Come away, O human child
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand
-Lyrics to 'Stolen Child' performed by Loreena McKennitt
Elements of Great Design Part 7
The shrill scream of a woman broke through the darkness, stirring the refugees from their much needed sleep.
Eyes wide with confusion and fear, the lot looked around their dim surroundings to place themselves back in the clearing where they had stopped for the evening. Voices on the verge of panic whispered questions of the cry- 'Where did that come from?' 'Was it from something in the wild?' and other such inquiries.
Suddenly, the air was filled with the distant bright sounds of metal meeting metal and a barrage of shouts and battle bellows... then came the muted snapping snarls and howls that were anything but human. Those from Coneria froze, their skin paling at the memories those terrifying noises brought.
Zechs and Noin shot to their feet along with most of their charges. "Dear Creator!" a young man shrieked. "It's coming from Babil!"
Wails and cries rose as those who had come to the same conclusion fell to their knees and pulled their loved ones close. The Sovereigns shot their heads to the north from which they came to see the skies painted a brilliant red and orange light that rose above the trees. Occasionally flecks of brilliant white and gold shot upward to rain back down.
There was only one thing that could cause such a sight... a city on the verge of being burned down. Babil was, indeed, under attack. The Noventas and most of their thousands of civilians that had stayed behind would not live to see another morning.
Gasping, the Queen's eyes filled with tears and she covered her gaping mouth with a hand as she spun away from terrible light. But no matter how badly she wished to not think of the ensuing fight, the sounds from it and those terrible screams only grew louder. Strong arms wrapped around her wracking shoulders and she leaned heavily against her husband to keep from collapsing.
As if walking through water, their last Babil recruit stepped up beside them as the hood of her deep green cape fell away to reveal her tear-streamed face.
Without looking back to take in the gasping, whispering people around, the girl whimpered and kept her head raised towards the bright heavens. her shoulder-length, blonde hair floated behind her on the breeze warmed by the fires raging in her homeland.
His back stiffening even as he held his bride, Zechs's lungs filled with his own gasp. Unable to blink his enlarged eyes as he stared in disbelief at the young woman, he breathed, "Sylvia."
Difficult to believe as it was, the lone child that had begged to join the flight into the Unknown was none other than Princess Sylvia Noventa... the lone heir to her grandparents' throne.
Surrounding the young Sovereign, her tearful survivors that had formed a ring around her dropped themselves to a knee with their heads bowed low to their new Queen of Babil.
* * * * * *
"So, that's how we ended up in Onrac," Duo grinned. Straddling the chair that he was seated in, his arms were folded along its back that rose to the middle of his chest. Tilting his braided head, he asked, "Now, has your gift contradicted anything that I told you?"
The bound and wide-eyed White Mage sitting before did not hesitate to shake his head enthusiastically as he mumbled through the cloth gag in his mouth, 'I b'heve ou! I b'heve ou! Hease eahease ma!"
With a deep sigh, Maxwell smiled, "Alright. I'll release you."
He raised a hand and snapped his fingers, calling the thick ropes of black smoke that tied the blonde firmly in place to disappear in thin air. Heero was quick to step in and undo the gag's knot at the back of their would-be attacker's head. Pulling the wrap away, he stepped back and replaced his right hand to fall on the hilt of his sword with an expression that challenged the gifted into acting out.
Gently tapping his friend on his armored lower back, the Black Mage urged, "Easy, 'Ro. I don't think that he's going to give us a hard time now."
Yuy slackened his grip on his hilt, but did not feel comfortable enough to lower his hand completely. Blinking his cobalt eyes in surprise, he glanced to his side to appraise his dark-clad companion.
This was far from the jovial, laughing boy that he had come to know. Still reeling from the brief glimpse of the black magic that Maxwell held at his whim, the Fighter was well aware that what he had witnessed was only a scratch in the surface of what he could do.
More than that ability, it was incredible to Heero how Duo was in... complete control of their situation from the moment their potential trouble appeared. Calm and cool in all he said and did, there were no wasted words or efforts from the violet-eyed gifted. He saw a problem and he made sure that it was handled with frightening speed and precision.
Thinking of those real threats that had stood against the unassuming being, the soldier shivered in imagining the beast in him that they had seen before their last moments when Maxwell hadn't restrained himself.
His smile warming when he gazed back on their guest, he asked, "What's your name, friend?"
Swallowing roughly, the blonde replied in a quiet stammer, "Q-Quatre. Quatre Raberba Winner."
Duo snickered and winked, "I'm gonna call you Quat because your whole name's a bit of a mouthful." The tension in the White Mage completely melted at that, his shoulders sagging as he laughed a full and natural laugh.
Seeing that opening of a door to a potential friendship, the braided teenager smirked and extended a hand. His usual bright, upbeat tone returned as he introduced, "Duo Maxwell, son of the Lord of Death. Damned nice meeting you."
"Nice to meet you as well," Winner replied back sincerely as he reached forward for a firm handshake. Wincing, he smiled sheepishly, "Uh... I am sorry for my intent to attack you when I first arrived. But we gifted know each other when we are in our presences and I had never known a child of Shinigami to be of any good."
The braided youth waved his hand in a nonchalant gesture, grinning, "Meh. I'm well used to giving off that impression. No harm, no foul." Glancing over to his armored friend, he nudged the Fighter. "The war's not with our new pal, here, you know?" he chuckled. "You're starting to make me nervous standing there in that suit of yours."
Finally breaking from his frayed nerves, Heero shook his head to clear it and glanced from one face that was watching him to the other. Clearing his throat, he muttered, "Right. My apologies." At the clasp of his fist over his breast, the metal shielding him dissolved back into its orb before being tucked away once again.
Offering his hand to the White Mage, the soldier presented, "Heero Yuy. I do hope you will understand my unease as I am not exactly used to dealing with gifted such as yourselves."
"Yea, before leaving Romefeller, he didn't get out much," Maxwell snickered, a hand cupping the side of his mouth as he leaned towards his blonde acquaintance. To the fiery glare that he'd earned from the cobalt eyes that spun on him, he just smiled all the wider.
Turning his warm smile onto the Fighter, Quatre shook hands with him and nodded firmly, "Heero. It is an honor to know the person that is standing as Gaia's greatest hope."
Cheeks flushing a bit at that, Yuy ducked his head. Recalling his braided friend's encouragement moments ago, he took faith that there was a purpose for him in this mission. Only as of late, he was feeling the burden of their all being successful in bringing Mariemaia and her army down which only stirred up his anxiety over the fears that they might not win.
Quatre pointed at his own chest and asked his new associates, "So... if I am hearing you correctly, you really think that I might be one of the Keepers? A son of Shinigami cannot hold such a role, but I am not convinced that I am who you are looking for."
Gesturing back to his unruly-haired partner Duo answered simply, "Heero named you the one bathed in light. He's the one who the Creator chose to find us, so you must be one of the four we need to restore the Elemental Stones."
The blonde shook his head so vehemently that the band around his head that kept his veil in place nearly lost its red jewel that fell in the middle of his head and sparkled in the candle light of the room. "But I wouldn't know the first thing of what to do," he insisted, a deep frown of worry on his face. "I would be leaving everything I know just on a hunch. There is nothing about me that would prove my having any connection to-"
Not to be deterred, the Black Mage stated calmly, "Maybe there is nothing that you've shared with others, but I get the feeling that you're hiding something."
Panicked, Winner felt the sweat that was beading on his face and was about to deny such a notion when the braided teenager raised a finger to stop him. "Maybe you've considered it coincidences or the things of your imagination, but you've noticed something about yourself that no one else would understand enough to confide it in them."
A sad smile curling his lips, Maxwell said, "I have a little experience in that since I had to hide who I really am for most of my life. But I promise you that we're friends here and we need your help."
Seeing tears building up in the wide aquamarine eyes on him, he pressed on, "Did you ever notice a shift in the wind when you just so happened to need one? Or maybe you felt the ground begin to quake if you were angry? Even the littlest of thing could-"
It was at Heero's sharp gasp and the straightening of the Fighter's back that had Duo stopping himself in mid-sentence. Following the line of sight of his friend's enlarged cobalt eyes, he peered through the window. He also tensed in surprise in seeing how dark it had grown outside when there was not a cloud to be found in the sky moments ago... and it was still the late afternoon.
Suddenly, few rain droplets pinged against the glass pane just before a heavy downpour washed over everything. Outside, the cries of those caught up in the abrupt storm filled the air along with the sounds of their feet sloshing in the quickly building puddles in their run for shelter.
Their heads slowly turning back to look on the While Mage, the traveling mates froze at the tears that were streaming down his face. Gulping down the lump in his throat, Quatre asked in a breath, "You mean have I noticed something like that?" He nodded shallowly, "Yea. I have."
"Water," Heero whispered, skin pale at the realization that he was indeed in the presence of a Keeper. No Sovereign, no Oracle or gifted of any sort stood on the same level of influence or power as a Keeper. As the only four in all of Gaia at any given time, they were the elite of the elite.
His bottom lip trembling, Winner managed, "I'm scared. You are asking me to leave everything I know... my family, my homeland, my way of life... to go into the Unknown alone and fight an army from Abaddon's Hell when I don't know the first thing of what being a Keeper means or how I can stop the darkness in this world."
Duo smiled, "Well, you have it almost right. You won't be going into this war or the Unknown alone. You'll have me and 'Ro every step of the way. And we'll have the other three Keepers as well." Quatre blinked, the tension in his shoulders easing.
Biting his lip, the dark-clad mage leaned forward. "It's not up to us to ask why the Creator chose us," he commented. "All that we can do is use the tools He gave us to do what we can with them to the best of our abilities." Pausing, he smirked, "As nice as that all sounds since that's what we're taught from the earliest stages of our life, I'm still pretty damned scared as well."
Cobalt eyes softening as those words set in, Heero gazed back on his braided friend to take him in. The more and more he came to know Maxwell the more he appreciated him. Every moment was like peeling back another layer to the complex child of Death.
Simply by the nature of their abilities, Black Mages and White Mages were born as sworn enemies. Their magic conflicted one another- the first to be defensive and destructive while the latter was one of healing and restoration.
Yet here was one of the more powerful gifted in the dark thread of such powers. And he was opening himself to bring a mutual understanding with his would-be opponent.
Releasing a deep breath in a puff, Winner's eyes dried and beyond the window behind him, the rain stopped falling. As he wiped his cheeks dry, so did the clouds roll away to give way to the sun once more.
But he did not need to look back to see what he already knew was happening. It was something that he was used to by now while his new friends stared in wonder.
"Alright," the White Mage nodded firmly, "I'm in."
* * * * * *
Later that evening, Winner returned to the inn from his visit to the marketplace with a large scroll in hand. "There are not many maps like this," he grinned to his friends as they stepped away from the round table in the middle of their room. Securing the door closed behind himself, the blonde unraveled the frayed cloth material.
"Considering how far and few people willingly travel Gaia for the own ventures, this is one hell of a find," Duo chuckled as he peered at the colorful layout of the world.
For Heero, it was an especially awe-inspiring thing to see the images of green forests, blue rivers and seas, brown etchings of mountain ranges and vibrant cities spread throughout the wide span of sprawling land. Gaia was massive, a fact already known by him and everyone living in it. But that knowledge meant little compared to actually beholding the wonders that it held.
Clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth as he ran his violet eyes along the twisting, turning painting that ran along most of the world's center, Maxwell noted aloud, "There's really no way to avoid having to cross the Provaka Mountain Range if we want to keep going north from here. That's one place I can't say I've ever been to know what we might come up against when we get there."
Wincing, the Fighter acknowledged, "I have heard that there are dragons and other such threats in those rocks. I might be able to handle fighting hand-to-hand with an ogre or another human, but I've never faced something that can fly or breathe fire."
Quatre nodded and pointed to the circular city drawn closely to the formation as he replied, "We might have luck in finding help with that in Lefein. There are guides stationed there who take travelers safely over and beyond. Being so close to the range, most its people would at the very least be able to tell us the best way to go."
Mentally taking in the span of dessert and other wilderness that they needed to move through along the way to the kingdom, Heero ran down a list of things that would be needed for the trip. "We'll definitely need that early visit to the market for our supplies since we have a larger list of necessities than I had originally counted on," he commented.
"Not a problem," the White Mage grinned as he rolled the map up once again. "My family is one of the wealthiest in town with my father serving as a member of the Onrac Sovereigns' Council. I could easily sneak out several purses filled with coin and they would never be missed."
Duo rubbed the back of his head, whistling through his teeth. "The son of a Councilman," he muttered, shaking his head in wonder. "I guess this war is going to take all kinds." A deep frown of worry marring his face, he snorted, "Those purses may not be missed, but it won't take long for your absence to be noticed."
Shrugging to his braided comrade, the blonde smirked, "Well, I plan on using your means of walking out of here. No self-respecting White Mage and political representative would ever be caught dead with a Black Mage who also happens to be a son of Shinigami."
He hesitated a moment before adding, "As for our visiting the marketplace tomorrow, it would be best if you stay here while Heero and I take care of gathering up our supplies. The last thing we need is a chance encounter like the one that you and I had without your knowing until I made to attack you."
Yuy agreed, "A very good suggestion." Sensing the slight disappointment in his violet-eyed partner, he chuckled, "Don't worry. I think that I already know you well enough to have an idea on what purchases of weapons and a horse you would make."
"Oh, really?" Duo snorted as he faced the Fighter. Resting his fists on his hips, he raised an eyebrow. "I'll be happy to put that to the test tomorrow."
* * * * * *
At the start of a brand new day, King Zechs and Queen Noin were the first to rise at the brightening of the skies directly over them. Sitting together by the dying campfire by their makeshift tent, they watched the young, lone Sovereign of Babil as she slept amidst the few of her people that had left the city walls just before the attack.
The hundreds had stayed in the clearing with the hopes that there may be some survivors fleeing the doomed city that could join them.
But there were none...
...not one single soul had been spared. And now the thick cover of clouds had spread to fall over not only Babil, but the other lands that fell within the perimeter of the ring that had nearly doubled in size.
Resting her head on her husband's shoulder, Lucrezia told him softly, "Sylvia believed in us, love. Even as a royal, she saw the wrong in her grandparents' stubbornness and came with us." Slowly turning her head to lock gazes with the handsome King, she smiled sadly, "There will be others. We will find others who will work together so that we may persevere though this dark time."
Weary as he was, Merquise's own lips curled in a small smile of relief. "We'll find them," he nodded firmly as he rested a hand on his bride's that had rested on his arm. Squeezing it, he decreed, "We'll find them all."
* * * * * *
Blinking his widened eyes, the child of Shinigami murmured, "Well... I guess you really are getting to know me."
The hood of his cape pulled back over his head, the Black Mage watched as Heero and Quatre returned to the inn stables. With Yuy atop his faithful Wing and Winner riding his tan-colored mare by the name of SandRock, the two entered the facility leading an impressive black stallion with white marks curved along his large face behind them.
A wide smile lighting his face as he approached and ran a hand over the beast's long snout, Maxwell stared into the large, deep brown eyes watching him. "I'll name you after my weapon. Scythe," he declared.
Mounting the saddle of his horse, Duo grinned as he accepted the sealed roll of weapons that his smirking counterpart handed over. Quickly opening the carrier, he appraised the many different blades and was quite pleased by the selections. One sheathed dagger in particular caught his immediate interest.
"Nicely done," the son on Shinigami complimented to Heero as he removed the weapon from its loop. Meeting the cobalt eyes of his friend, he secured the short, but lethal blade within the confines of his hair at the back of his head. Once the dagger was hidden from sight in the swift move, he slapped his comrade on the arm as he snickered, "I admit I would not have done any better."
Yuy bowed his head, chuckling, "Such a dynamic personality like yours is pretty easy to read. At least I did not have to suffer your endless prattle while buying our supplies. We were able to make good timing without it." That earned him another fitful howl of a laugh that he joined in on.
Bringing their horses to a stop at the entrance of the stable when SandRock paused, the unlikely friend peered over to catch his line of sight. When they looked to the north along with him, they straightened rigidly in their saddles with wide eyes.
Now that the sun was completely above the horizon, it was plainly clear that the darkness in the skies had spread overnight. Thousands in the streets had put their lives on hold to point, stare and whisper amongst themselves anxiously over the discovery.
"You sure you're ready for this, Quat?" Duo asked, leaning forward beyond Heero so that he could peer on the White Mage.
Drawing a deep breath, Winner nodded shallowly. "Yea," he answered softly, but surely. "Let's not waste anymore time."
With that, the three travelers hurried off beyond the gates of Onrac.
TBC...
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