr? Aura?” Tear helped.
And again, shaking head. “No like.”
The trio sighed. They were run out of names. Luke yawned and said nonchalantly, “How about calling her Yulia Jue or other historical person?”
At that, the girl turned her head and looked fondly at the male redheaded. “Yulia…Jue?” she repeated. “Like it.”
“Oh, you want to be called as Yulia Jue?” the black haired girl asked.
“Yes. Like it. Yulia…Jue…” the girl smiled. “Beautiful.”
“Great! Now we will call you Yulia, okay?” Natalia chuckled. She then smiled at Luke. “Hehe. Now you are HER godfather, Luke.”
“You must be kidding me! I’m just joking!” Luke exclaimed, rather flustered as the three girls laughed. However, the now named Yulia stared at him with curious look. “Uh…what is it?”
“You…Luke?” she asked.
“Oh, that’s right. We haven’t introduced ourselves,” Tear smiled. “I’m Tear, this one is Anise and Natalia. That man over there is Jade, and the one who’s driving right now is Guy. Lastly, this guy is Luke.”
Yulia’s eyes widened, not in shock but instead in joy. She looked amused, as if she hadn’t seen Luke for years, despite they were just met recently. The Viscount frowned. He was about to ask her why she gazed at him with such look, when the girl suddenly glomped at her, startled everyone in there.
“Luke…it’s you, Luke!” she exclaimed happily.
“W-what?! H-hey, let me go!” he tried to struggle free from the sudden strangle, but it was futile. She hugged him tightly, though not so tight as to will suffocate him to death. In the end, he looked pleadingly at his friends and said, “C’mon, guys! Help me!”
“How so? This scene is rather amusing indeed,” commented Jade, there was his usual cold joking tone in his voice.
“Sorry Luke. I would like to help but as you see, I’m driving here,” Guy reasoned. The truth is he was also interested to see a certain someone reason, and as the Necromancer said, it’ll be an amusing scene.
“Bear with it, Luke. It’s hard to be loved, you know,” Natalia added, obviously agreed to the other males that the next actions would be an interesting event.
“Yeah, beside, you’re her godfather now,” Anise laughed merrily, imitating the Kimlascan Princess’ terms to her dear cousin.
Losing hope getting any assistance from his friends, Luke looked at his lover, only to see jealousy and wrath in her dark eyes. She turned around and walked away, avoiding his pleading eyes and sat on the front most seats.
“Oh…you guys are jerk!”
“Hahaha…just go with it, Luke!”
“Luke…likes you.”
Comments
Post a Comment