Elements of Great Design Part 4
Heero was unfamiliar with recognizing the attire of a black mage to realize that the braided teenager he had rescued was wearing the traditional loose clothes and hood of one. And because the former prisoner did not have the opportunity to use his offensive magic, the Fighter would never have been able to guess that he was in the presence of a gifted one.
But everyone in Gaia knew of those black mages born under the Shinigami Moon. The children born into the world on that blood red night all came with the same mark in violet eyes. Already strong in their inherited abilities these especially rare few could also wield the one thing no other gifted could...
...Death.
Panting in his fright from where he stood a few paces from the young man that was pushing himself to sit upright, the Fighter's hand gripped the small orb secured in the sack at his hip. His body shimmering as his armor appeared, he removed his blade with a bright ring and aimed its tip at the mystic Stranger. "You stay right there," he commanded as firmly as he could despite his fear. Try at he might to steady his hand, his long sword still trembled.
A small smile curled across the heard-shaped face watching him, those violet eyes brightening with amusement.
"Easy, pal," he urged in that smooth, deep voice that came in a chuckle. "If I wanted to hurt you I would have long before you could have reached for your armor. I would raise my hands to surrender, but I don't want to make you any more skittish than you already are."
Yuy swallowed roughly. A mage's open, raised hand was their weapon... or so he had heard. Never before had he actually been in the presence of one before, let alone a bringer of Death. However, he couldn't help but believe the logic that if the other physical teenager wanted him dead he would have already seen to it, especially now after he had been ambushed by other Strangers and nearly killed.
Bowing his head, the braided youth said, "You saved my life. I'm not the type to overlook something like that." He grinned, "And you are..."
"Heero," the soldier heard himself finish before he recognized that he had willed it. "Heero Yuy." Growling to himself for offering that information so easily, he strengthened the hold on his blade to lose the shaking as he raised the tip higher so that he could aim for his the mage's neck.
Unaffected by the weapon or the glare he was receiving, other boy practically purred, "Heero. Nice ring to it. Pretty fitting, too, considering how you rescued me." He smiled all the wider as he slowly raised an extended hand, introducing, "Name's Duo Maxwell. And I am in your debt, Heero Yuy. Thanks for coming to my rescue back there."
Staring at the side-turned palm that was held out to him, the Fighter used the back of his sword to push it away as he gritted, "I'm not about to trust a son of Shinigami. For all I know, it could be a trick to send your black power into me."
With a nonchalant shrug, Duo sighed, "Can't say I'm surprised there. Everyone automatically assumes the worst from my kind." Pointing to the long bruise along the side of his handsome face, he said, "Comes with the territory, I guess."
Though the smile had never slipped from his lips and even if there was a light quip in his tone, there was also an underlining sadness in that sentiment that Yuy picked up on.
Blinking, his frown deepened at the sudden wave of pity that came over him for the other boy. After all, the people of Midgar shared his same paranoia and they had attempted to burn him alive. Unwilling to see himself stoop to that level, the soldier lowered his weapon and sheathed it... very slowly.
"What are you doing this far away from your homeland in the south?" Heero asked as removed his armor. Securing the orb that his gear had melded into, he placed it away for safe keeping once more. "I thought that your kind never strayed from Doma for your own protection from something like this."
The grin on his face growing, Maxwell replied, "Well, I've always seemed to be the exception to every rule. Staying in one place was never my thing, even if it was for my safety. There's something about being behind walls for the whole of my life that made me restless to see what else is out in the world." Gesturing towards the northwest, he continued, "Then the darkness came and I wanted to see if there was a way I could help."
Yuy snorted, "Help? You don't even know what is waiting out there and you just decided to be of assistance out of the goodness of your heart?"
It was Duo's turn to narrow his violet eyes in an angry glare as he gritted, "Why do you ask like that? You just assumed that my kind doesn't have hearts to be capable of using our gift for good intentions?" He was pleased that the Fighter at least winced at the harsh words, though the frown did prove that the notion had crossed his mind.
Folding his arms, the mage stated, "It doesn't take a person of magic to know that whatever caused that shadow over Paramecia isn't exactly the work of the Creator. And if there are any creatures that might be able to be of use in fending off other black magic, it's people of my race. I happened to be on my own when the first signs of the danger appeared and I've been traveling towards it ever since with what I could carry on my back."
He glanced back over his shoulder, muttering under his breath, "The bastards that took me when I had stopped for a drink at a nearby stream destroyed my pack of belongings that I had on me. Nice thanks for trying to do the right thing." Looking back on the soldier, he raised a hand and declared bitterly, "But that is the whole truth of it, from the bottom of my little black heart."
Yet again, Heero felt his heart sting with guilt and pity for the braided youth. 'You will know him when you do meet. You will know all of them when you are together," Dorothy's promise of finding replayed in his mind at the same time that the image of those violet eyes drawn in Death on the floor of her meditation room flashed before him. A shockwave shooting down his spine, his eyes grew in surprise.
This Duo Maxwell was one of the six that he was destined to meet in his quest to defeat Mariemaia. He was the sixth element that had his own special purpose to the fight through his unique powers.
Just as the son of Shinigami had mentioned, what could be more important to the fight against the dark sorceress than being able to harness black magic against her black magic?
'You must lose your pride and any prejudice. Find a way to work with these individuals,' the Oracle had urged. She said that it would be a challenge, considering Yuy's upbringing. But if saving Gaia meant lowering the walls that he had built up when it came to Strangers the likes of which he had never dealt with before, then he was going to have to work at doing just that.
With the easing of his shoulders, so did the Fighter's guard relax. "Well, I'm also heading towards that darkness to help however I can." The corner of his mouth curling up, he said, "Since you were so easily taken down by those village men, you're going to need someone around that will keep you safe long enough to reach Paramecia."
Duo blinked up at his rescuer as he murmured, "I suppose that I could use the company..." A smug smirk of his own pulling along his face, he commented, "And even if you are a mere Fighter without a trace of magic in you, it looks like you'll have to do."
Heero huffed out a short laugh at that. Perhaps this camaraderie wouldn't be as challenging as he originally thought it might be. Already, he was coming around to possibly liking the braided mage.
For the time being, however, fatigue settled heavily over the soldier. Both physically and emotionally drained after yet another night of interrupted sleep as well as the frightening flight from Midgar, it became a struggle for him to keep his eyes open.
Standing up, Maxwell insisted, "You're not going to be a lot of good to either of us if you're dead on your feet. I'll keep watch while you catch up on rest."
It was not like a Fighter to admit when he was weak. And proud as he was, Yuy was beyond exhaustion as well as the ability to argue. Hardly aware that he had moved for his bed roll, he soon found himself curling under its covers when he saw Duo taking the perch of a high tree branch on the other side of the small clearing.
A strange sense of security washed over Heero in knowing that he was being looked after by a possessor of dark magic and because of it, he faded from the world of the living and slipped into a deep sleep.
* * * * * *
"We are going to die."
Treize lifted his head from the nook of his folded arms and legs that he had pulled from his chest. His eyes enlarged, he appraised his wife huddled similarly across their cell. "You should not think that way, love," he urged. "I understand how grim things are for us at the moment, but we cannot give up that there is a way out from all of this."
Biting her lip, Lady Une tugged at the foot-length hem of her elegant, orange dress made from the finest silks with precious jewels. It only made her appear so much more out of place while they sat in the lowest level of their infamous prison.
Surrounded by the dank, dreary walls of their prison. In the flickering torch light that poured in through the small window of the thick wooden door that blocked their escape, her diamonds on her simple band of a crown that wrapped her head sparkled. His own gold-and-brown royal robes tattered from the struggle he had put up at his capture, the King's more haggard appearance fit their surroundings.
"This is all my fault," the Queen whispered brokenly. "I never should have allowed my brother to take Mariemaia under his wing in the ways of their magic when he insisted as he did."
Quickly shifting himself to slide beside his bride, Treize wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side. "Do not blame yourself for any of this," he insisted. "The line of sorcery in our families had passed over us and we only had the best of intentions in allowing our daughter the opportunity to understand her gift. Neither one of us knew that she had dark magic within her."
"My brother did," Lady Une gritted between her teeth as she reached up to roughly wipe away the stray tears that were rolling down her cheeks. "And he took advantage of our little girl... corrupted her... fed her lies that we would have killed her if we knew that she had the abilities of the Dark Under Lord- Abaddon." Shuddering, she leaned heavily against her husband for support. "And how could she not believe him when so many with such powers have been executed out of fear?"
The King fought the shimmer from his own eyes at the thought of his precious daughter believing them capable of such a thing. "I still have every faith that we will be away from here," he stated as confidently as he could... be the words more for her sake or his own he was not sure.
"We will handle Dekim and undo his influence," he continued. "Our girl is not lost to us. To lose hope in that is exactly what your brother wants. But so long as we still have life, there is always a chance, dear wife."
Drawing a deep breath, his wife straightened her back and met his gaze. "You are right, of course, my love," she replied with a small smile. "So long as my brother wishes to use Mariemaia, he also has to honor her demand that we not be killed. Without that, we would without doubt already be with Abaddon in his Underworld if not with the Creator."
Gently pressing a kiss to the top of her crowned head, Khushrenada smirked, "That's my brave one. We just bide our time and keep out spirits up until we have our opportunity at righting the wrongs of Dekim's blind lust to conquer the all of Gaia. The Creator is good and will send the help that this world so desperately needs." With a soft sigh, the Queen closed her brown eyes and rested her head on her husband's shoulder.
They were going to need that confidence that good would prevail in the end. No matter how bleak the situation might be, there simply had to be others that were willing and able to stand against the darkness.
* * * * * *
"How can we ever repay you for your kindness, Noventa?" Zechs asked as he and Noin peered over the edge of Babil's protective walls to oversee the steady procession of their homeland's survivors.
It had been a hard, relentless push on foot to the nearest kingdom where they could seek shelter and provisions. Like their leaders, the citizens of Coneria looked both physically and mentally worn but there was also a profound relief in their brightening eyes as well.
Already, the Fighters of their new refuge were rushing in to offer water and a body to lean against for those who were struggling to walk on their own. Even the gray-haired Queen of Babil was amongst the providers.
The white-haired old man smiled widely, patting his neighboring Sovereign on the back as he said, "No need for any of that." Turning his head towards the Queen, the jewels and gold of his crown shone under the sun. His arms opening out, he declared, "We have known each other for nearly a century now. You need only expect such hospitality for yourselves and your civilians. You would have shown my wife and I the same kindness were we in your position."
Noin grinned tiredly, "Without question. Simply seeing a friendly face after what we have been through means more than you could ever know, Charles."
Biting her lip as she glanced over her shoulder towards her former homeland to take in the black clouds hanging over it, she met Noventa's eyes once more and frowned deeply, "I am afraid that time for your own kingdom is running short. You are little more than a full day's travel on foot when there are monsters of Mariemaia's that can cross miles within mere heartbeats. We need to discuss having your people readied to leave this place as soon as possible."
A booming laugh rose from the old King. "We have nothing to worry about there," he reassured with a wink. "Sophia and I have already signed the treaty that the little girl sent to us straight away. There will be no attack on our realm just as she had promised." Huffing another laugh, he boasted confidently, "And if she should be foolish enough to undermine our pact to not make a strike against each other, the combined forces of our Fighters will be more than enough to fend off anything that child can muster up."
Wrapping an arm around both of his guests' shoulders, Noventa led them towards the stairs along the inside of the wall. "Now, we must get you both into something more fitting of the brave King and Queen that you are," he declared, a wide smile brightening his face. "You will have your fill of the finest foods and drink in all of Gaia. Before long, you will see that the terror you escaped will remain behind you to become nothing more than a faded memory."
Zechs and Noin shared a look of weary frustration. It was already clear of the challenge that they would have in alerting anyone of the danger that was coming... even amongst their most trusted of friends.
* * * * * *
When the Fighter's eyes opened hours later, they widened at the sight of the black mage sitting beside him... that was when he felt the hand resting along his forehead... saw the brilliant violet glow that said hand and the eyes over him were giving off.
Crying out in surprise, Yuy smacked Duo's hand away, violently bringing the son of Shinigami out of his trance-like state. In that brief moment of opportunity, the soldier reached for his belt of weapons.
His own eyes blinking as their light quickly faded, Maxwell gasped when the sharp edge of a long dagger was pressed against the flesh of his exposed neck. Leaning close by the stunned boy's ear, Heero hissed in slow and growled out words, "What. Did. You. Do. To. Me?" There was a large part of him that did not want to give the other teenager a chance to answer. His trust had been violated in a most revolting way through the use of dark magic against him.
Swallowing roughly against the blade that was so very close to cutting into his skin, Maxwell glared from the corner of his eye into the cobalt watching him when the Fighter leaned back until their noses were nearly touching.
The mage kept his voice calm but cold as he answered, "I was taking your nightmares away. You started screaming not long after you fell asleep and would have given our location away to anyone that might have happened to make their way along the road... or any creature that might be lurking around." Yuy's own eyes grew, blinking. That... was not at all what he had expected.
"I might be a lot of things, but I'm not a liar," Duo declared in a challenging growl. The corner of his lip curling up, he snarled, "Go on and tell me that you didn't notice how well you slept."
Heero did not want to admit it. He wanted to say that he had tossed and turned as he had every night since leaving Romefeller... but he could not. Between the height of the sun that revealed the hours he had peacefully been away from the world and how rested he felt, there was no denying that the gifted had indeed intervened in preventing the nightmares that Dorothy's visions had plagued him with.
There was no memory of shrill screams. There was no smell of blood, smoke or flesh burning. Even those mangled faces with glowing eyes and dripping fangs revealed in terrible smiles did not exist. It was only blissful, serene stillness.
Feeling the blade against his neck slacken, Duo sighed in relief. "A bit of advice, pal," he smiled darkly as he gently pushed the dagger away, "If you're going to use a weapon against me, make sure that you follow through with actually using it. I've had enough knives held against my throat that my instincts might outweigh my reason. If I didn't have as good of a hold on my gift as I do, this would have gone badly for you."
A chill running down his back, Heero paled at the realization of his near fatal act. No matter how fast he might be with a blade, it would not be nearly fast enough to prevent the unleashing of a mage's gift. Sheathing his dagger with enlarged eyes and trembling hands, he stammered sincerely, "I-I am sorry. I did not know that you were using your power to help me."
"It's alright," Maxwell reassured, his easy grin returning. Raising the hand that had been glowing, he shrugged, "I get that this must have been a pretty startling sight to wake up to. But as I mentioned before, if I wanted to hurt you I would have seen to that long before now."
An eyebrow lifting, he added, "And I wouldn't have needed to wait for you to fall asleep to take you out. I was just looking to keep us hidden as well as repay you in some way for getting me out of my earlier fix."
Guilt sank heavily in the pit of Yuy's stomach at that. Here his travel companion was only trying to help and he had repaid that kindness with malice. Sighing deeply, he ran a hand through his unruly hair and looked away to hide his embarrassment. "I appreciate what you did," he muttered after swallowing his pride. Wincing, he looked back at the mage from the corner of his eye. "I really was screaming in my sleep?"
His smile fading into a deep frown, Duo nodded, "Yea. And having seen what you were dreaming when I took them from you, I don't blame you." At first, Heero mentally lurched at the brief feeling of violation at having his dreams inertly shared through the mind of anyone else. But then, he was also relieved that he was not the only one to know their horrors.
After a long silence between them, the son of Shinigami asked in a near whisper, "So... that's what we're going up against, huh?"
Shaking his head, the Fighter met the violet eyes on him and replied, "According to what I have been told by the Oracle of Romefeller, we are going to be facing even worse than that. Gaia has not even begun to see the worst of what is to come."
"Fantastic," the mage smiled sarcastically, though the curl of his lips did not reach his eyes. He had fear in him. There was a time when Heero would have thought less of anyone for showing that they were worried... but he actually thought more of the gifted for showing that he was concerned.
Craning his head towards what was the northwest to them, Duo peered up to the sky where the darkness was waiting for them beyond the tall cover of the trees. "Well, no sense in prolonging the inevitable," he suggested flippantly, bouncing to his feet. Raising his arms overhead in a wide stretch he shrugged, "If there's anything we can do, we better get to before it gets us."
Unable to argue that logic, Yuy rose as well and adjusted his disheveled, red tunic. "I'm under the impression that Onrac is not far from Midgar. I have more than enough coin on me to afford us a place to sleep as well as supplies to replace the ones you lost. If we're lucky, we should be able to buy you a horse of your own."
On his way towards the edge f the ring where Wing was grazing, the Fighter smirked over his shoulder, "No offense, but I prefer to ride alone. However, I should be able to tolerate you sharing a saddle with me for a day or two for the sake of not having you slow me down by having to travel on foot."
Snorting, Maxwell returned the smug grin and taunted, "A day or two is all that I would be able to stand being so close to a Fighter. You all reek the same of unfounded cockiness and the loss of understanding."
His head falling back with a sharp laugh, Heero mounted his steed. Dropping a hand to his ally, he pulled Duo up into the saddle behind him. At the feel of the mage's arms loosely falling against either of his hips, the soldier lightly tapped his heels against Wing's side to urge him beyond the clearing to return to the road.
This was a most unanticipated meeting of change, finding this son of Shinigami. Already, Yuy could tell that there were drastic differences in their personalities that would likely prove to be challenges between them along the way to whatever lay ahead. Simply their roles in life were conflicts in and of themselves...
...and yet, he couldn't help but be grateful that he would not be traveling onward into the vast unknown alone.
TBC...
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