“That may had been the case. Its master, however, was nowhere to be found.” Dante declares.
“I’ll had Smith send out an A.S.S squad, to find the master—hopefully, he hasn’t gone far. There’s a slight chance he may be connected to the recent attacks on the palace and the princess.” The empress declares as she climbs the stairs and comfortably sits on the throne, her eyes linger over the lot of us before landing on me. “In the meantime, Kalverya will continue her training. She’ll need to pass the recruitment process to enter P.A.S.A.”
“Empress, I mean no disrespect but what if I didn’t want to be a knight.” I formally declare.
Her eyes are sharp and in that moment, I fear she could saw through me to my very soul. “It’s not your choice to decide. Unfortunately, you were born from two powerful bloodlines and as an heir to a throne of advanced military capability and power. If you had regained your memories—you’d had known that.” The silence shifting through the room was heavy before she finally announced, “You’ll also be under twenty-four-hour guard.” With a wave of her hand, we are removed from the room. Her attitude annoys me and I couldn’t help but punch a wall the moment the guards had disappear due to Zeanna need to send them away, with her declaring ‘the princess was saftest with us’.
“My lady?” Zeanna questions, I could hear the worry in her voice as clear as day.
“She doesn’t had to be like that,” I grumble. Soon, the pressure of a hand on my shoulder pulls my mind back to reality. I glanced over my shoulder at up at Asashin, he has his masked on concealing his features and has had it on for several days now unless he ate or slept.
“Perhaps some sparring may ease your frustrations,” Asashin announced. I nod and soon after find myself on the outskirts of the palace grounds; Dante and Zeanna aren’t too far away; according to Asashin, they want to saw my failings. Asashin stands a few feet from me, dressed in black slick scales. He’s removed his armour, his weapons, cloak and utility belt as a safe guard. “Ready?” I hold up my fists and nod. Asashin rans at me. With open hands as he begins to strike. I block a few but I was surprised by how many strikes I do receive. Asashin was very fast, faster than Juvias and I know without a doubt he’s holding back—a lot.
However, every time I threw a punch my mind bounces back to the recent occurrences. That energy that I felt on Earth was that same energy, I felt a few days ago. The palace being attacked and apparently someone was murdered. My kidnapping and the attack on the empress. The slaves and the dreams of wars. It’s too much, and so much so that I felt Asashin’s open palm inches from my nose. I felt the wind of his force drift around me. “You’re not concentrating.” he identifies.
I relaxed, “No I was not. A lot has happened.”
“Want to talk about it?” he offers.
I stand with my hands on my hips and shift my weight, “You want to talk?”
He shrugged, “If it makes you felt any better.”
I stare at the green grass as my mind begins to turn. I felt the cool breeze in the air and felt the heat of the sun against my skin. I could hear the ocean in the distance smashing against the cliffs below and I could hear the sound of seagulls squawking overhead even though I knew they weren’t like the seagulls on Earth. In this moment, I felt at peace. “On earth, I couldn’t remember who I was and where I came from but I could do things that no one else could do—so I used it.”—I clench my fist before me and relax as I stare at my hand—”I had to live. I had to survive so I end up doing things people would consider monstrous. Then I met Dante and he brought me here. I wasn’t too sure of his intentions so I was on guard. Then I learned new things and was a part of several bad things, not that really bothered me—I’m used to it. Being in the type of job I am in—you’d had to be. You’d be surprised at the things other people would do to each other to get what they want. And because of that, I am a bit of a rebel.
“But now I was on a planet I never knew existed with the same atmospheric pressure and composition that has made life possible. The only way I could tell I was not on Earth was by looking at the sky—there I’d always saw two moons.”—I glanced over at Asashin—”And by looking at the people around me. You had scales for skin but armour for protection. With advanced technology, you were able to minimize my injury to something that was non-existent. People are after me; I didn’t know why but I had a feeling it’s connected to what I am rather than who I am. And that scares me. There are people on your world who are abducted, forced into slavery and wiped from existence. I want to do something to help them but I was also afraid I couldn’t do anything. People here are stronger, more powerful and more dangerous. Half of the time, I didn’t know what to do. Better yet, I didn’t know what I should do but I didn’t want to be kept in the dark either. I want to know more. I want to remember who I am better yet I want to remember who I was. And if, being a knight will bring back some of that which I’ve lost—then okay. I’ll try to become a knight.” Then I recall something very important, “I want to become stronger.”
Asashin was silent a little by the time I am done and only saids one thing, “That was quick.”
“What do you mean?” I asked but I knew what he meant, it didn’t take me long to understand that the power of a Nefaliem Knight was something that could aid me in the most dangerous and impossible situations.
“Before you told the empress and Dante that you didn’t want to be a knight.” Asashin declares. “Why the sudden change?”
I had to think about that a little longer before answering, “When I was abducted, or was unconscious or drugged or watever. When I came to, I was surrounded by slaves and their handlers. I escaped but I dreamed . . . or maybe they were memories but I was a part of a unit in a Jungle and we were shot by the enemy all of them died expect for me.”
“That was the Zeta mission,” Dante announce. “You were on planet Sparta.”
I glanced over at Dante and watch as he strides towards us. “What else do you know?” I asked.
“It’s classified.” he replies.
“Really?” I demanded, a little annoyed.
“Why didn’t we take her to Nerelda?” Zeanna announced. I glanced over at her; she smiles at me and continued, “If the princess really wants to regain her memories than she’ll need to be shown who she is. Even though she hasn’t fully regained her memories.” I regard Zeanna and cross my arms, she should be careful. I think.
“You think Nerelda will be able to bring back my memories?” I asked, not able to contain the hope in my voice.
“There’s a chance she might not be able to.” Zeanna declares. “The only reason I suggest her was because there was no one else I could think of that would be able to manipulate the memories of the past.” My blood freezes.
“She could do that?” I asked, horrify.
“Nerelda was known to be able to do many things.” Asashin announced, “There was even a time when she was able to bring a person back from the dead.” It was those last words Asashin voiced, before Zeanna, Dante and Asashin drag me back to the palace in search of Nerelda. There was a chance according to Asashin she might not be in the palace. Then there was an even more likely chance she wasn’t going to be available at all to us. To my relief, we found her in the palace library on one of the higher levels. She threw herself over the balcony and slowly descend towards us, her blue gown flutter around her as she descends. Her blue eyes were locked onto my features as she smiles.
“What brings you here, my dear?” she gently askeds.
I fear my expression read ‘apprehension’ so I force it into a blank masked. I notice Nerelda was quick to adapt accordingly. “I’d like you to return my memories to me.”
Nerelda was quiet for a long breath before she announced, “You know that I might not be able to do that.” Her eyes stand out against her dark skin as did her hair and crimson lips. Her sharp cheekbones complement her almond eyes batter in long thick lashes.
“I’m aware. But I figure I should at least try.” I announc
e.
Nerelda smile and nod. “Very well, this way.” It didn’t take long before Nerelda open portal in the middle of the large library. I peer over my shoulder at the others and saw they stands back. I glanced at the portal than at Nerelda than back at them, wondered ing what it was I should do. “After you.”
I caught onto her humor and force a sarcastic smile and step into the portal. I steel myself for the unpredictable only to stumble into an open marble room; in the center was a square black sparkly box. As I inch closer I realise that wasn’t a box it was a hologram of some kind. “What’s that?” I asked.
“The universe.” I jump at the sound of her voice behind me. As I peer over my shoulder with a risen brow she curls a small smile.
“Are you serious?” I asked.
“Very,” she announced as she gilds over to the sight of the hologram. “Isn’t it remark? I could saw everything, at any time and when I want to.”
“Isn’t that a breach of privacy?” I inquire. Nerelda raises her brows at my sudden question. This caught me off guard a little and I wondered if I should take back what I had said.
“My job was to make sure that ‘Serenity’ was situating where they are the most suit,” Nerelda announce. “And that means if I had to spy on many lives to save them—I will had to . . . but to a degree of course. Privacy was important.” she supplements and I smiled, aware she had added her opinion on privacy in my favor.
“My memories?”
“You do realise they didn’t come back just like that, right?” she askeds.
“I know.” I declare. She smiles a little and claps her hands. The sound of her clap reverberate around the room and the universe before we vanish. I regard her curiously and learnt that she was a woman of undeniable talent. The room around us changed, it was black. The only source of light that flutter through the room beam down from high above. Nerelda stands on the ground which glistens under the soft grey hue of the light. To my surprise but aim to not show it was the sight of her standing on black water.
“Don’t be afraid. I won’t hurt you.” With those words, I found my legs had moved on their own towards her until I stop her. She walks around me and I felt my legs lift off the ground, my first instinct was to use my arms to stop myself from falling only to realise I wasn’t falling but floating. As I glanced up I notice the light overhead was from the sun in the distance. Around it were planets with rings, and colour gaseous planets, stars in the distance with light taking too long to reach us. It was a glorious sight. I saw Nerelda stand beside me, “I need to you relax. This was a difficult process. So whatever you saw, whatever you feel. Try not react physically too much to it. You think you could do that?”
“I could try,” I confess.
“Good.” she walks around me until she stands at my head. “Let’s begin.” I felt her fingers brush against my temple before she adds a little pressure as she places her thumbs on my forehead and wrap her fingers around the back of my skull. “Close your eyes,” she orders and without any question, without any fear, I close them.
And wait, for the darkness to engulf me.
* * *
Chapter 8: Chapter 7
* * *
7. The Doppelganger
My eyes snap open, I find myself lying on the ground. I faintly hear a voice whisper, fluttering like a light echo. “Get up little princess,” I hear it said, “time to get up.” As my mind catches up to this reality I face. I realise that smooth deep velvet voice was from the blurry figure that stands towering over me. He drops down on one knee beside me and I notice his features become crystal clear. The first thing, that catches my attention, was his ridiculously pale skin and bright blue eyes like mine, next to his silver hair and silver scales.
“Who are you?” I asked as he pulls me to my feet, once my head stops moving.
“I’m known by many names.” he announced, “But you could call me Neragarden.”
I regard him a little more closely, examining his features with great detail. “Why do I know that name?” I asked myself more than him.
“In due time, all will be revealed,” he answers anyway. Now that didn’t sound too cynical at all. “But for that to happen, you’ll be needing your memories back.”
“How did you know that?”
“It wasn’t hard. I could tell the moment you were tele-ported here, that you needed something and by the way, your aura has changed, I know you aren’t the way you’re supposed to be.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Simple. There are beings in this world who are meant to be something. For example, Humans. They’re supposed to be Daunts of their galaxy for a reason. So they could expand and continue to grow and learn to accept difference and change before they are given their revealed their heritage. However, I saw with you, that’s stopped.” he easily announced, daring to shake a finger at me.
I regard it with a risen brow and asked, “What are you talking about?”
He sighs and my eyes drift to his face, “How about I show you . . . who you really are.” The white room around me fades away. I squeeze my eyes shut. Bringing up my arms to shield them from the blinding light. Immediately soon after, I hear the shrilling sound of war cries and agonising screams around me. I open my eyes and saw several men and women, are burnt by the lava or ran through by a blade. In the distance, I surprisingly hear the sound of firing bullets and peer over my shoulder to find Persians advancing on the Necromers—a species of shapeshifters.
The Persians recently traded with Earth and managedd to create their own firearms as well as gaining new forms of weapons. This worries me, if Earth was now trading with other races even though the government itself had no idea of alien existence than that must mean that there are secretive organisations of some kind calling the shots. I knew that was a bit of a stretch but I couldn’t exactly deny it. There’s a strong possibility of it occurring and given the world that I was now walking on—anything was possible. “This, my dear, was the Katana Plans.” Neragarden announced over the roaring war cries.
“It’s a war.” I call over the thrashing skirmishes.
Neragarden bubbles a laugh holding his coulde in the air as he gestures at the sight before him, “Of course it is.” I regard Neragarden with confusion and watch as his gaze drifts from the battle to the volcouldo. The ground shakes and the volcouldo begins to erupt. I notice, the battle freezes and bit by bit everyone’s eyes widen at the sight of the exploding volcouldo. Everyone glanceds at each other, realisation dawning in on them, before they turn their heel and quickly sprint down the mountainside. Several men and women are shoved aside while some are squashed under the reigning stampede. The heating wind whips my hair around my features. I could felt my strands of hair, brushing against my face as I place a hand over my eyes shielding them from the bright burning light of lava that shoots high into the sky. I notice there’s something within it. “This was going to be good.” Neragarden announced with a little too much enthusiasm.
In front of us, silver armoured individuals land on the ground with a large crack, sending the ground beneath them into a dipped depression. I glanced over my shoulder at the sight of the soldiers who didn’t managed to ran away in time. Their faces fill with shock and fear. They know what’s happened. They know just like I do, that the Nefaliem Knights, shot out of the volcouldo. That wouldn’t surprise me; Dante did tell me there was nothing our Nefaliem form couldn’t handle, our idol forms, however was an entirely different matter.
The Knights, pull out their silver sterling swords from upon their shoulders. I was conscious of their silver flowing cloaks and their black faceplates that conceals their features within a silver helmet. With their swords drawn and ready, they leap several hundred feet, over an expand of distance that stretches between them and the last fallen soldier who was quick to pull himself to his feet and dodge the dead bodies. He glanceds over his shoulder but I notice it’s all too late, the Knights surround him. One places a sword at his throat. “Surr
ender. You couldnot win this fight.” a female voice announced through a simulated voice synthesiser. It’s something Asashin said he had used when we first met—it was to conceal his identity.
The Necromer soldier spits at the female Knight. “Go to hell.”
“Then you leave me no choice.” she brutally, declares.
“Oh no—too late.” Neragarden announced with a hand covering his lips as if he did something wrong. Within the short amount of time I’ve come to know him. I notice, I was strangely aware of his odd personality. I regard Neragarden with obvious confusion. He isn’t a man that sawms to enjoy death and destruction. Yet here he is, boasting about what’s going to happen before it even happens, almost as if it were a comedy show.
The Nefaliem woman jabs her fist into the Necromer and he stumbles back, surprised. Blood pools over the brim of his lips, before he falls to his knees clutching his bleeding abdomen. I regard the blade that gleams under the sprays of magma shooting across the sky. It’s smeared in blood but in an instant she retracts the blade from where it sits above her forearm armour. Her eyes I remember clearly landed on me.
I freeze, fearing she could saw me. I knew she couldn’t because I know I was not really here. It’s all in my head. It’s all a dream. “Is it?” Neragarden questions and I evenly eye him. A small smile smooths across his broad pale features. Almost daring me to counter. I remain silent, aware of his intentions to play with my mind. I know I had enough problems on my own as it was so I knew that this wouldn’t do. “Aren’t you even curious as to what I had said?” he pushes.
“No.” I reply and turn my gaze back at the Nefaliem woman who continues to stare at me. Her gaze was heavy and I wondered what exactly she’s thinking. It couldn’t possibly be something about me—or so I’d like to believe. She eventually pulls her gaze away and I notice that they begin to leave. Several moments later, once they had disappear from my sight, I hear clearly the sound of shuffling feet beside me. There a man stands concealed in a torn cloak. I recall this man for some reason. I know without a doubt that if I were to gaze at the concealed face of this man I would saw what I fear I would saw. Missed matched eyes and a jagged scar. “Who was that?” I asked Neragarden.
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