Author: Lenneth
Story Type: One-shot
So, I did this fic really late into the night after beta-ing two of alceus' chapters of Effervescent Saga. Sorry if it's a bit blur. I got no excuse for that. I'm still a newbie in using POV change.
The first time she saw him, really, truly saw him, his back was facing her as he tried to defend her from enemies’ onslaughts. That should have been an indication of the way they'd meet from then on.
She felt tired, and –useless-, as she watched him take blows meant for her. Her heart clenches painfully as the swordsman gritted his teeth in an effort to contain his pain. Move hands, dammit! There’s an injured person in front of you. You should be able to heal him!
But no, her body won’t listen to her as she stared at the man with the deep vermillion eyes stood up and went to defend her again.
Latte pales as realization dawned in.
Because next time, he might not just be there for her.
The second time, a bandit had tried to ambush her when she was on a quest with her friends on the far reaches of the Enigma Fortress. She hadn’t known he was there until a sharp cry was heard and he fell to his knees with a loud thud, a knife embedded in his chest.
And again, she could not do anything to help him.
It was rather amusing, if it weren't so serious.
She found him leaning into a stone wall, sipping a drink quietly as he watched people dancing and laughing. He looked as she had remembered albeit more taller and his face had taken on a deep mask of concentration. He was still lean and commanding with his deep set vermilion eyes, but somehow he looked boyish too as his hair was a casual arrays of black spikes.
"Why are you sitting just there, vanguard knight?" Latte had asked, only half teasing in an effort to strike up a conversation.
Kaistern gave her a sort of tired grin, one that spoke of memories and things best left forgotten. "Just... remembering something." He replied, that grin slowly dying on his face. A frown beginning to creep on the edges of said grin.
They said no more, and Alceus, her other partner, took her away to dance, but all the while, she was looking at him, and he was looking at the world.
The music played on and on, and still Kaistern stayed where he was, watching the people dance on by.
Kaistern stood next to the knight as he wondered how had the man found the strength to move on and let go of the thing that have defined his –their- life up until now.
He stares at the vanishing figure for a long time, already missing his comrade whom had been his greatest ally on the battlefield, and all the while, the world goes on.
When Yust goes, he is fraught with guilt. Assassins, rogues who want to claim his life and the price they will get once they have his head rushed in. Knifes raised.
His blade tore through them easily, like a scissors shredding a paper to pieces, and he felt invincible. He stormed through their ranks without caring.
And that's when an arrow flies toward his heart.
Only a shout "Kai!" and crimson blood raining around him.
And then someone else had passed through his life.
He watched his brother/friend/ally fall to a mere arrow and all energy had been sapped from his legs as he watched that once expressive gray irises turn cold and lifeless while the battle still rages on around them.
Never had he felt so small and alone until now.
---
She knows she should be surprised when she sees him again, leaning against some ancient tree that looks so frail and weak when compared to him. He was watching a campfire and only spared a small nod at her direction when she stepped in his line of sight. It was then she realized that those vermillion eyes had lost its twinkle and so she offers a question regarding his health.
Instead, he offers her a marshmallow..
Baffled by his actions, she says nothing and decides to follow the path of no resistance.
As she bites into the food, Kai looks vaguely amused. "You know, I always wondered where you'd end up." He chuckled at her, as he leaned against the tree more and paid no notice when the wood announced its old age by creaking sickly.
"Wondered what? Of me giving up the path of the Vates?" Latte responded, half in challenge and the other in curiosity. She really did want to know what this man is thinking.
"On the contrary." Kai replied, smiling easily. "I actually thought you'd end up tied down in a home somewhere, married. The explorer, Alceus, fitted you easily." The fire crackles and cackles, like an amused child.
"I guess you’re wrong then.” She said, annoyed as she wrinkles her nose. "He’s more like an older brother. I have not the slightest attraction to him as a life partner."
Kai shrugs almost nonchalantly, averting his eyes away from her and concentrating on watching the fire. She noticed that his vermillion eyes contained a spark within them that was not there when they had first begun the conversation.
"I notice that you’re out of your Blade master’s uniform." She murmurs, watching him through half-lidded eyes as she fought the fatigue of the day’s work that had finally caught up to her.
Kai smiled again and shrugged. "I did all that I have been expected to do and Queen Magdaleine is safely seated on the throne." He paused, as if considering something of little importance. "After a while, there was nothing to stick around for."
"Your sister?" Latte inquired, feeling that there is no need for subtlety. They are bound to meet each other sooner or later anyway. It’s better to hear it in person than to hear it through rumors.
"Dead." Kaistern said, without explanation, as though it meant nothing at all. But Latte knew. She knew that he was upset by the way he was slightly furrowing his brows and how his fingers gripped the wooden jug with just a little bit more force than necessary.
Latte wanted to apologize, but realized that there are some things best forgotten at times.
"Do you mind if I come with you?" she asks instead. "I'm terribly bored."
Kai snaps out of his daze and looks up to her in wonder. His amused laugh soon filled the tavern and it warms her heart because she knows that the laugh is free and unpretentious. "Sure, why not. I've been bored for a while too."
The water glimmered and shone like sparkling glass made by a master. The horizon stretched on and on, but the sun would always be able to catch up.
They watched, because they'd like to do that for awhile.
"Hey." Latte’s head turned toward him, while Kaistern continued to stare out over the expanse. "Are you happy?"
Latte had to laugh at that, and Kaistern actually looked surprised when she rolled her eyes and stamped on his foot childishly. "What kind of question is that?" she muttered.
"A sensible one." The sword-wielder said defensively. "I was just asking."
"Well, I’ve seen more than share my deaths and human cruelty and I’m sure your record can top mine and you still ask whether I’m happy?" Latte continued, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
"I thought it was." Kaistern murmured, crossing his arms like he used to do in the past when his Lieutenant did not give him the result he wanted. "You're avoiding the question, you know." He said pointedly, glaring at her in irritation.
She ignored it. "Yes." Latte answered after a moment’s pause and smiled, as she watched the sun go down with a contented sigh. "It took me a while, but I suppose I am."
"I'm glad." Kaistern said quietly, and gently scraped his foot against the cliff side, all the while keeping his eyes on her, lit up by the falling sun.
"It took me a long while to be happy too."
Latte meets up with Kai at the gate (having decides she was not going to sleep on the hard ground all the time), and finds him lazily leaning against the wall, half watching people bustling about.
"You know, I don't like crowds." Kai states as she walks up, looking bored. “They’re far too noisy to my liking.”
"They can be grating." Latte agrees, idly hefting her pack once. "But you get used to them."
"I suppose.” Kai murmurs, neither in agreement or in dissent, pushing off against the wall.
She didn't move for a moment, and he turned to look at her curiously.
Latte grasped his hand, moving her fingers across his knuckles gently. To her surprised, the famed Vanguard Knight, the one that have once been –and still do actually- the Queen’s trustees, blushed. Though she noticed that the twinkle in his deep vermillion eyes is back and she would do anything to keep it there.
"Well, at least, we got each other to lean on when the crowd gets too demanding.” She said a matter-of-factly, decidedly ignoring that there are pink stains on her cheeks too.
To her delight, Kai smiled gently back in agreement.
Story Type: One-shot
So, I did this fic really late into the night after beta-ing two of alceus' chapters of Effervescent Saga. Sorry if it's a bit blur. I got no excuse for that. I'm still a newbie in using POV change.
The first time she saw him, really, truly saw him, his back was facing her as he tried to defend her from enemies’ onslaughts. That should have been an indication of the way they'd meet from then on.
She felt tired, and –useless-, as she watched him take blows meant for her. Her heart clenches painfully as the swordsman gritted his teeth in an effort to contain his pain. Move hands, dammit! There’s an injured person in front of you. You should be able to heal him!
But no, her body won’t listen to her as she stared at the man with the deep vermillion eyes stood up and went to defend her again.
Latte pales as realization dawned in.
Because next time, he might not just be there for her.
The second time, a bandit had tried to ambush her when she was on a quest with her friends on the far reaches of the Enigma Fortress. She hadn’t known he was there until a sharp cry was heard and he fell to his knees with a loud thud, a knife embedded in his chest.
And again, she could not do anything to help him.
It was rather amusing, if it weren't so serious.
---
The first time they met after she had changed her Vates robes to a more advance Druid ones; it was completely by chance, a crossing at the celebration over the ascension of the Queen Magdaleine to her rightful throne of Effervescent. She found him leaning into a stone wall, sipping a drink quietly as he watched people dancing and laughing. He looked as she had remembered albeit more taller and his face had taken on a deep mask of concentration. He was still lean and commanding with his deep set vermilion eyes, but somehow he looked boyish too as his hair was a casual arrays of black spikes.
"Why are you sitting just there, vanguard knight?" Latte had asked, only half teasing in an effort to strike up a conversation.
Kaistern gave her a sort of tired grin, one that spoke of memories and things best left forgotten. "Just... remembering something." He replied, that grin slowly dying on his face. A frown beginning to creep on the edges of said grin.
They said no more, and Alceus, her other partner, took her away to dance, but all the while, she was looking at him, and he was looking at the world.
The music played on and on, and still Kaistern stayed where he was, watching the people dance on by.
---
The first time he is aware of just how different he is, Shiki had moved on. The black knight was intent on living to the fullest, leaving Kaistern and all the events that had taken place before the Ascension of the Queen far behind.Kaistern stood next to the knight as he wondered how had the man found the strength to move on and let go of the thing that have defined his –their- life up until now.
He stares at the vanishing figure for a long time, already missing his comrade whom had been his greatest ally on the battlefield, and all the while, the world goes on.
When Yust goes, he is fraught with guilt. Assassins, rogues who want to claim his life and the price they will get once they have his head rushed in. Knifes raised.
His blade tore through them easily, like a scissors shredding a paper to pieces, and he felt invincible. He stormed through their ranks without caring.
And that's when an arrow flies toward his heart.
Only a shout "Kai!" and crimson blood raining around him.
And then someone else had passed through his life.
He watched his brother/friend/ally fall to a mere arrow and all energy had been sapped from his legs as he watched that once expressive gray irises turn cold and lifeless while the battle still rages on around them.
Never had he felt so small and alone until now.
---
She knows she should be surprised when she sees him again, leaning against some ancient tree that looks so frail and weak when compared to him. He was watching a campfire and only spared a small nod at her direction when she stepped in his line of sight. It was then she realized that those vermillion eyes had lost its twinkle and so she offers a question regarding his health.
Instead, he offers her a marshmallow..
Baffled by his actions, she says nothing and decides to follow the path of no resistance.
As she bites into the food, Kai looks vaguely amused. "You know, I always wondered where you'd end up." He chuckled at her, as he leaned against the tree more and paid no notice when the wood announced its old age by creaking sickly.
"Wondered what? Of me giving up the path of the Vates?" Latte responded, half in challenge and the other in curiosity. She really did want to know what this man is thinking.
"On the contrary." Kai replied, smiling easily. "I actually thought you'd end up tied down in a home somewhere, married. The explorer, Alceus, fitted you easily." The fire crackles and cackles, like an amused child.
"I guess you’re wrong then.” She said, annoyed as she wrinkles her nose. "He’s more like an older brother. I have not the slightest attraction to him as a life partner."
Kai shrugs almost nonchalantly, averting his eyes away from her and concentrating on watching the fire. She noticed that his vermillion eyes contained a spark within them that was not there when they had first begun the conversation.
---
It was no longer a surprise when she meets him again. This time at a fancy tavern aptly named “Avery’s Finest.” Located on the beautiful recesses of the Northern Promenade. "I notice that you’re out of your Blade master’s uniform." She murmurs, watching him through half-lidded eyes as she fought the fatigue of the day’s work that had finally caught up to her.
Kai smiled again and shrugged. "I did all that I have been expected to do and Queen Magdaleine is safely seated on the throne." He paused, as if considering something of little importance. "After a while, there was nothing to stick around for."
"Your sister?" Latte inquired, feeling that there is no need for subtlety. They are bound to meet each other sooner or later anyway. It’s better to hear it in person than to hear it through rumors.
"Dead." Kaistern said, without explanation, as though it meant nothing at all. But Latte knew. She knew that he was upset by the way he was slightly furrowing his brows and how his fingers gripped the wooden jug with just a little bit more force than necessary.
Latte wanted to apologize, but realized that there are some things best forgotten at times.
"Do you mind if I come with you?" she asks instead. "I'm terribly bored."
Kai snaps out of his daze and looks up to her in wonder. His amused laugh soon filled the tavern and it warms her heart because she knows that the laugh is free and unpretentious. "Sure, why not. I've been bored for a while too."
---
They're standing on the edge of a cliff one day, gazing at the indigo, purple streaked sunset in admiration. It was things like this that makes you feel blessed to be alive on this earth.The water glimmered and shone like sparkling glass made by a master. The horizon stretched on and on, but the sun would always be able to catch up.
They watched, because they'd like to do that for awhile.
"Hey." Latte’s head turned toward him, while Kaistern continued to stare out over the expanse. "Are you happy?"
Latte had to laugh at that, and Kaistern actually looked surprised when she rolled her eyes and stamped on his foot childishly. "What kind of question is that?" she muttered.
"A sensible one." The sword-wielder said defensively. "I was just asking."
"Well, I’ve seen more than share my deaths and human cruelty and I’m sure your record can top mine and you still ask whether I’m happy?" Latte continued, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
"I thought it was." Kaistern murmured, crossing his arms like he used to do in the past when his Lieutenant did not give him the result he wanted. "You're avoiding the question, you know." He said pointedly, glaring at her in irritation.
She ignored it. "Yes." Latte answered after a moment’s pause and smiled, as she watched the sun go down with a contented sigh. "It took me a while, but I suppose I am."
"I'm glad." Kaistern said quietly, and gently scraped his foot against the cliff side, all the while keeping his eyes on her, lit up by the falling sun.
"It took me a long while to be happy too."
Latte meets up with Kai at the gate (having decides she was not going to sleep on the hard ground all the time), and finds him lazily leaning against the wall, half watching people bustling about.
"You know, I don't like crowds." Kai states as she walks up, looking bored. “They’re far too noisy to my liking.”
"They can be grating." Latte agrees, idly hefting her pack once. "But you get used to them."
"I suppose.” Kai murmurs, neither in agreement or in dissent, pushing off against the wall.
She didn't move for a moment, and he turned to look at her curiously.
Latte grasped his hand, moving her fingers across his knuckles gently. To her surprised, the famed Vanguard Knight, the one that have once been –and still do actually- the Queen’s trustees, blushed. Though she noticed that the twinkle in his deep vermillion eyes is back and she would do anything to keep it there.
"Well, at least, we got each other to lean on when the crowd gets too demanding.” She said a matter-of-factly, decidedly ignoring that there are pink stains on her cheeks too.
To her delight, Kai smiled gently back in agreement.
bagus si~
ReplyDeletemayan2 keep up!!
say, bagus kok. cuma gw kaga ngerti ceritany ==
ReplyDelete