http://clampfix.fanworks.net/kenichi/magi4-4.txt </head><body><pre> "We are all answers to questions posed by our ancestors." -Carl Jung Chapter Four Sweat rivuleted down my head and throat. The steel was so cold, so... Dal Rafaga. Master of the Blade. Holding a sword to my throat. <He thinks I'm his enemy...> I didn't even dare swallow. I was too frightened to even breathe. <Is this what I came here for? To die?> "Rafaga, sheathe your sword. The boy is with me." The blade left my throat but the fear stayed. Rafaga sheathed his sword, but not his misgivings. I turned to Clef and nodded my thanks. He waved for me to join him. Rafaga sauntered silently behind. "Dal Rafaga does not trust you." Clef admonished. "I think he made that point very clear, Guru." I was still shaken, and could not help but look over my shoulder from time to time to make sure that Rafaga wasn't about to seperate my head from the rest of my body--- Something that may have appealed to the Guru's more morbid sense of humor, because I could swear I heard him chuckle every time I looked back. "Why dosen't he trust me?" Clef bit his lower lip. "You will have to ask him." Clef led me to a small room, wherein I shucked my wet clothes for some simple but dry pants and shirt. Rafaga seemed more at ease when I came out wearing these, but the distrust in his eyes remained. He and Clef then led me back into the great hall. I was instructed to sit in an egg-shaped seat that seemed to float just above the floor. Obeying, I noticed Rafaga stand behind Clef as the Guru took to a similar seat facing me. I was begining to feel a bit more relaxed as the Guru's face grew soft in his seat. "Guru Clef-Sama,..." I paused, expecting interjection from Rafaga, but thankfully, none came. "...It seems like you knew of my coming; How is that?" Clef's hands folded in front of him, gently closing around his staff. "You...could say that it came to me in...shall we say,... a dream?" I grimaced. He knew from a dream too. Better change the subject. "Who was the one who saved me?" Clef's and Rafaga's eyes widened in surprise, as did mine when I noticed them. "Did...did I say something wrong?" Clef laughed heartily. "Apparently, Mira has had quite a lasting impression on you, hasn't she?" "She?" Rafaga's eyes turned upward, and he muttered something unintelligible. Clef was still smiling. "You will meet her later. Right now, I think that your brains are still fairly addled from your arrival. Best if you were to rest for the day. We will ask you your questions tomorrow." At first, I felt like protesting, but common sense told me it was for the better. Besides, I still had to adjust to the surroundings. Nodding, I accepted Clef's suggestion. Rafaga saw me to a room. We stopped at the door. Rafaga was as stern as ever. Better make peace with the man. Can't exactly have someone like him angry at me. "Rafaga, I don't know what it is that you don't like about me...But I'd like you to know that I'm sorry about whatever happened. I'm new to this place and may have offended you in a way unknown to me. I'm sorry." "I understand." Rafaga's voice did not deviate from the cold humor that greeted me in the hall. He then stepped back, bowed, and left. The man truly puzzled me; he did not at all act like the stern but kind warrior that I saw in the dreams... I opened the door to a room with a bed but nothing much else. No windows. Like a prisoner, I thought. What was it that made him angry? He called me Zagato. I didn't understand why he did that. Perhaps he equated me to Zagato? For that matter, Whay did he bow to me? Too tired. I flopped on the bed and let fatigue carry me into oblivion. Door. Sligtly ajar. My curiosity was piqued. I opened it as I would any normal door. Suddenly I was in the black mists again. Black mists... Red sky? This was the same, yet different, from the dreams before. I made out a cloaked figure just ahead. A previously unknown anger tore from my throat... "Sol Zagato!!!" The figure lifted his head to face me. The young yet ancient face was still as if made of stone. As if he were but a statue. My fury only cast out one question to the dark one. "Why?!?" He did not stir from his pose. "---Why?!?" Still unmoved. I raced to his figure... And landed my fist on his cheek, still screaming. "---WHY?!?!?" My fist exploded in a melody of pain the moment it landed on Zagato's face. I tried to stifle my pain but only succeeded in making guttural squawks. The figure still stood still and proud. At least say something, you damned... "A strong heart is good, but sometimes it is not enough." Zagato's voice. Bitter and pained as ever. The figure turned around and began to stride away. "Zagato! Tell me!" He stopped. "You ask yourself that question." Apparently, falling out of bed is one of my lesser-known skills; I landed on my back with a jolt, and saying a silent thanks for whoever carpeted the room. I winced as I pulled up my right hand. Blood and shards. A large vase which was right beside my bed had somehow gained a new spout which just happened to be the size of my fist. Biting back my pain, I yanked the shards out, one by agonizing one. In my mind stayed the words of Sol Zagato. What did he mean 'Ask myself that question'? Be careful what you wish for... Heh. Another morbid joke was on me. Must be Zagato's way of saying you asked for it. Someone left my clothes on a small counter-like table in the room. It was a bit unsettling for me to think that Rafaga could have easily crept in and slaughtered me in my sleep. No, that is not the way of a warrior. Dal Rafaga may not like me, but he was definitely not going to assasinate me in my sleep. Such would be dishonorable. I disrobed and changed back into my familiar pants, shirt and jacket. Whoever washed these sure took a lot of care, as there wasn't a dirty spot at all on my clothing. Dry as a bone, too. A knock on the door. I reached the handle, then hesitated. "Who is it?" Rafaga's voice carried through the hardwood of the door. "Guru Clef wishes to see you now." I opened the door to see Rafaga's imposing physique take up my full view. Obviusly he would not take 'no' for an answer... I followed close on Rafaga's heels. Surely had I decided to venture out on my own, I would have been lost a long time ago, as the twist and turns and corridors of this place all seemed endlessly alike. Doesn't this place have elevators or escalators? It didn't even have stairs. Yet the sight outside the window seemed to suggest that we were high above the ground. I could see vast forests stretching out to forever, beckoning a closer inspection. Yet the urgency of Rafaga's stride kept my mind from wandering too far. We stopped in front of the doors of the great hall. As they did before, the large monolithic doorsslid open like the silent shifting of a veil. The Guru was seated in a large thronelike chair at the end. Funny, I didn't notice that throne there before... Another Egg-seat materialized behind me. "Please sit." I did, without hesitation. The Guru reached into his voluminous robes and pulled out black sphere. Instinctively, I felt my pockets. Sure enough, the black orb I had was gone. "This is yours, I believe..." The jet-black sphere floated toward me. I was still shocked as the orb came to rest in my palm. "So that is how you came to Cephiro..." I blinked. This thing brought me here? "Guru Clef... I don't understand any of this." The Guru's frame seemed to float easily off his throne as he stood. His staff was raised to the ceiling, as he mumured some arcane incantations, gesturing upwards. I turned my head upwards to look. Images. The same ones I had seen after waking from my dream of Cephiro. Rayearth. Seles. Windam. The Legendary Mashin of Cephiro. Saviours. Executioners. The entire story played out for me again...Wait... There was more. A part of the story which Zagato did not show me. The second coming of the Magic Knights. Fuu had told me little of this earlier, but merely as a passing reference. She said it was also their last trip to Cephiro. Chizeta. Fahren. Autozam. Sister planets to Cephiro. Long lost relations to my very own Earth. The ending of the Pillar and the new hope which dawned. Hope... "If this is a new hope for a new Cephiro, why do you need me?" The images stopped. I looked to the Guru and the shocked expression on his mien. Rafaga looked at me sternly. "Let the Guru continue." I nodded. I should never interrupt something like this. I gazed up at the Images again. So this is how it ends? No. It is a beginning. But of what? I see Cephiro, and how it is now. My breath caught in my throat as I saw what happened. An area of the planet is covered in roiling black fog. The mists... A cold sweat ran down my spine. Zagato? "The three Magic Knights can not return to Cephiro. Their Mashin lie dreaming in the heart of our planet." The Guru shook hi head sadly. "We have no wish to involve them in this last battle." I turned to the Guru in consternation. "What last battle? The Pillar system is gone! Cephiro..." Thoughts of Hikaru flowed into my mind once more. She who came not to hurt, but to protect. To heal. To love. To save Cephiro from tragedy. "Cephiro is free from oppression, isn't it? The people now control it by their strong hearts..." Rafaga looked to his side. "Strong hearts are not enough...not for this monster." "...Monster..?" I was paralyzed. A strong heart...Just as Zagato said in my dreams. Zagato... Are you trying to save Cephiro or destroy it? "Guru Clef." My voice was not my own. It was pained and bitter. "What must I do to help...?" The Guru looked to me. He seemed doubtful about my abilities. "I will tell you tonight. Right now, I need rest." No sense in pushing the matter. "Ken. I will let Rafaga introduce you to your savior." Once again, I was following Rafaga like a dog its master. I hated the analogy, but there was nothing I could do of it. What made Rafaga this way? Hah. You talk as if you knew him like a friend. The thoughts I had were odd. Monster? What did he mean by that? What monster could not be vanquished even by the masses of pure hearts? I slammed into Rafaga's back nosefirst. Rafaga looked at me coldly, then laughed. Not the cold icy laugh I expected, but the laugh of an old friend. "You really seem to be entranced by her, boy?" "I don't even know what she looks like! How..." Stay your temper. This is the first time Rafaga's warmed up. I shouldn't get on his nerves once again. The Dal regained his icy composure. I turned to see that we were faing a chapel of sorts. The doors slid open, as all the greater doors of this place did. Inside was a dimly lighted room. "Dal Rafaga, Swordmaster of Cephiro...What brings you thus?" The voice was softly melodic in it's own way. Like the children in a choir. "The stranger wishes to see his savior." "Very well. Him and he alone may enter." Rafaga nudged me forward. I made my way forward cautiously. A trap? The door slid closed behind me and left me in the dim glow of the room. I fought every urge to panic, but I was also too frozen to move. A figure...no, two figures. One in a cloak. The cloaked one gestured I come closer. What was I, a dog that everyone calls upon their whim? "You wish to know?" The voice that greeted Rafaga. The figure drew it's hood back, revealing a fairly old, yet still striking woman. Her light brown hair seemed to emanate a glow all its own. "I am Pharle Presea." I swallowed hard. Presea, weaponsmith of Cephiro. Or her twin, at least. "Rafaga said I would meet somebody named Mira..." Presea smiled. If Rafaga was cold, Presea was warmth. Her presence made me feel more at ease. I thought of Mother. "Mira is here. Shy is fairly shy, I'm afraid..." "I want to thank her for saving me the other day..." Presea tugged the smaller figure next to her. "Mira, you don't have to worry...He's not Mokona, for..." The little figure came forward. She must have been but twelve or thirteen. Her hair was the same color as Presea's, but hers was cut short, like a pageboy. Light blue-green eyes that seeped deep into one's soul. This was a child, yet quite on the verge of being a young woman. "...I am pleased to help you, sir..." Her cheeks blushed a rose crimson. Mine followed suit. "I just wanted..to thank you for saving me..." Incredible that such a little lady could save me. Something about her...reminded me of Hikaru... What? She was only a couple of inches shorter than I, but that was to be expected. I looked into her eyes. The fire in her eyes was there. A strong heart. Just like Hikaru. Presea took me to one side. "What is your name, boy? That is, unless you wish to be called boy forever..." "K...Kaeda, Kenichi..." Presea's face fell grim. She tapped Mira's shoulder and whispered something in her ear. Mira's little face took on amature, serious look, with which she turned and walked away. "Is there something wrong?" Presea put a hand on my right shoulder. "No." Despite her assurance, I felt something edgy about her voice. "It's just that I never thought I would forge another one of THOSE again..." Those? Those what? Presea put her other hand on my left shoulder. "Ken...Your name means 'First Sword' in your language, does it not?" "Yeah...Why?" Presea kneeled down to my level. "Promise me something." Huh? I don't get it... "Promise me that you will not lose." </pre><p><a href="./">Back</a></p><p><a href=http://www.dreamhost.com/donate.cgi?id=216><img border=0 alt="Donate towards our web hosting bill!" src=https://secure.newdream.net/donate1.gif></a></p></body></html>