Fate, Chapter 7

Iris awoke on her bed. Her eyes blinked as she saw the sunshine struck her face. She got up and looked around. It was definitely a room. She then found two figures sat at a corner of the room, slept. Iris rubbed her eyes and finally recognized them. It was Rudger and Raijin. Apparently, they were watched over Iris for the night, as safety guarantee since no one can tell if those Harmonians decided to sneak in and kill Iris at night.

The blonde got out of her bed and brought the blanket with her. She wanted to cover them with the blanket and let them slept more. Unfortunately, Raijin woke up at the second Iris covered his body with the blanket.

“Oh, Lady Iris,” Raijin noticed Iris’ black eyes. “Good morning.”

“Good morning, Raijin,” replied Iris. At that, Rudger also awoke and rubbed his eyes lazily.

“You’re awake,” Rudger saw the blanket on his body. “What’s with this blanket?”

“I saw you sleeping, so I want to let you sleep longer, but I think it’s not necessary now,” Iris stood up. “Now, let’s have breakfast.”

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The three came out of the room after they cleaned their face. They arrived at the dinning room and found only Elise and Fennes there, cooking for the breakfast. Elise smiled when she saw the three took their seats. “Good morning. I’m not expecting you to wake up this early. Maybe it's because you were slept earlier?”

“And where’s the other?” asked Iris, received the morning tea from Fennes.

“Prince Ehlen, Lady Rui, Master Ariel, and Sir William were slept above, while the Queen’s Knights slept at the first floor west wing, Feaux went back to Lunas to give a report for Oracle Haswar,” explained Fennes, returned to the kitchen to take the pancakes from the pan. “The rest of the Stars were asleep outside, together with the soldiers, except Sir Raijin here.”

“Oh, were you gave them the blankets?” Iris got up from her seat and looked at the window. Her soldiers and the subordinates were asleep on the floor, with blankets covered their bodies. The blonde girl giggled and returned to the table to enjoy her breakfast. “They looked so enjoying the banquet, huh?”

“Verily, until Kiros tried to make underage kids drank the wine,” replied Raijin. “Sir Rudger managed to escape from them by reasoning to watch you, Lady Iris.”

“Stop calling me ‘Lady’, geez!” the black-eyed girl sighed. “Oh well, it’s not like you’ll stop anyway.”

“Good morning!” Rui appeared at the doorway, followed by Ariel, Ehlen and William. They took their seats and the breakfasts too.

“Now Lady Rui, what’s our next step?” asked Rudger suddenly.

Rui pointed at Rudger’s face. “Let me eat this pancake first, will you?” she said. Rudger sighed and decided to eat his breakfast as well. After Rui finished her last bit of her meal, she drank the tea and began to open the serious conversation. “Well, first of all, we need to find a fort.”

“A fort?” everyone frowned at the young tactician.

“You’re not thinking to keep making Prince Ehlen’s manor as our base, didn’t you?” Rui poured some milk to her tea. “Well, the manor will flood sooner or later, you know.”

“That’s true, but where?” asked William. “There was no empty fort to use.”

“The Ceras Lake Castle was drown in the lake, and I’m not sure if Father will be kindly allow us to borrow the Dawn Rune just so we can arise the castle once more,” added Ehlen, remembered that his father was once use the castle at the middle of the Ceras Lake at the previous war.

“Hm,” Ariel fell deep to his thought. “It’ll be good if there was an island where a giant castle stood, waiting for use.”

“Why it need to be in an island?” Rudger frowned.

“Well, if those Harmonian came by ship, surely we can fight back with ship too if the fort were in the middle of the sea,” Ariel shrugged, chow down another bit of his pancake and continued. “And it’s easy to do trades all over nations.”

“One thing, we’ll be difficult to travel around,” commented Rudger. “If we’re Islanders, it’ll be easier. But we, especially Iris, and me were simple fighter of the land. Falena also not a sea country, you know.”

They were deep to their thoughts again. Raijin, who didn’t like to take parts of this superior discussion, decided to get up from his seat as soon as he finished his meal. He walked to the window, and found someone entered the West Palace. Raijin frowned and tried to look at that person clearer.

“Is that one of the officers here, Prince Ehlen?” he asked, pointed at the man from the window.

Ehlen frowned and stood, approached Raijin. The silver haired man looked at the person too. The stranger was having too pale skin to be called as human, and his face was expressionless. That stranger then noticed Ehlen and Raijin looked at them. He glared at gave them a look that signaling for them to come out of the manor.

Iris, who seemed interested, tried to look at the person too. She then gasped in shock, as she had another Sight of Stars when she saw the man. Iris was finally able to get control of her body and tried not to stumble. She turned to Rudger and smiled nervous. “We need to persuade him,” she said.

Iris, Rudger, Ehlen, William, and Raijin came out of the manor, while Ariel, Elise, Rui, and Fennes waited inside. The stranger glared at the five, made them all felt a strange sensation. Still, Iris encouraged herself and approached the man.

“Al…Altus?” Iris called out.

“You know my name, and then you must be the True Rune bearer that she mentioned,” the named Altus reached out his hand to Iris. “Hand over the Rune!”

“Are you one of those Harmonians?” asked William cautious.

“Hmph. Don’t you dare compare me to those thirsty Rune mortals,” Atlus walked closer to Iris and still glared coldly to them. “Hand over the Rune!”

“We’ll be glad to,” Rudger smirked. “It’s just that, we don’t know how to free the Rune from Iris.”

“It’s simple,” Atlus pulled out his daggers and swung it to the empty air in front of the group. “I just need to kill the bearer, thus the Rune will be freed. It's as simple as that.”

“Over our dead bodies,” claimed Ehlen. They all unsheathed their weapons, ready to kill that freak.

Atlus disappeared. The five scattered, tried to figure out where he was gone. At the next seconds, William was knocked off, unconscious and fell down to the ground. The other gasped and looked at him. William fainted and he wasn’t injured, so they left him alone.

“Four left,” the voice of Altus echoed at the air and quickly disappeared.

Iris looked around. There was not even a single hint about Altus whereabouts. Even when Iris asked her Rune to locate him, the Rune was incapable to find the slightest trace. And then, Ehlen was fallen down, followed by Raijin.

“Two left,” Atlus voice resounded again. “Do you really think you can defeat me?”

“Yeah, that's if you count more careful.”

Suddenly, Kiros was already stood nearby, together with Buff, Hayate, and Ceas. Looks like they finally awake after hearing their comrades fell one by one to the ground, asleep. Or might be Altus accidentally stepped on them while he was hiding. They held out their weapons, ready to join the fight. Iris and Rudger smiled at them, but then forced to turn their concentration for the fight, since Atlus still not show himself.

Rudger blinked. He was hearing something clang with the wine bottles that scattered around the floor. So, Altus was nearby. Then a bad feeling across his mind and he quickly turned into Iris. That is, he saw Altus shadow behind the blonde girl. Rudger tried to run to her, but his movement was too slow, he wouldn’t make it in time.

Altus finally showed himself. He fell to the ground after Hayate managed to block his attack and threw him down. Iris was saved. She almost stumbled but Ceas caught her and helped her stood up firmly. Altus sat on the floor, rubbed the blood on his cheeks that came out of his mouth. That one Hayate’s attack has hurt him badly, even he wasn’t thrust the pale man with the sharp part of his spear. But before Altus could get up and do some more attacks, Buff’s sword and Kiros’ cutlass has pointed to the man’s chin.

“Give up,” the two said with serious looks. They seemed like wouldn’t show any mercy, even their master would say to stop.

Altus spit on the floor. “Alright, I gave up,” he raised his hands up. “Tch. Damn that stupid seer. Why didn’t she tell me about this?”

Iris approached the man, even Rudger tried to hold her. She kneeled before him. “Who is the girl you mentioned? Did she the one that telling you about me?”

The pale man frowned. “You don’t know about that Selena witch?”

Everyone looked at each other and shrugged. Altus smirked evilly and continued. “So, the True Rune wasn’t so perfect, after all,” he said calmly, forgot that two sharp blades still pointed to his chin.

“Explain yourself, lad,” said Kiros. “Or this cutlass shall bathe with your blood.”

“No need to be so hot-headed, mortals. Look, wake your comrades and bring me to a place where all of your comrades can hear me, so I won’t repeat it over times if they came out and wanted to hear my explanations.”

Iris nodded at her subordinates. Rudger woke Ehlen, Buff hit Raijin’s head, and Ceas shook William’s body carefully. The three finally awoke and they all entered the mansion’s lounge, gathered every Star to listen to Altus’ explanations. After everyone gathered, Altus began to explain.

“I came to this place because that witch told me to,” he said with his icy tone. “She had this Prophecy Rune. I found her and she told me if I wanted to find the Chief, I need to find the bearer of the Fate Rune first hand. And so one, she told me that you’re here.”

“Prophecy Rune…” muttered Iris, thoughtfully.

“Where is she now?” asked Rudger.

“She was unable to move her feet, so I doubt she’ll move anywhere,” Altus shrugged. “But, she can always have good profits if she opened a fortune telling shop. Her prophecy never failed. The villagers that lived around the mountain sometimes came to visit her to ask about their daily fortune.”

“A mountain? Which mountain?” Ehlen asked. He began to interest with this fortuneteller.

“Up north of Sol-Falena. Not the Ashtwal Mountain, no. The mountain was next to it, the Devandier Mountain. There was a small village and a cave too in the mountain feet. She lived at the deepest part of the mountain, so the villagers often calling her as ‘The Hermit’.”

“The Hermit…but she called herself Selena, huh?” Ariel touched his temples.

“Guys, I think we need to visit this Selena,” suggested Iris, made everyone looked at her. “Well, I don’t know if she’s a Star or not, but at least she could help us finding a suitable fort for us, right?”

“Yes. She might be able to tell us,” Rui agreed. “Well, Altus, show Lady Iris and her companion the way!”

“Why me!?” Altus grunted. But then Ceas’ trident pointed at his neck from behind. Altus gulped and sighed. “Fine. Hurry up. Even I do have all eternity, you weren’t.”

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Today’s battle party consisted of six people: Iris, Rudger, Ehlen, Clovis, Alexis, and Altus. That half-vampire led the way to the hermitage. Past Lunas to the dry land at the north of Falena, they could spot a small village after walked some miles away from the holy land.

The villagers didn’t seem very surprised to see those strangers entered their village, which meant they had seen travelers before. Ehlen rather amazed to see those people did all their daily routines without bother with their coming.

“Is something the matter, Your Highness?” asked the black haired Queen’s Knight noticed the young prince’s weird expression.
That silver haired man shook his head, “I just…wonder why I don’t know about this village’s whereabouts until this morning, and I knew it from a foreigner. How pity I am, not know about a village from my own country.”

“Prince, actually…everything had informed to Princess Ammy,” Alexis smiled, “But the Princess had been very busy lately, so I guess she only forgot to tell you about the creation of this village.”

Ehlen sighed. Iris patted that guy’s shoulder gently. “Don’t worry. It’ll be more fun to see something that you don’t know just yet,” she said.

The silver haired guy smiled a little and nodded. They proceed through the main path to the cavern. A villager was kindly let them borrowed a fire torch so they could have some light in the dark cavern. Altus kept walking ahead as the guide, and they eventually saw the end of the dark cave. There was a bright light and when Iris cs came closer, they gasped.

There was a girl sat on a rock there, closing her eyes as if she was sleeping or maybe she was meditating. Her long golden locks fell down and even touched the ground. Iris couldn’t believe her eyes. That girl emitted with light that now shined that small room of the cavern. She almost looks like…an angel, except not. That girl opened her eyes, and once again, the party was startled. She’s blind, but they knew that the girl was used to have these pretty black eyes.

The girl smiled and spoke up, “Welcome to my hermitage, Lady Iris.”

“Um, you know me?” the younger blonde girl raised an eyebrow.

“Why, yes of course. I foresee you will eventually came to me and seek for my assistance, milady. That was also the reason why I sent Altus to you.”

The vampire gasped. “Hey! Did you mean that you just using me?” he frowned at the hermit, “You really a wicked witch, Selena!”

“Sssh, I speak the truth,” Selena smiled again, “Lady Iris will eventually led you to your Chief, Altus. That is, if you wish to follow her path.”

“Fie!” Altus folded his arms, “Never! The Chief is my sole master, the one that I will always obey!”

“You can keep saying that. It’s only a matter of time until you realized that you need Lady Iris,” that blind girl turned her attention toward the Tenkai girl, “And about your true objection for coming to me, milady…You demand to find a shelter for your people of guidance, right?”

Iris nodded. “Could you please give me some clue where it is, with your ability?”

“Of course. And it is not only that, milady. I will give you a bonus.”

Selena body began to float. Everyone startled. Rudger stepped in front of Iris, took a defense stance. The party was also ready with their weapons. That girl floated on the air and raised her right arm, pointing at Iris.

“I will directly show you your greatest protector and become your ally if you can defeat me,” she sang with her melodious voice.

“Fine. I accept your challenge,” the younger blonde nodded and ready with her staff.

Selena smiled mystically. Suddenly, the light from her body was bright so shiny that everyone forced to cover their eyes to prevent a permanent blind because the dazzling light. After they could felt the light had faded a little, they opened their eyes again and found out that they were somewhere else up in mountain. There were more spaces, exactly what they need for the upcoming battle.

“Let’s begin,” the blind girl raised her arms and began chanting a spell, “Charm Arrow.”

The ground started to shake. Alexis spontaneously called out the power of her Mother Earth Rune. She used an instant Canopy Defense and thus the six was protected from the strong holy damage. Selena chanted some more magic such as Earthquake and Scolding.

“Scatter! Avoid her magic!” commanded Iris.

Everyone obeyed. Clovis jumped to the hermit’s blind spot and tried to land a hit, but an invisible barrier reflected his attacks. Ehlen called out The Shredding and unfortunately, it was futile.

Alexis gave signal toward her black haired partner and they nodded. The two made a unique stance. Clovis posed as as if he will use a Falcon style, while Alexis ready with her rapier. At the next second, the two was already moved to each other side, finished their incredibly fast unite attack.

“Hmm…impressive,” Selena's cloak was cut down, fell to the ground. Her right arm started to bleeding, but it was only a small wound. “But I expect more.”

Iris gritted her teeth, tried to think for a way to hurt the hermit badly. Then she was spotted that Altus was disappeared.

“Altus?” the younger golden haired girl cried out, “Altus!”

“Iris, concentrate in battle!” shouted Rudger after he casting a Dancing Flames toward Selena. Again, the attack was futile so the brunette decided to get on more strength works. “You back us up!”

“But…”

Selena pointed her left arm toward Rudger, and that young man floated all of sudden. Some spirit-like appeared out of nowhere and hit Rudger for multiple times, badly. Iris gasped. Just when she was trying to use her healing magic for that faint partner of hers, Iris’ body was emitted with the same light. After some awhile, the light faded away and Selena’s body became even brighter.

“I drain your magic power,” explained that hermit calmly, “I’m sorry, but I’m invulnerable against all kind of magic, so you better find another way.”

Just after she finished saying that, another magic struck Clovis and Alexis, made the two Queen’s Knight unconscious. All those left were now Iris, Ehlen and the missing Altus. Selena was still floating on the air.

“I guess it was not a fair fight,” the older blonde girl said in whispery voice.

“What do you mean?” Ehlen frowned, gripped his Nagamaki tighter.

“I read all your moves…just by seeing a single hint of your movements with my light…it were not fair, right?”

“Right, but you can’t do anything about it,” Iris replied. Her mind was busy thinking a way so she could land a hit or two on that blonde hermit.

“But I can.”

All of sudden, the scenery around them was consumed by darkness. Iris gasped; Ehlen took a defense stance in front of the lady to protect her. Now they all were inside of some kind of dark dome. Selena’s body was the only source of light now. However, it seemed like it wasn’t her work because she also wonder who did that.

“I can see you…in this darkness if mine,” the same voice from earlier spoke up.

“Altus! That’s you!” Iris sighed relieved.

“Hmph. I do not acknowledge you as my master yet, mortal. But…if you wish to let me stay with you until what this witch spoke came true…then I will help you,” answered Altus from nowhere.

“Okay, do whatever you wish. I owe you this one.”

Selena sighed. Fighting in darkness like this meant her disadvantage. Her Prophecy Rune would only work if she could felt the body of the object that she tried to predict its movement with the light that flowed out of her body. And now she must rely to her sixth sense…that is bothersome, because she wasn’t used to it even until now.

“Funeral Wind!”

The hermit could felt a strong wind blow directed toward her, but she effectively cast a Vengeful Child to deflect the attack. Now, what they will try to do…

“Eat this!”

Selena could felt her body was thrown to the ground with a single attack. The darkness faded away, and the scenery turned back into the rocky mountains. Alexis, Clovis and Rudger still fainted on the ground. The hermit was also fell down and struggle to get up, but without her legs not functioning, she had no hope to stand up. Suddenly, a blue staff was pointed at her chin.

“I guess we win,” said Iris with satisfied smile. Behind her were Ehlen with tired look for wasting his magic power and Altus who stayed with his expressionless face.

Selena sighed. “Yes, you win, milady.”

“YAAAAAY!” the blonde girl jumped, over enjoyed by her win.
“Now, show us this ‘greatest protection’ you babbling about!” Ehlen folded his arms, demanded a straight conclusion after their hard effort defeating this hermit.

“Awake your comrades first hand, Your Highness,” the older blonde girl smiled.

And so on, the three went waking up their unconscious friends. Selena teleported herself and the party back to the dark cavern of her dwellings. She was floating and went to the thick wall behind her. A large glyph appeared and the wall crumbled. That girl went ahead and the six followed her. After walking passed the hidden tunnel, they were arrived in a small bay.

“Okay…” Rudger turned his head around. Nothing was in sight except the northern seas of Falena territory. That brunette raised an eyebrow, “Where’s this fort you promised?”

“Lady Iris, please come here,” Selena was pointed at a small stone near where she was floating.

Iris nodded and approached the hermit. She noticed that the stone had these ancient symbols written on it. She frowned and Selena gave further command, “Please read what’s written on it.”

The younger golden haired girl kneeled down before the stone so she could read the text clearer. Selena was flying back to the party. Ehlen frowned at the hermit. Alexis seemed enthusiasm to see what would happen next. Clovis and Altus stayed cool and looked at the young Tenkai lazily. Rudger had a strange feeling that was reflected in his emerald eyes. Iris kept silent for some minutes until she began to chant yet another magical keyword.

“In my hand is the creator of sword that calls eternal sleep. Honor our pact and hear my command. I command thou to arise as my greatest protection. Randgriõr!”

The earth was shaken, and yet Iris was fainted again. Rudger gasped and quickly approached that little girl. Ehlen was almost stumbled backwards, but Alexis held him. Clovis wanted to complain, but then Altus pointed to the sea as a strange building suddenly rose. A wide land formed as a path led from the bay to the castle. Selena smiled mystically to see the castle-shaped like building.

“Finally, the great castle of Sindar race had arisen once again.”