by Arantes
He’s here, and he’s looking for me. You want me, Aleister? Then fine, I’m coming. This was his chance to find Aleister. To find the answers he’d been looking for, the answers that taunted him.
He leaped from roof to roof. Tonight he was going to have to be cautious as not to trip and fall. This thick fog made it hard to see, but Albedo was determined in finding Aleister. Aleister’s presence kept shifting, one moment it was here, the next there. What kind of game are you playing Aleister? Stop shifting your presence. Aleister’s presence slowly faded away now. Albedo stopped in bewilderment, wondering why Aleister was calling for him and then all of a sudden disappeared. He stood on top of the roof alone. The houses in the kingdom were old and brittle. The roof he was standing on had holes in them, he had tried his very best not to make any noises. Aleister was gone now and there was no need for him to be outside anymore. He turned around and out of the fog he could see a figure. He quickly activated the Elder’s sensing, his hands to his chin, and ready for whoever was coming out. How could he have been so foolish? So focused on Aleister that he failed to notice someone was following him. Was it Sonia? Or was it Angelione? He could feel someone approaching him out of the fog. “Who’s there?”
He heard a voice, “Most people are not brave enough to come out this late. You’re either very brave or very stupid.” A man came out of the fog, looking defiant.
It’s Drake, thought Albedo unpleasantly. He looked malevolent as ever. The evil aura around him was malicious.
“I can’t fall asleep,” Albedo lied. He did not want Drake to know the truth. There was something about Drake that made him uneasy.
Drake walked closer to him. “Can’t fall asleep huh, same here.” He gave Albedo a distrustful look. “A clever one isn’t he? The one they call Aleister.”
Albedo said nothing. How could Drake know he was looking for Aleister this late by myself? He could only feel his senses. “Yes he is, catching him will not be easy,” said Albedo with a faint smile.
“Have you heard?” asked Drake.
Albedo shook his head, wondering what Drake was talking about.
“They say he has the ability to transformed, to increase his strength even more. Imagine if one of us had that power, think of all the people we could kill.” As Drake was talking, he slowly put his hand on Albedo shoulder.
Albedo could feel his heart beating faster; it’s as if death itself had touched his shoulder. This heartbeat felt different somehow, different from Aleister’s presence calling him, or when he sees Sonia. I can feel my heart hurting me.
Drake smiled, “Well don’t give me that look; you know I was only joking.” The smile on his face was vile.
Albedo now wanted to get away from him. “It’s pretty late, so I think I’m going to get some sleep,” said Albedo. As he walked away, he could feel him staring at him. Sensing Drake’s presence gave him a cold and chilling feeling.
Chapter 25
Pain
Albedo walked back to the castle, getting away from the bloodthirsty monster. He walked in the hallway and turned the doorknob to his door. At that moment he could hear Sonia’s door next to him being opened. She stepped outside and Albedo noticed the bag of sweets in her hand.
“Hey Albedo, why you up so late, is everything all right?” asked Sonia. She could see him shaking a little.
“It’s nothing to worry about,” not wanting to tell her what happened.
“Did you have another one of those dreams and couldn’t sleep?”
“Something like that.”
“Go inside your room, I’ll go see one of the maids and bring you something warm to drink.”
Albedo walked into his dark room and lit a candle. He wished this kingdom had electricity like Atnius. He had become as spoiled as Dante. He got on his bed and sat there. What’s going on, why I am shaking so much? Was I afraid of Drake? No, that’s not it, and it wasn’t Aleister either. For a second there, I felt like killing Drake. It was that killer-lust master Jarvis warned me about, that desire to seek battles. His killer-lust was getting stronger as Jarvis predicted, the Excitaret Quad was changing him. Like that time he wanted to kill the bear, and Michael. Was he becoming like Aleister? Albedo was afraid of himself, afraid he was changing.
Sonia walked in the room and offered him some of her sweets. He ate and drank warm tea she had brought for him. The tea and the sweets made him feel better now.
“Hey Sonia, I heard Axil mention something about the noble families.”
She looked at him and put down her sweets, “Oh, you don’t know do you. Even though there are kingdoms with their own noble families, there’re five noble families in Nacune that are very powerful and very influential. They’re known as the five Great Noble Families. They’re richer than the six High Kings themselves. I don’t know if Axil told you,” she stopped, “Well he doesn’t really like to talk about it. Axil’s family name is one of the five Great Nobles.”
“He never mentioned that before.” Dante had explained to him about Axil’s past, but he failed to mention about his family’s name, nor the nobles’ name. “What makes them so powerful?”
“Axil’s full name is, Axil Lucan Lancaster. The Five Great Noble Families own factories that manufacture metals for this world.”
Albedo had no idea how powerful his friend was. He knew Axil’s family had thrown him out after his mother had died and they had blamed him for it. She wanted to explain more to him but he looked extremely tired. Sonia waited there until he fell asleep.
***
“It’s time, today our search for Aleister begins again,” said Angelione.
Angelione and Sonia had now become experts in chasing Aleister; this was the first time for the others. They stood outside of the castle waiting for Drake to join them. A few minutes passed by and he finally showed up.
Drake walked up to Albedo and said, “Albedo, it’s nice seeing you again.”
“Likewise,” said Albedo with a distasteful look on his face.
Axil and Dante could feel the tension between the two, and wondered what was going on. At that moment Albedo looked to see three guards with a woman that seemed to have been apprehended. Along side of her were her children, three of them. Her hands were tied. She looked dirty, puffy eyes, dirty clothes. Her face was hollow, her children the same. The guards walked up to Drake.
“What crime has she committed against the queen?” asked Drake with a chilling voice.
One of the guards answered, “Sir, she had broken the queen’s law, stealing from her majesty.”
“That’s unfortunate. Tell me, why you have committed these crimes against a perfect ruler?” said Drake.
The queen was known for harsh punishment, anyone who dared rebel against her paid with their lives.
The woman was a widow. Her husband had died long ago, leaving her behind with three children, she was poor and had no skill. “Forgive me your Excellency, the children were hungry, I had no other way of feeding them,” said the woman. She began to sob.
Albedo felt sympathy for her; it must be hard raising her children all alone. Maybe the queen will understand and forgive her? Maybe she had a heart like Victor. Albedo watched as Drake walked closer to her, he placed his hand on her shoulder, just like he did against Albedo.
“As you’re aware, I have been given absolute power by your majesty, to punish the wicked for their crimes. What should your punishment be? Should I let you go free? If I do then others will start thinking it’s all right to steal. Should I strip you from your children? Should I imprison you for years?”
This guy is sick, Albedo hated to see what Drake was doing, he was taunting her. Like a savage animal playing with his prey, once it had been caught. The prey decides what the next move will be. Drake was a cruel man.
“Ah, I know!” he said with an excited face. “I’ll kill you!”
Albedo and the others heart stopped in surprise. Was he really going to kill her, right there and then, for stealing a few loaves of b
read?
Dante looked at Axil in bewilderment and said, “He must be joking around!”
Axil knew Drake wasn’t playing around; the law for stealing was punishable by death in this kingdom. He had remembered when he himself was going hungry and thought about stealing also, but had stopped.
The woman could feel her heart starting to beat faster; she held her chest in pain. The pain was too much for her to bear. Blood began coming from her nose and her children started screaming for their mother. Sonia and Angelione could not help at all. Interfering with another land’s affairs without permission would result in war. Conalian was a small kingdom compared to Atnius, but the other kings would not allow it. No kingdom should interfere with another ones affair without permission; this was part of their alliance. They bit their lips in anger. Time and time again, they witnessed men like Drake on a mission. And time after time there was nothing they could do to help. Dante and Axil understood Sonia’s and Angelione’s position, and chose to follow it too. But Albedo would not stand for it! He walked over Drake and said; “HEY!!!” Drake took his eyes away from the woman, when he moved his head, his face met Albedo’s fist. Albedo landed a powerful blow that startled and pushed Drake away from her. Drake started to bleed; his mouth was covered in blood.
Sonia was surprised, Albedo, you really have gotten a lot stronger. But of course her first thought was what have you done Albedo? She had seen this anger in Albedo’s eyes before. It was the same anger he felt when he saw what they did to Ethan and his mother.
Angelione wasn’t too happy about Albedo’s action.
“Stop this now, or I’ll kill you!” said Albedo with a look of impulse; he could feel it, the impulse of the killer-lust.
The woman was scared; her heart had skipped a beat. Albedo took gold from his pocket and gave it to her. “Thank you young man; you have a kind heart.”
Drake got up and wiped his mouth, he walked closer to Albedo now. Albedo stood his ground, ready for Drake to fight him. He looked into Albedo’s eyes and he smiled, and then laughed. “Relax, why are you so serious? I wasn’t going to actually kill her. I just wanted to see what you would do, and I must say you passed my test.”
A test? This guy plays with people’s lives and said it’s all a test.
“You see Albedo, if Aleister does that to one of us, I need to know you would jump in and help. There’s only room for the fearless in this mission, anyone who is feeble will die by Aleister’s hand.”
Angelione and the others knew Drake was lying, if Albedo had not stepped in, Drake would have killed the woman. He would even kill her children.
“Let her go free, let this be a warning to you and the others,” said Drake.
She was freed; she took her children and headed back home.
“Well I can’t go out like this. I need to clean my nose.” Drake left to clean his face.
“I wish I was the one who got to punch him, just his face alone disgusts me,” Albedo heard Dante say. Albedo knew he could have started a war, but his emotions got the better of him.
Angelione however felt differently, he walked to Albedo and grabbed him by his shirt. Albedo looked as if he was in a different world; it wasn’t until Angelione started talking that he came back to his senses. “What were you thinking?! Do you know what you could have done?! You can’t interfere with others affairs, you could have started a war!” scolded Angelione.
Sonia had nothing to say, she knew what he did was the right thing to do. Even Angelione wanted to do it, but he had chosen to put his emotions aside.
“You did the right thing Albedo; you did what we all wanted to do, but we were too blinded by orders. That woman would have died if you had not helped her,” said Sonia.
“Are any of you listening to yourself? What he did could ha---”
Before Angelione could finish, Dante interrupted, “Master, what he did is what you taught us to do; to follow our heart and do what is right.”
Angelione had told them that, just like Dragan had taught him.
“What he did was foolish and stupid. He doesn’t follow orders and does as he pleases.” He looked at Albedo and said, “Let me remind you that you are not a Black Reaper. You’re only an apprentice and your job is to assist if needed, and observe. Is that clear?!”
Albedo nodded his head saying yes.
After a few minutes of yelling from Angelione, Drake returned and was ready to start the hunt for Aleister. “My my, you have strong arm Albedo, I hope you can use those against Aleister.” said Drake.
Angelione stood in the middle of those two, trying to avoid a fight.
Drake now lay out his plan to catch Aleister. “We’ll split into two teams, Sonia and Angelione and then Dante Axil, Albedo and I.” Drake’s plan was to split up; two teams would have a better chance of finding Aleister faster. “Plus of course a couple of my men will scour the area, any sign of Aleister they will come and find us.”
Angelione did not like the idea, Albedo and Drake on the same team was not a good idea. “Is that such a good idea? It would take all of us to fight him. By splitting up, we create a weak spot, it would be better if we remained a team,” said Angelione. Drake or these two rookies have never fought Aleister before; they don’t know how strong he is. All of us fighting would give us a better fighting chance.
“I agree with Drake, splitting up will give us a better chance of finding him. If anyone one of us spots him, we won’t go after him alone, we’ll come find the other team.” All four agreed that splitting up was the best plan.
Angelione had no choice but to give in. It doesn’t really matter if we’re in two teams anyway, because Aleister is looking for Albedo and Albedo alone. If he sensed anyone around him he’s not going to show himself anytime soon. So I guess for now I’ll let them run around in circles looking for him. He looked at Albedo. It’s you that he wants Albedo, and when he finally calls for you, I’ll be ready.
***
“Sonia, stop, we have to talk,” said Angelione.
They had split away from the others in pursuit of Aleister. Angelione saw his chance to talk to Sonia at last. Last time he tried to talk to her she had left him standing by himself. He wanted to give her time for her mind to grasp the truth at last. She wanted to ignore the truth, not wanting to hear what Angelione had to say.
“We have to talk about this, you can’t ignore it forever.”
“You want to talk? A guy who barely has a conversation with someone,” said Sonia cynically.
“You have to stop walking away from me and try to accept the truth, what he is.”
She stop walking away from him and said, “I know!” there were tears in her eyes, it was painful for her to accept the truth, but she would have too. “You think I don’t know what he is? I am well aware of it! Every day I worry Angelione! What if he becomes like Aleister? What if his memories come back? Then what? Will we lose the Albedo we know and love? Will Dawson take over?” she wanted to shed tears for him. She was worried that she might lose him to Aleister’s wicked way. His past was calling out to him. Slowly he was losing his grip, he was changing and she had witnessed it.
Angelione grabbed her, but not forcefully, trying to make her feel like she was not alone. “I know it hurts Sonia, you’re not the only one who cares for him. His parents raised me as his son. Imagine how Axil and Dante will feel when they learn the truth. Imagine how he’s feeling, everything he knows is a lie. We have to be strong for him; one day he’s going to need us more than ever. You especially, have to be strong for him.” The first step is to accept the truth, and you finally did. Angelione allowed her to cry on his shoulder, which was eccentric of him, but he felt this situation needed it. I can’t believe master Dragan and the King has been keeping this secret for so long.
***
“We’ve been looking all day, every time we find a track of Aleister, he’s gone again,” said Drake.
“This is getting us nowhere; we’re running in circles. Aleister is playing with
us.” Albedo could feel Aleister only wanted him to come, this was getting them nowhere. I have no choice, I have to separate myself from the others; it’s me that he’s after.
Drake sent Dante to get Sonia and Angelione to decide on a new tactic. He looked at Albedo and said, “That fog has crippled our beloved kingdom.”
This morning Albedo had noticed the thick fog was gone. He looked at Axil, who looked as if he was lost in space. This must be hard for him, coming back to his land after all these years to find it like this. Axil wasn’t one to express his emotions too often, but Albedo could see the sadness in his face.
“Tell me about the noble family, do you know… where they’ve gone to?” asked Axil.
“Who knows,” said Drake. “They left about three years ago when the fog came through.
Nobody really knows where this fog came from really, but when it did, it drove away one of the Great Noble Families. Leaving this land to rot and perish. Without their name and their factories, this land started to perish away as you can see. Thanks to this fog, our land can no longer produce; it’s as if death has touched us himself.”
