Chapter 13: A Bleeding Heart
As Ryo’s airship sailed the skies, Terrias waited eagerly in his cabin to arrive at Kryo’s capital. He took a look at his locket every minute and couldn’t help being so inpatient. He nearly teleported over there, but decided to calm down and just wait. Sure enough, after a long hour of flight, the airship made dock and Terrias quickly jumped out. Ryo shook his head and smiled, “Terrias, don’t wet your self. You’ll see her soon.” Terrias looked up and before he could answer his body got numb of cold air. He looked out and realized that it was a continent made of a glacier. He snapped his fingers and his clothes became more winter like. Valo looked at him and said, “Okay, now you have to teach me that one.” “Sure, he said it’s really useful so as to not drag my armor around all the time”, he replied with a smile. Saharah came out and slid across the icy area. “Wow, this is soooo cool, I’ve never really played around in snow or ice before”, she said making a snowball and flinging it at Valo. The ball hit and Valo smiled and grabbed a bigger one and nailed her in the face. “Revenge is sweet”, he said now realizing a huge snowball hitting him in the face. The two laughed and called a truce after Valo got his last revenge shot. Terrias became nostalgic again. He remembered how winter always use to be the best season for him. It was the only time he would have fun. He had no real friends and his cousins were all he had and only saw them near Christmas time. The fun they would have having snowball fights and making large igloos. He then felt a snowball hit him upside the head. “Yo, Ghaelivon to Terrias!” said Ryo. Terrias looked up at him and said, “You know I’m going to get you back for that later, right?” They all laughed and began there way to the castle.
As they approached the castle, two young knights stopped them and asked them some questions. “Who sent you and what is your business here?” Valo stood forward and replied, “I, the king of Vivica, have come here with my faithful vassals to make peace with the king of Kryo.” The two nights looked at each other the bowed in his presence and opened the doors leading to the main hall. “You will find the throne room on the first room in the center leading up the grand stairwell.” The team proceeded and walked inside. Terrias used the spell to change clothes again while the others gave their coats to servants of the castle. They went up the stairwell as instructed and two more knights bowed and opened the door. Valo was the first to enter then followed the others with Terrias in the front. As they approached the end of the throne room, a young king could be seen getting up from his throne and came down to greet Valo. “Good king of Vivica”, he started, “I am honored to meet my new friend here. Allow me to introduce myself, I am King Orcus of Kryo.” He let out his hand and Valo shook it, “I am King Valo, the pleasure of meeting you is mine.” Orcus laughed at Valo’s formality, “Such a strong commanding voice, and yet so polite. I take it that you came here for a peace treaty with us?”
“Indeed”
“Well, you must make only one promise to me, Kryo is allowed to come and go through Vivica and use its ports for trade and its men shall be called if Kryo is in need.” Valo nodded and agreed. Orcus raised his hand and a knight brought him a piece of parliament and began the treaty in paper. Before long, the two kings signed it and Orcus cracked the first laugh followed by Valo. “Well, as you see Kryo ask not for much and so we feel that an alliance of peace with Vivica is a wonderful idea. Some resources you have are very useful to us as some are useful to you.” “Of course. We really don’t ask for much but peace and that alone. Glad to of helped.” The two shook hands again. Orcus turned to see the others and greeted them, “Clan Ultima, am I correct?” Terrias nodded. “Well, there is a great deal of you fine knights and are the strongest of the strong. I’m impressed, we really are happy you are on our side”, said Orcus ordering a servant to fetch them some wine. They all took it and Orcus and Valo raised theirs and said, “A toast, to a long, peaceful alliance”, and drank. “You are all aware of Kaio’s Grand Festival being held here. I would appreciate it if you came along and stayed”, said Orcus licking the last of wine off his lips. “We would be honored to stay”, said Terrias kneeling. “Splendid! You all have been given the best two guest rooms.” With that, they departed to their rooms.
Terrias and Ryo took one room while Saharah and Valo took the other. Terrias couldn’t wait all he was doing was staring at his locket. Ryo smirked and said, “Have you even figured out what you’re going to wear?” Terrias looked up and replied, “Of course. It’s not hard to figure it out.” “Only asked because it seems you are more interested in that locket and Manna than your other surrounding”, said Ryo taking out a few outfits. Terrias returned to his daydreaming and Ryo rolled his eyes and paid no more attention. The time came for the festival and Terrias looked all around for Manna. He was just too anxious. He wanted to see her smile again and just be with her, even if it would only be one night. Sure enough, he finally found her. She wore a long red dress and her hair was fixed elegantly. “Manna!” cried Terrias from the crowd. Manna turned around to see who it was. Terrias made his way through the crowd and hugged her. “Manna, glad I found you”, he said stepping back again to get a full view of her. Manna giggled said, “You know, Terrias, you really couldn’t wait to see me, huh?” She poked him and he flinched a bit. The two laughed and went to a corner to catch up on what they have missed in nearly four months. “So what’s been up with you? You look a little nervous”, said Terrias holding her hand. She pulled away from his hand and stood silent for a second. “Terrias, I’ll tell you later. I don’t want to spoil your night”, she said walking out to the castle’s garden. Terrias followed despite the bitterness of the cold air. Manna reached down for some snow and smiled. Terrias couldn’t help but to admire her beauty in the gorgeous scenery. “Manna, it’s been almost 4 months. Have you gotten any better?” he asked approaching her. She stopped him from getting any closer. Terrias was confused. It wasn’t like Manna to turn down Terrias. “Terrias, I have. However, I won’t be coming back with you guys.” Terrias felt a jolt in his heart. Truly she was pulling his leg. “I don’t know any other way to say this…. I’m in love with Creed.” Terrias now was struck. Rage began to build up followed by sorrow. Manna hugged him. “I know how you feel… but, I feel more at ease with Creed. He always knows what to say and is the gentlest person I have ever met. Terrias, I’m sorry for hurting you, I truly am”, she said now looking down and stepping back. Terrias walked over to the edge and looked down. This isn’t happening…. Tell me she’s just messing with me…. Manna walked off without saying a word. Terrias dropped to his knees. He resisted tears and yanked the locket off and launched it in the air hitting it with a mini Ultima blast. He walked back inside hoping not to see her again.
Ryo found Terrias sulking by a table near by. He walked over to him and offered him a drink. Terrias took it and drank it down fast. “What’s wrong? I’ve never seen you so depressed”, said Ryo knowing something was wrong with Terrias accepting the drink. “Manna….she left us….she left me”, said Terrias trying harder and harder to suppress true anger and true sadness using a blank look to belie his real emotions. Ryo was shocked and looked down, “I’m so sorry, Terrias.” Terrias looked up, but before he could tell Ryo not to feel sorry for him, he saw Manna kissing Creed. His reality had snapped. He started laughing uncontrollably. Ryo looked behind him and saw the two kissing. Ryo looked forward at Terrias who had gotten up and walk over to Creed. Creed noticed Terrias and said, “Terrias, looking sharp as ever.” Terrias gave him a look of anger and his eyes began to glow bright red. Creed stepped back at the enormous amount of energy Terrias was exerting. Terrias sighed and walked off leaving the festival grounds and back to the castle room. Valo walked over to Ryo looking confused about why Terrias left. Saharah followed him and stayed close to Valo. As soon as Valo got to him, Ryo said, “Manna left Terrias for Creed…” Valo looked at Manna and Creed who were laughing and holding hands. “How’d Terrias take it?” he asked worried for his friend. Ryo shook his head. Saharah gasp and held her hand to her mouth, “That’s awful… How can Manna be so easy with this?” Valo was angered and walked over to greet Manna and asked her to step outside for a minute. When they got outside he bluntly said, “Manna, what the hell is wrong with you?” Manna looked at him puzzled. “Have you no heart? I’ve never seen Terrias so distressed and it kind of worried me. So now I find out you left him for Creed?!” Manna got angry, “Listen, do you think it was easy letting him go? I spent a whole day trying to figure out what I wanted. I love Terrias but he is not the one I’m looking for.” Valo clenched his fist, “If you so much as of destroyed his soul I promise you I will never forgive you.” A large blast was heard near by causing an uproar inside.
Terrias lay on top of his bed. He could only remember the words Manna had said to him. Love me, care for me, stay by me, never abandon me. He couldn’t resist anymore and cried. He was now alone with a huge wound in his now bleeding heart. He then heard a large blast near the festival grounds and screaming from the crowd. Terrias got up and changed his clothes to his armor and headed out. When he got there, he saw Ryo and Valo attacking a large amount of grunts while Saharah ran to him. “Terrias, it’s a clan attack!” she cried. Terrias went into battle and was getting knocked around. He couldn’t focus, the thoughts of Manna would only stay in his mind. He then took a quick look up and saw the clan leader. Terrias was pinned down and so were the others. The man walked up to them and said, “My, my, my, eet appearz we ‘ave caught clan Ultima. Eef you don’ know who I am, allow me to eentroduce myself, I am General Jacques La’Mo’Ae.” Terrias dazed out. La’Mo’Ae only circled them and ordered to kill them. Terrias could not remember anything else past that moment and his mind had shut off completely. Terrias lost himself and shot out large amounts of energy. La’Mo’Ae looked eagerly for a battle with Terrias. Ryo and Valo got out of the pin and tried to snap Terrias out of it but he only killed the grunts pinning him and charged for La’Mo’Ae. Both began to fight in a fast paced hand-to-hand combat. Ryo and Valo began to fight off grunts one by one having much difficulty doing so. Saharah made a quick run for it while she had. Manna and Creed quickly got the others to safety and readied to battle. “Time to put your training to good use, love”, said Creed taking out his blade. “Don’t I always?” asked Manna preparing herself as well. “Good point”, said Creed now helping out Valo and Ryo. Manna raced in and began working her way casting Graveyard Rose to clear the path. Terrias continued hitting La’Mo’Ae harder and harder. La’Mo’Ae was only intrigued by Terrias power and kept blocking everything he was getting from him. Terrias was fighting very sloppy. Manna came in and hit La’Mo’Ae in the arm and was countered by being blasted by a strange black spell. Terrias moved in for a half force Ultima that sent La’Mo’Ae flying. Before anyone knew it, the whole grounds were shrouded in a huge explosion. That was the end of the battle.
