When I woke up the following day I found I wasn't in my bed. Instead, I'd been sitting on something. Before I panicked I took a few deep breaths. Then I began to survey my surroundings. I was in a throne room lit by torches with a formation of two groups on either side. The first line was a line of women dressed in black armor mixed with a white cloth. The Sisters of Faith? Here?"
The other line of people was a lot more diverse. There was a Solar and Lunar elf that looked a bit similar to each other yet they were a male and female respectively. An Evangel whose wings were colored black and white. She seemed intelligent and was the closest to me in proximity. Finally, there was a Red Oni woman dressed much like a tribal warrior of Mythra the country of Daemons. She held in her right hand a large twin-headed battleax.
There wasn't a single person I knew in this entire room and yet, they all turned to me as I straightened myself on the throne. The Evangel approached me first and then kneeled before me.
"Lord Ragi... We've waited for so long"
I could see her lips moving, yet the voice wasn't hers at all. As she looked up at me her eyes began to glow a bright blue color. Then one by one everyone's eyes began to glow the same.
"The time is nigh... Our revival is at hand..."
This time everyone spoke in frightening unison. But just before they could speak anymore the door to the throne room opened. There'd been a smaller person running through the door but I could see due to the light from the door blinding me.
As the light faded I realized I'd been back in my room. I'd already been sitting up strangely enough. Doublechecking my surroundings I realized that I'd been dreaming. I'd pinch the bridge of my nose and take another deep breath. Reaching for my nightstand I felt nothing and that's when I remembered. "Oh... that's right... they're broken."
"We shall become one..." I heard the voice say again. This time I elected to ignore it since it was just a part of that strange nightmare. Then I'd hear some other voice followed by the opening of the front door.
"Daedalus! How the hell are ya!?" A man shouted from downstairs.
Good a distraction from the oddity that was my mind. Removing my covers I'd pick out some clothing from my dresser. Since today was the day visitors were coming I decided to wear my best attire which consisted of a white shirt, black trousers, and a red tie. From my closet, I retrieved a red jacket that my Mother got for me when I turned twelve back in Duodecim. It was still the winter months so wearing my mage's robe along with it wasn't going to be too out of place.
Before getting dressed I dug into my nightstand and pulled out an artifact that looked like a small cube. Placing the cube against my chest a spell activated cleansing my body of yesterday's dirt and grime. Throwing the artifact back into the nightstand I got dressed and then began heading to my door. As I touched the knob a chill ran down my spine.
"We shall become one..." The voice repeated.
Shaking my head I opened the door and ventured downstairs where I'd found Mother and Father conversing with two guests.
One of them had been Rory and the other a red-haired man clad in sleek silver armor. He'd have a red and white cloak draped around his left shoulder and at his side was a longsword. But this sword was unlike anything I'd ever seen. On its hilt, it had a single blue gem embedded into it. There were two holes beside the gem in a similar shape.
"We shall become one..." The voice spoke again, this time as loud as someone speaking to me.
"Ragi? Is something the matter?" Rory asked, snapping me out of the apparent trance I was in.
"Huh? Oh... Sorry, I just woke up."
"Son, is that any way we taught you to greet someone?" Father asked.
Noticing now the Red-haired man had been looking at me too. I'd bowed. "My apologies Sir Knight. I've been a bit rude."
The man raised a brow then came over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"It's fine young lad," he happily assured. "I just wanted to meet the boy my Daughter couldn't stop talking about. You look a little scrawny but that's nothing ol'grumpy face can't fix."
I was a little puzzled by the man's demeanor. So much so that I looked to my father.
"Son this is Roland Sinclair, Grand Cross of Divine Ark."
I wanted to prostrate myself before Sir Roland as not only was he one of the most important people in the world. But he was also the descendant of the Saint. But after Father introduced him, Roland's grip tightened. Not enough to hurt but enough to notice. He held his other hand up for me to shake and so I did. I tried my best at a firm handshake but given our size difference I wasn't sure.
"Huh... That's a little stronger than I thought," Sir Roland noted.
Letting go of me he turned back to Father and sat down at the table. "I hope you can excuse me Daedalus. I didn't want to drop by like this I had to see who my Daughter was making a fuss over."
"I was already accommodating to guests. Plus I figured this might happened after Lord Auberon appeared last night."
"Come, Child... We shall become one...."
The voice grew softer now, almost like Mother calling to me. Maybe it wasn't something so bad if Mother was the one calling, so I went. I didn't know what Mother could've been talking about but she was calling.
When I neared the table I felt something latch onto my hand. I didn't know what it was but it wasn't going to stop me from getting to Mother.
"Ragi snap out of it!" Shouted Rory.
I shut my eyes and suddenly the calm voice quieted for just a moment. Then the dark visage of a dragon appeared before me.
"NOW WE BECOME ONE!!!"
"Ragi!"
I let out a terrible shriek as Rory began pulling me toward the front door. The Dragon faded away into nothing and once again all eyes fell on me. Sir Roland and Mother were in shock yet even stranger, Father was not.
Sir Roland came to my aid as well. "Lad are you alright!?"
"Roland... Your sword," Father said.
Sir Roland quickly reached for his weapon tightening his grip as he did. As his gaze fell upon the weapon the miasma that made up that dragon began to ooze from its hilt. Sir Roland jolted back returning to the table. Then he unhooked the blade from its strap and examined it.
Upon confirming whatever it was he was looking for, he placed the blade on the table.
"My Apologies... Even though the seal isn't broken I often forget the miasma of Osirian is powerful."
Father examined the blade himself with a hint of ire darkening his eyes. As he opened his mouth to speak he was interrupted by a fit of hoarse coughing that sounded worse than last night. As he regained himself he reached into his coat and withdrew a bag of Maris.
"Lady Rory... I must apologize for asking this... But could you take Ragi to the town square?"
"Daedalus, shouldn't the boy remain here so he can properly..." Roland began to protest.
"No," said Father. "I understand you need answers... But in front of our children..."
Father began to choke on his words before he finished. Mother rushed to the kitchen and retrieved a small cup containing an herbal remedy she'd seemingly been preparing. Father drank it while trying to keep another coughing fit down.
Roland didn't seem as though he wished to protest further, then turned to us.
"Go on little rose. I will be here when you return."
Rory nodded and then helped me to my feet. She left me for just a second to get the bag of Maris from Father then took my hand once more leading me toward the front door.
"I'll see you when I return Father. Hopefully, we're both feeling better by then."
Father and Mother waved to me as we left them.
Rory would lead me through the main streets of Rigel, which I didn't know why we'd been running until we stopped at Concordia fountain. As I leaned against the fountain to catch my breath Rory sat on the stone. She didn't seem as out of breath as I was.
"Ugh... Why the rush Rory? We could've walked."
"Sorry... I just felt like taking a little run with you that's all."
I tried hard not to take a handful of water from the fountain as my fatigue caught up with me.
"S-Sorry..."
"For?"
"I was acting strange at home. I didn't know what was going on."
"It's fine Ragi. Besides, Father was the one who brought Osirian with him. I don't know why he never leaves that thing in Mintaka Village."
I turned around and took a seat on the fountain's stone next to Rory. "Why Mintaka Village?"
"It's where Osirian has been kept for centuries. There's never been a need for it since the Demon God was sealed."
Hearing that, I wanted to know why it was locked away for so long. The better question was probably why it wasn't locked away now. But the more I thought about that blade, I could feel my skin tingle like it'd been touched by a cold hand.
"Anyways... What are we supposed to do?"
As Rory opened her mouth to speak, she caught herself for a moment. I wondered if she wasn't prepared for that question. She held up the bag of Maris in her hand and then dumped its contents into her lap. There'd been ten gold pieces and as soon as the last one hit her lap she quickly started scooping them up again.
"Whoa... Professor Sunai is loaded."
"It'd probably be best if we each take half."
I shuffled over to Rory's side and she handed me behind her back five of the pieces. Quickly shoving them in my pocket I tried to shuffle back to my original spot but now Rory had her arm wrapped around mine. I'd felt something flutter about in my stomach and my face seemed to get warmer.
"Uh... Pardon me?"
"No Ragi it's quite alright. Even though you are a bit younger than me, we're just two friends enjoying a day together."
I'd barely known her for two days. Our being friends seemed a bit farfetched considering our circumstances and backgrounds. But for some reason, I couldn't fight that little part of me that was ecstatic to hear that.
"W-well. Could I ask why you'd sit so close like this?"
Rory looked puzzled for a moment then took some time to look around Concordia plaza. Many of the day's passersby did give us a couple of glances. Some smiled while others were indifferent.
"I don't see a problem with it. You are still a kid after all."
"You're right... But I do turn thirteen this year. Come to think of it, it'll be in a few months."
"No way what's your birthday?" Rory asked as her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Duodecim twenty-fifth. I was born on the day of the Wintervale Festival."
"No kidding? I was born on Celesti first. A week after. But wait... How do you know you were born that day?"
"It's what Father and Mother told me. Said I'd been a newborn when they found me."
"You know you are truly fascinating. The more I learn about you the more I wanna stick by you."
That fluttering feeling returned once more, but it felt a bit better now. I felt like I could talk with her like this all day. She then stood then pointed toward the market. "Come now, I'd like to show you something."
As I followed her to the market we passed by several vendors. Many shops sold food and others that were tailored to outfitting adventurers or nobles. At the end of the market, I could even see the League Of Guilds hall. I often imagined what the Guildhall looked like, it was originally where Mother and Father spent most of their days before I came into the picture.
We'd stop at a small jeweler stall a few stores down from the League. Rory seemed to be observing a pair of trinkets that appeared to fit together. They were shaped like two little dragons who both held onto a sword. One was black with a ruby eye and the other was white with a sapphire eye.
"Ah I see you have quite the eye miss," the owner said. "This one here is actually my latest creation." He picked up the trinket and allowed us a closer look. "How about it Miss? You and your Imp friend seem like you both would enjoy this. I'll even be willing to give it to you for just two gold Maris."
I was sure the trinket was probably worth a lot more considering its craftsmanship. The problem was only in the significance of such a gift. There was a lot to consider given our relationship and this almost seemed like something Mother and Father would give to each other.
"It's a pleasure doing business with you young Miss," the owner said.
"Wait... What?" Before I knew it one of the halves had been in my hand.
"It shouldn't be a problem, right? Lord Auberon will be training you so we'll see each other more often now."
I wanted to say thank you, but I felt like it wouldn't be enough. I appeared to be so dumbfounded she went ahead and put the necklace around my neck. As she fastened hers she smiled.
"There... It looks good on you."
"Aww... I remember when I was your age," gushed the Owner.
Rory gave her thanks to the owner and we returned to Concordia plaza. By this point in the day, it began to slow down a bit. I told Rory some more stories of my Parents and in kind, she told me stories of her father. Many of the tales consisted of their adventures in the Dark Continent and their travels across the rest of Polaris.
Amid our conversation, there was a small commotion making its way into the plaza. A carriage bearing the insignia that depicted a lion wearing a crown approached the square and Earth Dragon pulled it along. Its driver stopped the Earth Dragon suddenly and the carriage opened its door. Three boys stepped out of the carriage m along with a knight. I wondered why they'd stop here of all places until I saw the look of disgust on Rory's face.
"My little Rose!" The boy in the front shouted to us. "The radiance of the Sun couldn't blind me from a flower as beautiful as you!"
Until today, I never thought someone could make a face with so much contempt before in my life.