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After resting at an Inn for several hours, and recovering from the frights he had seen in Traquo, Joel left for a Transitional Station to buy a horse to ride around on and supplies for his journey. Transitional Stations are places set up between roads from Modern and Medieval areas, so people did not look so funny coming from one culture to another. Transitional Stations also provided check out areas where people sent their bags through devices that would check if the passing person was trying to smuggle certain items that the area they were going to did not have the technology to use yet. They kept somewhat of a balance in the world, especially to keep people from forming the most hostile weapon of war by combining both technologies.

Joel looked back over the fence at where he came from and waved good bye one last time, and then trotted off on his horse along the road. Further down along the road he began to notice a line of soldiers appearing far off to his left. He also noticed that the same thing was happening on his right. Joel began to wonder if bandits were planning an ambush on him, but as he looked closer he noticed each side wore different suits and different colors, and different flags were waving around the air on each side as well. A battle between two armies was about to begin, and Joel was going to be right in the middle of it all.

He could see the castle Fonan-Kal up ahead, but he would have to get his horse to run faster if he were to avoid the battle and make it there safely. Before he knew it, the armies began advancing upon him and each other, trampling on what ever was in their way. He could not avoid it, he would be engulfed in the fires of war again! A soldier stabbed his horse in it’s side, causing it to fall over and knock Joel off as well, but Joel was able to leap off before he lost his balance. As soon as he landed he felt a hard blunt object smash on the back of his head, and he dropped to the ground unconscious.

As he woke up he noticed he had been taken into a stony room while he was out of his senses. The walls were covered with armor, weaponry, paintings, and messages. In front of him stood a desk where a man wearing fancy clothes and a quilled hat sat waiting for his sleep to come to an end. Joel stood up, stretched and yawned, then dusted his clothes off.

"Welcome back lad." The man said, "I was wondering when ye’d finally wake up."

"Where am I, mister?" Joel asked, looking around, "Is this Fonan-Kal castle?"

"Aye aye, this be Fonan-Kal." The man replied, nodding, "I be travelling yonder over the dread lands where many a battles are fought. I thought that after the last fearsome battle that happened several days back would leaven us some rare and exotic treasures from foreign countries. I come across ye corpse and one man said to another that ye weren’t dead yet. I be wondering how ye survived such a rumblin, so I took ye into my home."

"Yes, I understand… I think." Joel said, "Stroke of luck, I guess. I was told to come this way to learn about myself."

"Ah, amnesia, curse it’s retched ways!" the man said.

"Well no. It’s not that. Have you seen any people acting strange around here?" Joel asked him, "Like, umm, people who can heal themselves in an instant?"

"Other than the clowns of the carnival, no lad." The man told Joel, "And I only know of witches who’d regenerate as trolls would."

Joel looked around and noticed his bag and sword was missing.

"Hey, what did you do with my sword?" Joel asked.

The man pointed to the side on a hanger and said, "I put them away up thare in case ye turned out to be one with that super killer demon blood thirsty race’o’people."

"Oh, thanks." Joel said, walking over to the hanger and equipping his sword and bag again.

The man looked him over up and down, then told Joel, "You know what, though, tis being strange that the King’s defender be but an age of fifteen, and he’s a know it all in the ways of fist and sword. I’m not wanting to find out if His Majesty had aligned himself with these demons. And come to think of it, I be hearing his new adopted daughter looks as a green skinned elf or nymph, er something."

"I understand, thanks." Joel said, "I’ll have to visit the King and meet these people." He started moving to the exit of the stone house he was in, but looked back before he lost the man sitting at his desk and said, "By the way, I’m one of them. See you, and thanks again."

The man clutched his desk and began shaking when Joel informed him of that. The castle was guarded well with a moat, a drawbridge, and plenty of frightful-looking suits of armor around every corner. Joel could hear violins, trumpets, drums, flutes, and other instruments playing not too far off in the center ballroom. He had stepped into a quiet classy party that day. People were dancing hand in hand to gentle music round and round in the room. In the center of the room were tables piled with food, drinks, dishes, and desserts, and sitting down in the middle of it all were three men and a lady. The oldest of the men was tall and had black and grayish hair and a sharp beard on his face. He wore a sparkling jeweled and gold crown over his head, and a fine red and white fabric furred robe over his body. The man sitting across from him was younger, and had long, jagged red hair and a pointy nose, and wore shiny black and blue armor with a sleek black cape. The two were conversing about something, but Joel was not close enough to hear what. Off to the side was the young girl who had a light green skin and dark green hair that curled slightly at the bottom behind and under her head, and wore a shimmering white gown. As she was sitting at the table she just seemed to stare off into space, like she were a lifeless doll until someone had her move. To the side of her, standing up and keeping an eye out for other people was a young boy with blue hair that was split down the middle, wearing an orange shirt with brown lining on the ends of the sleeves and around the collar. His arms were crossed and looked as if he were angry about something.

"Those must be the people I’m looking for." Joel thought. He moved up and through the dancing crowd and said as he reached the center table, "Excuse me, you’re the king here, aren’t you? I’d like to ask about something."

The blue-hair boy turned towards Joel and sneered, then said in a hissy voice, "And who are you to ask, peasant?"

"Ho ho, calm down, Koichi. Yes, boy, I am the king here." The man in the robe told him, "Is there anything I can help you with on the day of my daughter’s birthday?"

"Yes, there is. I was told I should seek out the princess and your body guard." Joel told the king, "I guess I’ve found them, huh."

The girl quietly looked up at them.

"Yes, yes, Simon here was looking for the my daughter as well for her hand in marriage." The king told Joel, pointing across the table at the other man, "I don’t know what you’d want with Koichi, though. He’s just a stubborn little brat who I assigned to guard Celia."

"Well, no sir." Joel said, "I didn’t come for that reason, I just wanted to talk with them for a while. I’m trying to find others like me, you see, and I was wondering if either of them are."

"Heh, I’d say he’s playing the part of a real bad assassin." Koichi said, "I don’t know a man foolish enough to walk around a party with his weapons."

"Perhaps, but isn’t a knight always prepared for battle even when it’s least expected?" the king stated.

"Oh, I like that one, Your Majesty. Because…" Koichi began, he looked at Joel and grinned, "if anyone’s getting anything out of me, it’ll have to be through an approved fight first."

Celia sighed, and stood up and walked off, saying, "I’m going to my room, father. I don’t wish to sit around these men much very longer. It ills me from their barbaric voices."

Joel and Koichi snapped their attention to Celia as she walked off. Simon eyed her as she moved passed him and said, with his deep voice, "So, she does speak."

"Oh you must excuse her." The king said, waving his hands, "We found her alone in rags in the wilderness as we were venturing out three days ago. She needed a home so I adopted her, but she doesn’t seem to understand much yet."

"Bingo." Joel thought, "That’s the right sign."

After Celia had left, the king ordered the guards to move all tables to the side.

"Ladies and gentlemen, for your further entertainment tonight I present to you a man to man duel in combat!" the king announced as he took his people’s attention by the scruff of their neck, "Our very own Koichi, sword’s master supreme!" Koichi turned and bowed to the crowd at the sound of his name, "Against the new comer who seeks information!" Joel gave a slight wave at the crowd, "On your guard, my good men. Sit back, relax, and be entertained as Koichi shows his stuff to this boy!"

A large opening in the middle of the ballroom opened up, leaving Joel and Koichi alone. Joel stepped back and brought his arms up in his fighting style, as did Koichi.

"I am Koichi, as you probably know. Don’t let my age fool you, peasant." Koichi told Joel.

"The name’s Joel. I don’t care about your age, or your skill." Joel responded, "Now, if it’s a fight you want then it’s a fight you’ll get. Bring it on!"

Koichi made a raging leap towards Joel, aiming for a punch at his face, and Joel put his hands up to block it. But the pressure of Koichi’s attack went through Joel’s guard and smashed him in the face. Joel preformed a flip back as he staggered away and slid to a stop on the slick floor. He ran back and went for a strike to Koichi’s chest, but Koichi jumped to the side and sent a kick towards Joel’s back to knock him down. Before Koichi’s kick could hit him, Joel put both his hands on the ground, lifted himself up, and spun himself around using both his arms to turn him with his legs out. He dodged Koichi and hit him down as his legs twirled in the air, then jumped back to his feet.

Joel charged forward with his shoulder and rammed Koichi into the wall behind him. He crossed his arms together on Koichi’s neck and pressed on him, trying to choke the life out of Koichi. Koichi began gasping for air, but Joel’s lock would not allow him, so he started beating Joel in with headbutts several times until he was released. He then jumped up and putting one hand on the wall he made a forceful kick towards Joel. He hit Joel in the gut, but Joel caught Koichi’s leg before he received much damage, then turned around and slammed him into the floor towards the middle of the area. The floor cracked and rumbled as Koichi’s body met with it at a tremendous force.

"You’ve got a tough body, tougher than the other people I’ve faced." Joel said, waiting for the next round.

"Well…" Koichi began as he stood up again, wiping his face of his bleeding, "How about we do some armed combat. You seem skilled enough for my fists, how about some sword play." He looked off at the crowd and yelled, "Page! Get me my sword, now!"

A much younger boy ran in with a sword in its sheath. Koichi took the sword out and pushed the boy away to the crowd, then looked at Joel with his sword aiming at him. At this time Joel removed his own sword from its sheath and unbuckled his sword belt from his body. The belt dropped to the ground and Joel moved back to his own side of the fighting area of the ballroom to face Koichi a second time. Koichi looked at the glowing blue blade and its sparkling green hilt in Joel’s hands and studied it over.

"That’s the…" Koichi said, "The Masamune?"

"Could be." Joel told him, standing in his ready fighting position.

"I’ve read about that weapon in many books. How did you get it?" Koichi asked.

"Well, you might say I was born with it." Joel replied.

"That can’t be right, the books said it was thousands of years old! It’s an ancient weapon of old war stories!" Koichi told him.

"Think what you want, but only I’ll know what’s the truth." Joel said, grinning.

"Grr, forget it. I don’t care if it really is the sharpest blade in existence, you won’t ruin my winning streak!" Koichi growled.

"Enough, enough already! Koichi, I think he’s proven himself worthy enough for Princess Celia!" The king interrupted before either could attack again, "Besides, I don’t want anyone getting killed in my precious castle ballroom!"

"But… but, ah…!" Koichi cried. He jammed his sword into the tiled floor and fell to his knees and yelled, "Damn it!"

Joel looked back at the king and nodded, then walked by Koichi to get his sword belt and sheath on and put his sword away. As he put away his sword he sighed in relief, and his scars faded again. He turned around and walked back to Koichi and offered him a hand back up.

"Nice fight. It was worth the exercise." Joel told him.

Koichi looked back up, still with his angry faced, but he cooled down and gave a slight smile and said, "Thanks, but I’ll get you next time I have a chance. You’ll see." Before he could reach Joel’s hand he dropped his head back down and put his hand to his chest and coughed a few spots of blood onto the floor. He grunted, "I’ll be… okay… Someday."

Joel looked back up and walked over to the king.

"Well done, lad." The king said, "That was quite a lot of fancy dance moves you pulled on that floor. I don’t believe anyone’s ever matched Koichi as an equal."

"Fighting’s my specialty, too, I guess." Joel said. He then noticed Simon had left during the fight, and he asked, "Where did that other guy go anyway? I thought he was watching our fight."

"Oh Simon? He must have gotten bored and left to see Celia, because he did ask me during the fight. Not everyone’s excited by the scene of war, you know!" The king replied, "I’d have to say you should go talk with her as well, and get to know each other."

"I understand, thank you." Joel said, nodding, "I’ve had some questions I’ve wanted to ask her, to see if she could explain anything to me."

He ran off, hurrying up the stairs that circled around up the ballroom. The stairs led to a hallway of guest bedrooms, offices, and the throne room. From the throne room there was a door that opened up a tower to the side of the castle where the princess resides, and another opposite of the princess’s tower where the king would reside each night. Each tower provided each individual with a bedroom and living space. It was like they had their own house connected to the already spacey castle, a mansion inside a mansion.

When Joel reached Celia’s room, he began hearing someone talking inside. He didn’t think it sounded very good, so he opened her door by a crack and looked through to see what was going on. Inside he could see the Simon fellow cornering off the girl, who was shivering next to her bed. But Joel wasn’t about to jump in and interrupt things, because he didn’t know what situation he was dealing with yet. He decided to wait a while longer.

"Princess Celia, I must insist you marry me." Simon told her, "It is destiny, as the books say! If you don’t then something disastrous will befall your kingdom! I have foreseen it!"

"I still say no, Simon!" Celia yelled at him, "I don’t believe in that stuff, so just leave us alone!"

Simon grabbed her by her dress’s collar and pulled her to him. He smiled, then opened his mouth and stuck his tongue out. His tongue began to change into a pointy-fanged snake. Celia struggled, but the snake reached out and bit her on the neck. She began to twitch as the snake inserted poison through her body. Joel still watched the two, well aware of what was happening.

"Now we’ll see." Joel thought, "I just hope she’s the right kind…"

She was let go and she dropped to her knees, beginning to breathe hard.

"That venom ought to change your mind." Simon said, chuckling.

"N, no… that’s what you think…" Celia groaned. She stood up, staggered, then threw off her dress, revealing that she was wearing a white shirt with a purple fighting gi over it, and a red band wrapped around her waste. "I had a feeling earlier today that you carried some evil plot, and I knew there was going to be some fighting. I can’t fight in a dress, can I?"

She smiled at him, then threw a punch and blasted him back. Joel dropped on the floor laughing at her.

"Oh my god! How did she manage to get all that under a dress!?" Joel laughed with tears in his eyes. He stood back up and continued to watch Celia fight off Simon, and thought, "Yeah, she’s definitely got it in her."

Celia turned the tables on Simon as she pummeled him down with her own rapid punches and kicks, but after she fought for a while she began to weaken. She knocked her opponent down and stepped back, grabbed her neck. She had begun twitching again and lost control.

"Heheeh, yes, yes, soon the poison will take its toll on your body! You will become my slave as I desired!" Simon said, laughing.

Simon stood up and began approaching Celia again, and Celia began crawling back trying to get away from him.

"Time to take action." Joel thought.

Joel slammed open the door and drew his sword again. Simon turned around in surprise with the sound of the door, and raised his left arm up when he saw Joel dashing at him with his sword, trying to block it from cutting him open. But Joel’s weapon cut off Simon’s lower arm, and it dropped to the floor and faded away like a dead monster.

"Excuse me, Simon, but I’m afraid I have too much business with this girl to let you make her your death slave." Joel told Simon as he dropped to the floor holding his arm as it bled. He stepped in front of Celia to guard her, and said, "Hey Celia, if you really are like me I suggest you take it easy for now so that poison doesn’t take control of your body. Err, wait, at least I think that’s how it works. Hmm."

Simon began to crawl away, then rolled over onto his back and looked at Joel up and down.

"You… I, I killed you long ago, how are you still alive? I knew your fighting looked familiar, but… I killed you three months ago… Didn’t I?" Simon growled.

"Hah, I don’t know what you’re talking about." Joel said, grinning.

Simon reached for his left arm with his right and held onto it with a tight grip. His arm stopped bleeding for a moment, then a scaly serpent quickly sprouted from it. He stood up and dusted himself off and two tentacle-like tails shot out from behind his waist.

"Aah… much better. Much better indeed." Simon said, "It’s so good to be able to let lose and relax for once. My tails were starting to cramp, and I was getting bored with that left arm. I should thank you by giving you both a fast ending together, but I’m afraid I have to get going."

He gave the two a bow, then disappeared into the shadows. Joel turned around and looked at Celia. She was still twitching from the poison, and was struggling to try getting away from him.

"Woah, hey, calm down Celia!" Joel said, smiling at her, "I’m not a bad guy like that other person was."

"Just… please… get away…!" Celia cried.

Joel nodded and stepped away from Celia. She put a hand on her neck and it began glowing with a white aura for a moment. When the aura faded she stood up and sighed. She was able to heal herself with a magic ability.

"Thanks for helping me." She told him as she stood up, "I didn’t want to show anyone I could do this because it doesn’t seem normal."

He looked at her over, closer than he could before, and took notice that she looked familiar to him.

"Excuse me, but may I help you?" Celia asked him, "If not, please stop staring at me."

"Hmm, oh, sorry." Joel said, looking away, "You just remind me of someone I knew who was very dear to me. But she died a week ago. I’d be a fool to think you were her."

"Mmm… I hear ya." Celia said, "You’re lucky, though. You have an origin somewhere, and I’ve just been lost my entire life. That is, until the king adopted me as his daughter."

She sat down on her bed and looked out her window into the stars. Joel stood next to her and leaned on the wall.

"That’s not really true, you know." Joel told her, "I was told I was found in a volcano, or something. I can’t remember any of it, or anything before that, but my friends taught me how to live." He put his hand on Celia’s shoulder, "I think we’re in the same situation. That’s why I’m asking if you’d join me in finding others like us. Maybe we’ll learn something."

Celia looked up, then back down and sighed, and said, "My ‘father’ wants me to marry you, does he. Well it only seems proper that I go with you then, doesn’t it…?"

"No, no it doesn’t…" Joel told her, "I’m not going to drag you around like I own you. This is your decision. Well, good night."

He waved at her and began walking to the door to leave her, but she grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

"Wait, please…" Celia began, "In case that man comes back, would you stay here and guard my room tonight? I mean, if you really think I look like your friend you would, right?"

Joel turned around and nodded at her, and said, "You read me like a book. I’ll hang around for tonight then." He moved over to her window and looked outside at the deep moon and the stars that filled the sky, "Here, check it out." He put a hand outside and up into the air, and the stars seemed to start dancing around. He looked back for Celia and noticed she had begun sleeping already and thought, "Hmm, am I really that boring? Oh well."

He moved to the foot of Celia’s bed and sat down next to it. He took off his sword belt, put it to the side, and placed his bag under his head, then followed Celia in her sleep soon after. From behind the door the king and Koichi stood on the very edge spying on things.

"Ah yes. I think I made the right decision about him, don’t you, Koichi?" the king asked his companion.

"Hmph, please sire. Aren’t you a bit old for spying on little girls, and to your own daughter, too." Koichi told the king and he leaned on the wall behind him.

"What, you’re not jealous are you?" The king asked him, snickering.

"Jealous… Me…? Your Majesty, you know I’m just a guardian. I couldn’t feel jealousy for anything but battle." Koichi replied.

"Yes, and that’s why I must ask you to keep a close eye on these two. Keep them together with the best of your abilities as a protector." The king told him.

"Yeah, yeah, keep in mind, though, I’m a warrior, not some… cupid…" Koichi said, shuddering. He walked away then and said, "Forget this nonsense, I’m going to bed."

In Joel’s dreams, he saw himself in light, cloudy area. Sarralyn appeared ahead of him and he started running for her when he saw her, yet no matter how he tried he could not reach her. He finally stopped, and Sarralyn was still the same distance away.

"So, I can meet you in my dreams, but I cannot be with you, can I?" He asked. His voice echoed into the depths of space.

"The girl, you have to help her if you want me to rest peacefully." Sarralyn told him, "Teach her as I taught you."

"I’ll… try then." Joel said, nodding, "She looks so much like you, but… why can’t she be you?"

"Joel, you cannot live your life as a follower. You should take a stand now and be a leader." Sarralyn told him, "Now that I’m gone you need to make your own decisions."

He crossed his arms and thought for a while, and Sarralyn started fading away from his dream.

"Now, wake up… wake… up…" her voice echoed in his dream.

Joel woke up with a purple face, as Celia had her hand plugging his nose for some time that morning trying to wake him up. His nose turned red from the pressure she put on him, and he put his hands over it and moaning like a child.

"Oh man, what was that for, Celia?" Joel cried.

"I brought something for you." She told him, "I thought your old clothes were smelling a bit bad, so I had my servants take them to wash, and I brought you some new ones." She moved to the side and uncovered a suit of royal fabric clothing, and said, "Don’t you think it’d be more proper to look like royalty when you’re around royalty?"

Joel jumped up and gazed at the suit from all around and said, "Oh wow! I’ve seen a lot of people dressed like this, but I never imagined I’d get to wear the stuff! This is so cool! Thanks Celia! I can’t wait to try… them… err…" he stopped for a moment and thought, "Wait, she did say she took my old clothes. If that’s so, then…" he looked down at himself and realized he was wearing only underwear. His face turned red and he jumped behind the suit, "Aah, you idiot!"

Celia giggled and told him, "Calm down, Joel. I didn’t do anything to you while you were asleep." She began blushing, and giggled some more.

Joel sat down and began putting on the pants of the suit. He looked up and said, "I would hope not!" He put on the tunic of the suit and buttoned it up, and then he attached the sleeves. The suit all together was a dark blue color, and it had a red stripe that went down both sides of the pants and the sleeves where the seams were. A stripe also went down the center of the tunic where the buttons lined up. To add to the suit were white gloves and shiny black boots.

Celia left for another room to change as well as Joel was busy putting on his own suit. She walked back into the room wearing her shimmering white dress. Joel looked at her up and down, but sighed when he saw her.

"What’s wrong?" Celia asked.

"Well, I wanted to see you in your underwear, too!" Joel told her, "Fair is fair, right?"

She beat on his head and yelled, "That’s not funny! Don’t be a pervert!"

After jumping from one foot to the other with his hands over his head a few times, Joel stood up again and brought his arm out saying, "Well, shall we be off then? You don’t suppose there’s a way out of this do you?"

Celia took hold of his arm and smiled, then said "Sure, let’s do this!"

They nodded at each other and walked down the stairs to the throne room. In the throne room waited the king sitting on his throne, and Koichi standing right next to him. Koichi stood staring off into space with his arms crossed, focused on the crowd of followers and commoners standing before them. They were greeted with a loud cheering, and confetti and flowers shot everywhere. Joel looked up as the ceiling rolled open and the balloons and white birds flew up and out of the top, thinking "Sarra, I hope you were right about her. I hope we can set our lives straight. Rest easy, okay?"

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