Megami Blade
Chapter 1: Homecoming
By Ewen "Blackbird" Cluney
Keiya had never imagined she'd find herself back here, back
in Rhoden. The town where she was born -- in another life, it
seemed -- was bigger than she remembered, despite the fact that
she was nearly six inches taller than when she last set foot in
the town square. More buildings, more people, more everything;
Rhoden would be a city soon.
Leaving home had been hard, but at the time it had been
necessary. She told herself that every time she thought about it.
Nine years. Had it really been that long? Keiya had left in the
dead of night, with the imminient arrival of High Magus Zorn
hanging over her head, the man who was to take her to the Magic
Guild to become a Magus. There were many good things about this
country, but the treatment of women wasn't one of them. Unlike
the goddess-worshippers of Avalis, women wore skirts and aspired
to be wives. Maybe there was something to be said for that, but a
young Keiya craved excitement and adventure, and even women who
became Magi were made to be scholars and healers, forbidden the
arts of battle.
But not the Mage Knights of the Silver Tower. All women,
each armed with a sword and trained in its use. That was what
she'd wanted to be, a bold heroine, slaying monsters and rescuing
the prince, whether he wanted it or not. But as is the way of
things, it didn't exactly work out like that. After six years of
difficult training, the novice Mage Knight named Keiya ended up
being a mercenary, fighting not for any real cause other than to
keep herself fed.
And sometimes it was lonely, and hard. Fighting alone wasn't
entirely sensible either. Being a Mage Knight, able to use a
sword and spells both, went a long way, but only so far. Which
was why she agreed to join a mercenary group. But why did they
have to have their first meeting here of all places?
"Hey, girlie!"
Why here? Keiya slowly turned around to face what looked to
be a member of the Watch, a skinny, lanky fellow in chainmail,
wielding a pike. His companion was short and pudgy, with the kind
of grin that doubtless ensured he got into many brawls.
"Not often you see one of those, eh?" slurred the short one.
"What's a girl know about using a sword?" He added, his leering
tone making it clear what kind of sword he was talking about.
Keiya was sorely tempted to punch him, but held her temper.
Hitting a member of the Watch would get her in jail or status as
a fugitive. Hells, if she tried too hard she'd talk her way
there. She folded her arms, and let out a sigh. "Do you have
something to say to me?"
The tall one shrugged. "Just wondering why you forgot your
skirt."
That was why she hated this country. "Since you're blind,
let me explain;" She pointed to the hilt of her sword, engraved
with the serpent-and-goddess sigil of the Silver Tower. "I'm a
Mage Knight, trained in the Silver Tower in Avalis. I'd be very
interested to know just how many Neural Stalkers or even Orcs
you've defeated."
The tall one went quiet. The short one did about the
opposite. "Listen, miss Mage Knight, we don't want anyone causing
any trouble around here, so be off before I call the Knights in
to deal with you!"
Keiya shrugged, and continued walking to the tune of more
stares. "Believe me, I want out of here too."
The inn where they were to meet, the Three Rings, was
apparently built after she'd left the town so long ago. The door
parted to reveal a small crowd of mostly men, merchants and the
occasional farmer from outside town, drinking, talking, and
gambling. A fair-haired young man was playing the harp and
singing a rather bawdy song, and seemingly not enjoying it. Many,
in fact most of them, took notice of her, a woman with short,
black hair, wearing a tunic and breeches, and with a sword
strapped to her back. The serving maids looked on in awe, and the
innkeeper strode over to her.
"Er, what can I do for you, miss..."
"I'm here to meet with someone. A man named... Zyran." It
was an odd name to be sure, probably from Ordrein or Niraton.
He nodded towards a corner of the room. "They've been
expecting you." It turned out to be a threesome. The one
woman among them was a young Magus, with her long bluish hair
tied into a number of braids. She was dressed as her title
demanded, in a green skirt and blouse, with a blue cloak. The men
had more of the look of mercenaries about them. The one who
introduced himself as Zyran was handsome enough, and had a look
of innocence about him. Straightening his gray tunic, then
running a hand through short, unkempt hair, he introduced first
the Magus, Myrna, and then the exiled knight, Sorinel, a slightly
older man who was dressed in very well-maintained clothing, of
colors that were most likely the banner-colors of his noble
blood. Or some such. Red, gray, and white. Myrna looked
apprehensive, Sorinel outright disapproving.
Zyran at least seemed ready to welcome her. "Well, why don't
you have a seat?" he said, motioning to the chair beside his,
which put her across from Sorinel's scowl. "Not many Mage Knights
in these parts."
She'd already been made quite aware of that. "I know. So,
why don't you tell me a bit about this group of yours."
Zyran ended up doing most of the talking. Sorinel was busy
glaring, and Myrna was alternately watching Keiya and Sorinel,
and seemed concerned.
It began when Sorinel hired Myrna as a healer mage to assist
in a quest he'd undertaken. For reasons none of the trio was
willing to talk about, Sorinel had been exiled after returning
home, but convinced Myrna to continue on with him as he became a
mercenary, taking a share of the profits. Zyran had been left for
dead in the war between his homeland of Niraton and neighboring
Kalteron, only to be discovered by Sorinel and healed by Myrna,
after which he joined them, having been erased from the records
of the army in which he'd served.
"Which brings us to you." said Sorinel. "We need a magic
user who can use a good number of offensive spells." From his
tone of voice, he'd rather have had a male Magus.
Keiya nodded. "I meet your requirements, then." she said
flatly. "Now the question is, do you meet mine?"
"What is that supposed to mean?"
She smiled, drumming her fingers on the tabletop. "Let's
step outside."
Keiya stood opposite Sorinel, each with their sword drawn.
The knight's sword was a longsword like hers, but with a dragon
engraved into the handle and a polished ruby set into the pommel.
Zyran and Myrna, and a considerable crowd of onlookers watched
the pair circle one another. The winner would be the first to
draw blood, and both were tensed like springs, ready to fly into
action. No magic, of course; Keiya announced it even before
Sorinel could demand it.
"What is the point of this?" he muttered. His knuckles were
turning white from how hard they gripped the sword.
She breathed, in, out, in, out, moving in the Dance of
Blades. "I won't work with a bunch of weaklings. A team is made
of equals, isn't it?"
Swords flashed and whirled, shimmering steel meeting with
steel again and again. Sorinel was good, and the rage that made
him tremble all the while somehow failed to affect his judgement
and skill. And so it went, a sleek, cunning mountain cat facing a
viciously stalking wolf. The gathered crowd around them whooped
and cheered with each swing of a blade, while Zyran and Myrna
watched, he in awe, she in fear.
Time was lost in the Dance, and before she knew it Sorinel
had sheathed his sword, sullenly displaying a gash across his
right forearm. Myrna rushed to cast a healing spell, but Sorinel
waved her away.
"Are you sure? she asked, wide-eyed.
He nodded, and glared at Keiya. "Satisfied?"
Keiya nodded. "You're good." she replied simply. "I'll join,
if you'll have me."
Zyran ran a hand through his hair. "But... you beat him."
"Barely. The point is to know if he can fight, and convince
him I can do the same. It's different from soldiering."
Her ears picked up something along the lines that a lady
shouldn't be here, and she turned around. A woman in a simple but
well-cut dress pushed her way to the front of the crowd, a small
boy desperately clinging to her hand. Soft blue eyes regarded her
with wonder. "Can... can it really be you?"
There was something familiar about the woman, but Keiya
couldn't place it. "What do you mean by that?"
She stepped closer, pulling the boy along. Long, braided
black hair flowed down her back. "Could you be Keiya? Keiya
Luthia?"
Myrna looked at Keiya, then the newcomer, and back again.
"Do you know her, Keiya?"
"Keiya? My sister?"
"Moira?" Years of training and battle melted away, bringing
back memories of the girl who'd run away from home so long ago,
who'd cried for her abandoned parents and older sister every
night for the first month, who'd started back home a dozen times.
She nodded slowly, stepping closer, tears welling up in her
eyes. "I--I don't believe it. Is that really you? A Mage Knight?"
Keiya nodded, taking one of Moira's hands in hers. No tears.
It was as though somewhere along the line she'd forgotten how to
cry. "I had to find my own way in the world, Moira. Please,
forgive me."
Her sister looked at her for a long time, gathering courage.
"I know. You always did things your own way, wouldn't let anyone
stop you. We just missed you so much, wondering every day if you
were alright on your own, never knowing."
"I know it was hard on all of us..." Everyone was watching,
damn them. "Let's go somewhere more private."
That turned out to be the home of Moira and her husband
Lensy, a scribe and printer who did some private tutoring on the
side. That was what had become of the boy who loved books so much
in a world so full of ignorance. When Moira managed to dry her
eyes, she unleashed a deluge of questions. Keiya found herself
explaining about her journey to Avalis, the entrance test at the
Silver Tower, the difficult years of training, and the years
spent as a mercenary.
Then Moira asked, "So, when are you going to visit Mother
and Father?"
Her parents, whom she'd hurt so much not because she didn't
like them, but because what she wanted she could only find
elsewhere. She could face a Shock Lion or Emerald Killer without
blinking, but could she bring herself to confront them? After so
long? When would another chance come along?
Moira took hold of Keiya's hands. "Please, Keiya. We were
never mad at you. We've been so worried all these years; they'll
be so proud to know that you've followed your dream and
succeeded, so happy to see you. You know, we've gone to the
shrine and prayed for you to be safe every week."
After a long silence, she replied, "I'll have to think about
it. It's hard for me... I..."
"I've never been able to change your mind, but this once,
please let me. Don't pass up this opportunity, because some day
it'll be too late, and you'll have to hope you can find them in
the Next Life." Moira held Keiya's hands close to her heart, and
whispered, "You taught me to be brave, to do what was right, to
follow my heart."
When Keiya finally managed to leave, the three mercenaries
were waiting for her.
"So, is there anything else you need to do before we leave?"
asked Zyran.
Keiya shook her head. Myrna frowned, and wove a spell.
Keiya glared sullenly at Myrna as the wagon shook with each
and every bump in the road. Zyran and Sorrinel were in the front,
talking and guiding the horses. She would've never imagined the
little mage-girl pulling something like that, putting Keiya under
with a sleep spell and waking her up before her parents. It had
been a teary-eyed reunion, almost exactly as Moira had said it
would be. Keiya held the pentant Mother had given her in one
hand, with its ivory carving of the Goddess Ketaila. A family
heirloom which she now realized was magical.
"I hope you're not mad at me." said Myrna hopefully.
She shook her head. "No. Not at you. You did what was right
when I was too stubborn to."
Myrna smiled just a little. "Can I ask you something?"
"Go on."
"Why did you want to become a Mage Knight?"
Sigh. "You first. Why did you become a Magus, forbidden to
fight save in defense of yourself or others?"
Tracing meaningless designs on the rumbling floor, Myrna
said, "I hadn't planned it; all I wanted to do was be a wife like
my mother, but as I started training at the Guild, I realized how
much I could help others with my magic and knowledge. That's why
I specialize in healing."
"Well, I guess my reasons were a little more selfish. I
wanted to go on adventures, to fight monsters and become a
legend. I ran away to Avalis the night before the High Magus came
for me. I still learned the basics of healing -- something an
adventurer can't be without."
"That's very true." Myrna yawned, politely covering her
mouth, a picture of a proper lady. "Perhaps we should get to
sleep?"
Keiya nodded. Six hours in Rhoden had seemed like a week,
and fatigued her nearly as much.
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Ewen "Blackbird" Cluney blk_bird@yahoo.com
Blackbird's Domain http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/6127/
Knight Kevlar of the Immortal Frog Silver Knight of Mihoshi
"Be nice to me; I might just develop
psychokinetic powers and destroy Tokyo!"
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