#ieaeka

So, I was told to post this, because I apparently did a very good job on it xD 

Steady footsteps tapped against the polished marble floors of the Serian castle, dark wood arches and natural light filling the long hallway with warm atmosphere. “We'll be together forever, right?” “Yeah! The three of us, always!” When was the last time he had seen the sun? The green haired man paused and gazed out the window silently, feeling the warmth of the real sun upon his face. “You're leaving?” “Just for a little while; I want to complete my training with the brotherhood. I'll be back.” His heart beat hard despite the dark blight that claimed most of his body, hidden beneath the bandages that wrapped his face and extremities. The glowing orb was comforting, something he missed terribly in his self imposed exile. Why? “You and Farqual have been pretty close lately.” “Ah, well. I mean, yea, we're pretty good friends.” “So the bookworm CAN make friends!” “T-that's not nice, Ieaeka.”

He couldn't remember what drove him...

Actually, that wasn't true. He knew exactly why. “Oh stop crying, Kay! I'll be fine!” “Y-You promised! You said you wouldn't do it!” “I know, I'm sorry. I just...I feel like this is something I have to do.” “You want to be Q-Queen so badly?” “No...That's not it...” “Then why?!” Servants gave pause and looked at him with expressions of fright and confusion; as though they had seen a ghost. They weren't wrong. Koriko supposedly died over a year ago and yet here he was, full uniform walking down the halls as though nothing changed. It would not be a foolish assumption to think the ghost of the deceased general walked the halls of the castle he once served.

“Congratulations, Ieaeka. I have to admit; I didn't think you'd do it.” “Is he still mad at me?” “Yeah, but I think he's also really proud. He's been training relentlessly since you left; said something about supporting you decision?”

These old familiar halls; those old familiar dorms. Years as children spent as a group, learning and studying under the late king until one of them succeeded in acquiring the title of heir. “My Lo- I mean, Father. I hear whispers upon the wind saying that a new High Knight has been selected?” “Ah, yes. I meant to tell you later tonight, but it appears you have beat me to it. Do you remember Koriko and Farqual?” “Yes, Father. I studied alongside them as a Royal apprentice.” “They passed the trials for the seats of Wind and Spirit respectively. They will be Knighted the end of this week.” He remembered the look on her face. He had vanished shortly after she was sworn into the royal family, only to reappear months later as the newest High Knight of Seria alongside his best friend, Farqual. Why had he done that? Because he made a promise that they would be together; the only way to be close to the Princess of Seria was to join the High Knights, and so he did. “You've changed, Koriko.” “What do you mean?” “Well...you...seem more...” “More what?” “I don't know...like there is a wall there.” “I'm a High Knight, now. I can't just let my emotions get the best of me all the time anymore. I can't be the crybaby you have to come rescue thrice a week.” “Koriko-” “Don't worry, Ieaeka. I'm still here; I just want to be the one to protect you now. We promised we'd be together, the three of us, remember?” “Yes, Kay. I remember.”

His chest hurt at the memories; the pain in her expression, the confusion. It was a difficult transition, it was like he was a completely different person. He locked himself away in his studies, learning how to be the best general, the best swordsman, how to command the most respect, how to seem seamless and unyielding. How to be the best protector. Time passed, more High Knights joined their ranks and their pieces feel into place; they became a team, a single unit of efficiency that made Seria's enemies tremble. Ieaeka at the helm, he by her side.

“Koriko, I'm sorry-I did all I could- I tried...I'm sorry. I'm sorry.” “He can't be- No! You have to be wrong!” “Koriko, let Shear go; he did what he could. Farqual knew the risks, none of us could have stopped him. You know full well the mortality rate for the High Knights.” She seemed so cold, so distant; that was about when she started building her own walls. It was during the outbreak of The Madness, she began working as a stern figurehead and aquired her reputation for the stone faced and all business Princess of Seria, Ieaeka DuKair. But she was still Ieaeka...She was still Anya, and he was still Tybalt. Under all of their layers of self protective stone they were still who they were. Under it all... Koriko loved Ieaeka. The love was platonic at first, but it quickly grew to be more romantic in nature, but he never had the bravery to confess, he never had the strength. “I'm engaged.” “W-I...Congratulatons, Ieaeka. To Whom?” “Nazo Tanaka, the King of Lunar.” The lance of icy cold surprise and betrayal still stung his heart, but he smiled and did his best to show nothing was wrong. He suspected something was happening though, the wedding plans were rushed, Ieaeka's stance was different. He'd be a fool not to notice she was already with child. It wasn't long after that...that he was killed. The dark Blight of that demon priestess; it ate his heart and took his life, delving him directly into the hands of the Heretic God of Demons. It was dark and opressive; every bit of hope was gone, any desire to live was absent. He was a husk, willing; but there was something...Now that he thought to it he wasn't sure, but he had a feeling he didn't escape alone. Something came to him in that darkness as he felt the very fabric of his being coming apart and being shredded slowly, something warm, familiar, comforting. A feeling of love, of friendship, of familiarity. It took his hand and pulled him free of the murky mire that he had become trapped in, it pulled him out of the grasp of the Demon King and into the realm of purgatory. Torn apart and just a fraction of who and what he was, he felt the hands of divine beings pick him up and pull him into their embrace; he felt himself begin to once more become something whole, but not quite himself. The parts of him that had been removed were now inky and black, demonic...'Essence'. The rest was a blur; all he recalled was calling for Ieaeka. For 'Anya', and finding himself awake and alive in a very familiar infirmary bed surrounded by the smiling faces of those he held dearest. But what was left for him? 'Koriko' was dead, Ieaeka was married and on her way to her second child. He had lost everything, some before he even had it. “I found those ruins. The ones you were seeking out years ago. I took your old research and completed it.”

Ieaeka had found the lost ruins of the Five Children deep within the Mariana trench, and from that point on he had holed himself up in his research, exploring the ruins and learning; for that was all he had left. Knowledge and research, the one thing he could call his own and do. He pulled away from people, his friends, his 'family'. “You can't do this alone; I won't let you. I don't know what road you've put yourself down but I won't let this happen, Kay. I've already put out a notice for researchers to apply for a research group. You will spearhead the efforts and act as supervisor.” “Ieaeka, what the he-” “No buts. This is how it is going to be; deal with it or leave the ruins.” Of course, he didn't leave. He accepted his position.  That's how he met her. A tearing screech “What happened?! ….Ah... I see you met one of the locals.” “Sorry, she was in the blankets...OOH?!”

He chuckled softly; one of the little rodents that lived in the ruins had given Saki quite the fright; that encounter was still strong in his memory.

“I'll take my leave, forgive the intrusion,...?” “Hm?! Oh, Miss Richards, it's written as Zachariah but I go by Saki...even if it's Japanese. Sorry for the fright so quickly, sir.”

He was lost in memory, in thought; so much that he didn't notice the tall red haired man standing in the hallway near Ieaeka's private study. He walked right past him, ignorant to Nazo's decision to follow in secret.

Koriko stopped before the large wooden double doors to Ieaeka's royal study, taking in the fine carving upon the wood and the polished sheen of the handle. Drawing a shaky breath into his lungs, he knocked on the door firmly three times. “Ieaeka.” He said firmly and loud enough to be heard through the door. “Enter.” Responded the firm voice of the woman he loved.

Pushing the doors apart with the faintest of squeaks, Koriko stepped into the well sit study, dominated by the large mahogany desk that the small woman sat behind, plush couches laid along the windows under velvet curtains, the sun streaming in as birds chirped from their nest just outside. One of the windows was cracked and a small dish of birdseed sat on the edge. All familiar to him, he knew this study well.

“K-Koriko?” Ieaeka stood in surprise; she had not expected him to leave the ruins any time soon, especially of his own volition and looking so...well kept. She had not seen the man look like this since before he was 'killed'. “I-It's so nice to see you here.” “I need to talk to you alone, it's very important. I...It's something that's needed to be done for a very long time and it cannot be put off any longer.” Koriko summoned all of his courage, though secretly he felt his very being tremble in anxiety. It didn't matter what happened here. He had to do this; he had to let go. “Of course, Koriko.” Ieaeka would reply, gently swinging her hands and using her magic to close the large doors and latch them, engaging the wards that kept those from listening through the wood. “Whatever is the matter?” It was now or never, but despite the urgency Koriko felt his mouth go dry, words dying in his throat. “...Kay?”

“Ie-Ieaeka. I...” He took a deep breath, like a man preparing to be shot. “I know that this is far too late, and even to the point of being woefully inappropriate given everything but I must speak, lest I never find peace. You need not give me an answer for you already have.” “Kay?” She said his name once more, curiosity in her voice. She suspected she knew what this was about and she felt a weight on her heart. “Ieaeka, I love you. I've been in love with you since we were very young. Everything I've ever done was for you. When you Shear and I made that promise to be together forever, I meant it. When Shear left to finish his training at the abbey it was just us, but when you took the final trial I felt like you had abandoned me too. I was alone, but I still loved you. You always protected me because I was too weak to stand up for myself, too weak to fight. Too weak to do anything but cry and hide behind you. I wanted to change that, so I learned to fight, I hid my emotions under layers of regulations and disciplines.”

Yea you might wanna do something.

Wow they were fired up. They kept hurling shit during this exchange. Wasn’t fast enough on the shutter to catch it though

But eventually Gabe managed to get through to them