Chapter 2: The tides yet turn...
The eighteen year-old boy was sitting on the dock, watching the small children swiming and enojying the sun and water. That morning had been perfect for complete relaxation, and the fishing in such a fair weather was more annoying then difficult; the temptaion of lazying about the village was unresistble to his still somewhat childish mind, and he had fished just enough for the meals of that day. The name of that boy was Serge, and the name of the place where this story takes place was Arni Village. Arni was a small village on the southern outskirts of the central island of El-Nido, south from the large city of Termina. Serge's hair was wild and blue, and the only thing that made his hair look decent was the red bandana that almost always had covered it, masking the messy hair from the eye.His eyes were as blue as the sea, and his face seemed young, subtracting a year or two from his looks. He was only just above the average height of the young men his age around Arni village. Serge was still considered a man, though; he had passed the age fifthteen and has taken upon hismelf the task of providing for his mother and himself, and the life in Arni and the years of experience and made him a masterful fishermen and seaman. He had worn in most times (and this was no exception) short blue pants and a black shirt. Above the shirt he wore a coat of mail, which, being rusted and old, provided him no defence. He had not needed it; he had lived a quiet life in Arni with all his friends, and his best of friends, Leena. On that morning he had awaited her, for he promised to take her to Opassa Beach. A thing he had promised with much difficulty, for his two visits in that beach were harsh on his soul: In one visit, of ten years prior to that day, he had nearly drowned. And in the second visit, done only several monthes ago, he had fainted for a reason unknown to him. Leena excused the latter as trauma from his prior visit, and told him he had to get over his fear.
"Hey, Serge!" Called a voice behind him.
Serge turned his gaze about, and noticed Leena, waving at him. He smiled and waved back, then stood up and walked towards her. Leena was a year younger then Serge, and only a head short of his heighet. She wore a brown-blue dress, her hair a long clash between brown and red, covering her neck like heavy curtain and to the opinion of all she was the most beautiful girl at the village. Not once had Serge heard of plans of having him wed to Leena, that made him a bit uneasy but still gave a pleasent feeling. Having known people had attributed him for the future husband of the fairest girl in the village was nice, and as close as he was to Leena, during the first years of adolescence her presence has haunted his dreams. They were best friends, and Serge had almost hoped they were unofficaly more, and he had recieved the feeling Leena felt the same way. Still, they never had the time to openly discuss this and Serge had hoped that the time on the beach would be one in which he could speak to Leena of this. In fact, that was the sole reason he accepted Leena's demand to ask her to come to the beach.
"Sorry if I made you wait," Apologized Leena with a smile.
"It's okay." Replied Serge and returned a smile. "Shall we go?"
Serge and Leena left the village together and headed east, to the small area known by the villagers as "The Lizard Rock". It was a portion of ground that collapsed from the north and gave access to Opassa Beach. It became the breeding grounds for reptilian creatures, due to the amount of water there. Serge walked with a weapon tied to his back, a weapon he had used to to drive off the creatures nearby the village. It was a tool he invented and forged, and was in fact rather simple in desgin. It was called a 'Swallow'. It was a staff with a blade in each end, and while a simple weapon to the eye, it was a quick and powerful tool in the hands of a skilled user. After several years of training with this weapon Serge had learned to wield it with both skill and speed, although he had found using the swallow extermly easy in the last few monthes, although his swallow of bone and wood had disappeared. He had, after a very long day of searching, managed to regather the materials needed to build a new Swallow, and managed at last to build a new one. Lizard Rock was rather empty that day, which was somewhat colder and more pleasent then most spring days, except for some of the smaller lizards, who fled at the sight of the two. After about ten minutes of walking the two had reached the beach. Leena had sat on the sand, while Serge was walking around for a bit (Trying to hide a bit of fear from Leena) and sat down at her side.
"See there was no need to be scared?" Asked Leena with a small smile, as if she proved to Serge she was right on a very complicated matter.
"I wasn't afraid..." Said Serge silently. "It's just this place gives me... bad luck."
"You don't have any bad luck," Said Leena, and Serge had to stop himself from saying that it was thanks to him coming here so rarely. "You just had a bad experience you're making a huge fuss about. I can't understand why you let it get to you."
"I don't know," Said Serge, allowing himself to fall back and lay on the sand. "But I've got a strange feeling about this place..."
Serge closed his eyes, feeling the sunlight trying to force it's way through his closed eye-lids. He slipped into an odd sleep...
Serge was looking at...himself? Oddly enough, he was looking at two Serges, standing in a chamber filled with stone. The two moved in a circle around a pedestal, each giving the other a look filled with the deepest hatred. One of them was holding a Swallow with golden, wave shaped blades, and the other held a white, magnificant sword, filled with markings and ancient runes. The two continued to walk in a circle for several more moments until they finally ran one at the other, their weapons clashing. The two blades glew as they made contact, and began vibrating powerfully in their respective master's hands. They jumped back, then met once more, sparks flying off the twovibrating weapons. They seperated again,but this time the sword-wielding Serge waved his hand to the center of the room and the other jumped up into the air. The air trembled with power, as if raging like the two. In the center of the room, a dark ball of energy formed, and the Swallow-wielding Serge moved his weapon back, as if not noticing the milky white glow that began covering it...
"Serge!" Called an angry voice.
Serge opened his eyes and looked at a very insulted and angry Leena.
"Leena..." Started Serge with a bit of shame in his voice. "I'm sorry... I fell asleep..."
"You didn't get enough sleep last night?" She asked with a badly-hidden trace of worry in her voice, which was already angry.
"No, I slept fine," Said Serge. "It's odd I fell asleep like that..."
"Serge," Said Leena with a lethal expression in her eyes, her voice turning dangerously high. "Don't worry me like that! I thought you passed out again without me noticing!"
Had Leena not been this enraged Serge would of joked about how he was right after all, but intimated by her screaming he fell completly silent.
After a minute of silence, Leena turned and looked at the waves, her rage quickly diminished. After a second she pointed at something in the sea.
"Serge, isn't that a Guldovian boat?" Asked Leena.
Serge looked curiously at the boat, that was indeed of Guldove's design, and examined the three shapes standing on it. The first was a shape of a man, a bit fat and short, and upon a second look, somewhat old, as well. Another was a golden hair girl, rather beautiful, wearing emerald robes that seemed to somehow merge with the water's color. She seemed oddly familiar to Serge, but the third one... She was a girl that seemed nearly the same as the girl next to her, leave alone hair-style and clothes, but Serge knew those didn't matter. The two were so alike... twins, perhaps? But the more Serge looked at the third girl, the more reminiscent he felt. When, out of nowhere, a name floated into his mind...
"Kid." Said Serge, as if it was the first time he had ever uttered a word.
"Kid?" Asked Leena. "Who's that, Serge?"
"I... Don't know...?" Asked Serge, feeling more flustered by the second, unable to take his eyes off the girl, who had sailed away slowly, not noticing that happanings on the beach.
The picture of the girl Kid floated across his mind, that was completly blank at the moment. Then, he rememberd a name.... And another name... And then a place, and another place... A million places he's never even seen, people he did not even recognize by sight, all floated into his mind in the time of a split second. Serge grabbed his head, feeling as if it would split any second.
"Serge!" Called Leena, her voice filled with panic and fear. "Are you alright?! Serge!!"
--- --- ---
...And that's all we know about the Einlanzer's disappearance, Lord Viper." Said Dario silently.
"Very well, Dario." Said General Viper.
The General was an old man, of about fifty, maybe sixty years. He was balding slowly ad his face already seemed wrinkled and old, and yet his clothes showed prestige, the sparkle in his eyes showed awarness and the agility in which he moved his hands (A sign of a good swordsman) made him an obviously powerful warrior, and not just General. His political and strategic understandings mixed with fairness and his understaning of the desires of other people made him a perfect ruler.
"So," Asked Karsh, who stood at Dario's side. "What're we gonna do?"
The General paused for a moment, as if in thought, then said:
"We'll send search parties to search across El-Nido. Every forest, cave, path and river will be searched, along with every settlement and village. If we find nothing, we'll wait until any news arise. If someone stole the Einlanzer, he would probably wish to use (He had dared not say "abuse", as if to push the fear away) it somehow... And we should halt all boat travel to and from El-Nido, so we'll be sure he woulden't reach Zenan. Getting something like the Einlanzer from Guardia, even worse, Porre would be impossible without declaring open war... And the Medina Mystics can't be negotiated, I'm afraid. Ever since Guardia's fall, they fear they may be next."
"Yes, sir." Said Karsh. "I shall send to command to start the search and to block all boats from the harbors."
"Very well." Said Viper. "Send bigger groups to Arni, Termina the Shadow Forest and the Hydra Marshes."
"Yes, sir." Repeated Karsh.
"Dismissed." Said Viper, and Dario and Karsh turned.
"One second, Dario, I wish to exchange a few words with you."
Karsh left the office and stood against the wall, waiting for his friend to meet him.
"What is it, sir?" Asked Dario.
"It is about you and Riddel." Said Viper, unable to hide a smile. "This may not be the best moment, but I have been meaning to ask you for quiet a while and never stumbled upon the chance."
"I will answer any question you may ask me, sir." Said Dario formally, but his lips curled in a smile.
"Time is not kind with me." Started Viper. "And I, who have seen much danger and death in my life, am somewhat weak at heart. Not to worry," He added, as he saw concern flicker in Dario's gaze. "I am fine, as you see. But my life is not as long as it would be... The price for serving your land, perhaps. And yet, once I fall, Porre will sieze the chance to wrench El-Nido from the Viper Clan's grasp. But that is not alone..." He paused for a moment slowly. "Riddel has not been so happy for years. Seeing my daugther speak so fondly and lovingly of you... And she so reminds me of her mother, god bless her soul, when I had first met her in these, now that she has matured into a woman... I must ask, though I may seem rude and impatient, when and where your wedding shall take place. Excuse me for my rudeness, but as great a ruler and general as I am," He added a smile. "I am still, nothing more then an old man."
"I don't mind you asking." Said Dario with a grin. "Not at all. In fact, I'm glad you asked. Riddel has been worried as to when we should tell you the date... We shall marry in four monthes time, in Zappa's blacksmith, Karsh's home, in other words."
"Ah," Said Viper with a voice filled with longing. "I remember how I set out with Zappa, along with Garai and Radius on journies at our youth. Indeed, foes fled by our sword... And you remind me of your father so much in his youth... And young Glenn... He looks so much like your mother. He also seemes to be growing responsible at last... Late, indeed, but your blood still runs the same."
"It is not just that." Said Dario. "All four of us, Glenn, Karsh, Riddel and myself, that is, grew up there... It seemes only suitable my life together with Riddel should start there."
Viper nodded understandably, and after another moment of talking sent Dario off. Dario left Viper's office, grinning and looking rather pleased of the course his life is going on, althought the theft of what could almost be called his family's heirloom.
"What were you talking 'bout?" Asked Karsh, who walked at Dario's side.
"The wedding." Replied Dario, simpley. At the moment, furthering the discussion seemed meaningless.
Karsh smiled and clasped his hand on Dario's shoulder.
"I'm happy for the both of you." Said Karsh, grinning too. "No one could be a better lord for El-Nido besides you. Resposible, smart, skilled, an excellent tactican... You're perfect for the job! And Riddel and you are so deeply in love..."
Dario smiled and placed his hand on Karsh's shoulder. He had truly trusted Karsh, like he had trusted Glenn. He had known Karsh had emotions for Riddel, He had seen the way how Karsh looked at Riddel through the yeards. Rare as those looks were, they were truly powerful. And now, he had given her up for him. He had loved Karsh, like a brother, just as he had loved Glenn. The three were brothers, not only in arms, but brothers in spirit!