Chapter 19: Searching Memories
[Hellion Arc]
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Both of Urika and the young youth's eyes met and both their green eyes glowed with the signs of being soul mates. Both the King and the Queen's eyes showed with elatedness because of their daughter's fortune. It was extremely rare for a dominion angel to find their soul mate and yet their daughter found hers like that.
The Queen went towards the children and patted Urika's head.
"Urika, this will be your new knight from now on. His name is Gikushi Katatte."
Urika glanced at Gikushi once more. In her mind she couldn't help but think that her parent's choice couldn't be any better...
Years passed. Urika was now fourteen years old. It was also the day after her birthday but today was different. Today, the Cavallé will take place. It was a ceremony to officially take a knight.
The knights of dominion angels are also no ordinary knights. If one angel were to take on a knight, it is basically like tying your life to another and connecting your feelings, power and life together.
If a knight was bound to it's master, whatever the master feels, s/he will also feel. And when your master dies, it will be the most agonizing experience you will ever experience. It is one of the most significant sign of bonding aside from marriage. But it was not unbreakable. It can only be broken once the master dies or you break the bond by performing the same ritual, only the reverse of it though but on a price of a pain worse than death. So it was extremely rare for a Cavallé bond to be broken.
But it was not necessary for a dominion angel's knight to undergo Cavallé. It was only if the knight had absolute loyalty and is willing to serve wholeheartedly was the Cavallé allowed to take place.
Urika and Gikushi stood up the raised platform underneath the moon and surrounded by soil. Only the two of them were present for the ceremony of Cavallé was a private affair.
"Giku, are you sure this is what you want? I don't want to tie you to me forever." Urika's said as she lowered her head in front of a straight faced Gikushi.
Gikushi just smiled at her and patted her head just like what he usually does. "I'm sure. I want to be your knight and protect you forever. Besides, you're clumsy and an airhead. It's hard to leave you alone."
Urika's glanced at his evergreen eyes. Exactly six years has passed and he was still blank faced but she now knew the personality behind that stoicness.
She smiled beautifully and the both of them spread out their palms.
"By the blood flowing in my veins
By the powers that binds all race..."
As those words flowed out both their palms showed cuts. Then they immediately grasped each other's hands.
"Let the strings of fate take its form
Let this bond of loyalty not be torn
With both our lives may this pact be born
And with our lives loyalty shown
For in this covenant we both agree
That we'll fight side by side for all eternity..."
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"Princess! Urika! Where are you?! Princess! Please tell if you're there! Princess!" Gikushi continued on to yell at the top of his lungs.
It had been two hours since Urika disappeared ever since that thick fog. Knights who underwent Cavallé were supposed to know the exact location of their masters but there seemed to be something tampering with their bond.
He still couldn't help but remember the warning about this forest. Just where exactly was his princess?
He ran and shouted out her name. Not caring if his body was protesting. He didn't want to stop. Even if his body were to deteriorate because of this, he didn't want to stop. Urika was the only person to show him that he was still needed, that there's more to life than war and death.
He knew that if he stopped, Urika night be eaten in this forest and that's the last thing he wanted. Not because of the terrible pain it might bring to his body but he might not be able to take the pain it will bring his heart.
Yes, he knew that he had completely fallen in love with her. Ever since the day they first met. Since then, he had always loved her. He knew the love between a princess and a knight was basically impossible but he didn't care. As long as she was by his side, he was content. He needed to find her, and soon. Else he won't be able to take it.
He continued to run until he saw something in the distance. It was a cluster of black trees with blue glowing leaves. But his senses told him there was something else. He closed his eyes and opened up his senses. He knew that Urika only knew that he only had her power coursing in his veins but what she didn't know was where he came from.
As Gikushi closed his evergreen orbs, his dark green hair which was pure in color slowly turned with purple tips and highlights. He opened his eyes and the green color was no more. It was green with a mixture of purple and blue, like a dark, enchanting forest.
He slowly examined what was exactly behind those cluster of enchanted trees when the familiar silouette of a green haired woman made him fill with great panic.
As he saw her lying down in the middle of the now glowing trees, he instinctively and as fast as lightning, went to her side.
"Princess!" He yelled and in the blink of an eye, he already surrounded both of them in a protective barrier as the poison from the now cut trees was released.
He softly caressed Urika's cheek and a gentle expression was shown in his usually stoic face. "Princess..."
Urika seemed to hear him for she suddenly stirred in his arms. "G-Giku?"
Gikushi eyes widened with surprise but then tears slowly started to form and fell on her cheeks.
Urika was shocked to see her knight crying. What exactly really happened to her?
"Giku? What's wrong?" she asked as she touched his sturdy jaw. His eyes seemed to be weary. Did she make him worry?
Gikushi didn't reply her and just abruptly hugged her tightly, like he was assuring himself that she was trully alive and well, and not just an illusion. He didn't say anything, for he didn't know how to describe what he was feeling and make it into words.
Urika just let him hug her tightly. It was unusual for him to behave this way but in her heart, she was secretly happy. This man... Looks so serious but is actually really kind and caring.
She hugged him back. If this was what will ease his worry, then she'll gladly hug him, she even had a thought that if she could stay in his arms, that would be the most happiest thing that could happen.
Well, those were her thoughts but sadly, not all wishes come true and they had to break their hug eventually.
Urika stared in his eyes and it was then that she realized her knight looked different. She touched his jaw once more as she widened her eyes. "G-Giku, your eyes...your hair! What happened?"
Gikushi smiled gently. He knew she would notice and know it some day he probably has to tell her now.
"Princess, I have something I need to tell you."
Urika nodded at him while blinking her eyes curiously and patiently waited.
Gikushi sighed. "Actually, the place where I was born was...here. in Hellion." he looked up to see her reaction. He saw that she was staring at him and listening seriously.
He continued. "But I was not born ordinarily. Or actually, I wasn't really what you call "born". I was found in this forest when I was young. Many said that I was the accumulation of the forest's spirit. The spirit of memories and nature. I don't know if it is strange but..."
Before he could continue, Urika hugged him again and shook her head while in his chest.
"You aren't weird, nor are you strange. I don't care if you were born out of a forest or out of dirt. You, for me, will always be Giku, you understand?!" Urika looked at him seriously.
He chuckled and patted her head. *"Hai. Wakatta."
(a/n: *Yes. I understand)
"But seriously. You really look cool but I prefer your green eyes more." Urika said as she slowly got up and stretched out her hand towards Gikushi.
Gikushi smiled and slowly retracted his powers to reveal those evergreen eyes familiar to Urika. He clasped her hand and also stood up.
Urika smiled. "You do know that I was the one supposed to do that, right?" Gikushi asked referring to offering one's hand.
Urika just shrugged. "Nah, it doesn't matter. Let's go and find out if the boss or the monsters really are here."
Gikushi faced her and shook his head. "No, they're not here. I already scanned the entire forest with my powers. Not a single creature is here except for us and the trees. Maybe they went and are gathering in another location."
Urika nodded. "You're right. Maybe they are."
"Let's go and find Saya-hime and the others." Gikushi said as Urika nodded at him.
"Yeah, let's go."