"Curses!" Lady Kristel shouted. "Damn those stupid idiotic children! Do they not know what they have done?! They have put us all in danger! Goddess damn them!" Sally put her arm round Lady Kristel's shoulders. Lady Kristel began to cry, she was still human, after all.
"You are but a child yourself. Salem went out of love, you would have done the same for the one-" Lady Kristel broke free of Sally's arms.
"I am not a Chosen! Those children have put the House of Dreams in danger! They will all die! Then what? Fight the evil alone again? I am not strong enough..." Lady Kristel punched the wall. A few moments later there was a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" called Sally, who was feeling a bit annoyed at the intrusion.
"It is Elia. I have news from Rachealla," Elia called through the door. Sally looked to Lady Kristel, who nodded.
"Enter Elia, but be prepared," Lady Kristel said. Elia walked in and the usual cold swept through the room, freezing Lady Kristel's tears. Elia was about to say something when she saw Lady Kristel.
"My lady!" She said. Sally retreated into the background. She was good at this, Elia would forget she was here and would reveal things to Lady Kristel. Sally had listened to many things that Elia had said in the past, and in a cold-hearted way they made sense.
"My lady why are you crying? Please tell me!" Elia, to Sally's surprise, brushed the frozen tears off Lady Kristel's face. More fell and turned to ice, Elia left them where they were.
"They have gone, Elia. He has gone! When will we see them again? Will they live? Will he live?" Lady Kristel fell sobbing into Lady Kristel's arms.
"My lady, have hope. Without hope you will drown in your despair. They are strong, and powerful. They are no match for Tami, not yet, but they will be here when it counts. You won't fight alone!" Elia said. Lady Kristel pulled away and looked into Elia's eyes.
"Who will fight with me if they do not return?" Kristel asked. Elia didn't hesitate, she didn't hold anything back, but she gave a simple answer.
"I will. I will protect you Lady Kristel. As your Guardian and as your friend. I must," Elia smiled. The first time Sally had ever seen her do that. Maybe Elia was only cold because others did not hide their dislike of her. Lady Kristel had shown no prejudice against Elia, where others had all objected to her coming to the House of Dreams.
"I thank you, Elia. What was the news, from Rachealla?" Lady Kristel asked. She was no longer crying, this made Sally wonder. Had Elia comforted Kristel better than her personal Guardian?
"Rachealla says that they are already in the Southern Lands Palace, but that Miri is extremely upset. It appears that she is going to marry a man from the Northern Heights, who is a decendant of some ancient royalty. He appears to be a magic hater, as he has forbidden Miri to take Shinkokami anywhere except to her rooms. Rachealla is working on an agreement to get Kinik to let her create a training ground for Miri, but it seems the King will not allow her," Elia stopped. Lady Kristel was crying again. Elia knew that there was only a certain amount of things she could do for her.
"Everything is my fault! None of this would have happened if I had told Miri about her being a Chosen!" Lady Kristel said. Elia was at a loss. She curtseyed to Lady Kristel and left.
"Have faith, there are many futures, let us hope that there is a brighter one."
In a million universes it would have ended that day. Salem would have accepted Miri's decision, he would have grown older and died facing Tami. In a million universes Miri had not left but was killed by Tami anyway. In a million universes Lady Kristel intervened and stopped Miri from leaving. In a million universes the House of Dreams did not exsist. But in this universe, none of those things happened. In this universe Salem was asleep...
"Wake up you big oaf!" shouted someone. Salem opened a bleary eye. It wasn't him that the person was shouting at, it was Jinxes. The sun had just come up over the horizon.
"Whatimeisit?" Salem asked. Someone next to him groaned.
"Sunrise!" said Victory. "Up! NOW!" He heard more groans and then he saw Jinxes sit up. Mraya was the campfire they'd made last night. She was cooking something that smelt like-
"Bacon!" Jinxes said. He quickly got up and was next to Mraya in no time.
"Oi! No! Go and wash in the stream, then you can eat! You too, Salem," She turned back to her cooking. Victory showed him and Jinxes to the stream and left.
"So, er Salem, what do you plan to say to Miri when we find her?" Jinxes asked. They were both up to their chests in water, and busing themselves with washing, so that they could eat.
"I don't know. Whatever springs to mind I suppose," Salem replied. Jinxes sucked his lip for a moment.
"How 'bout... Why don't you... I mean... Um... You love her, right? Well why don't you just tell her how you feel? Just say everything you've ever wanted to tell her... Until words won't do for how you feel?" Jinxes said. He had his back to Salem now. Salem had to admit he was surprised.
"You sound like you know what you're talking about," Salem said, then promptly dropped the soap. "Er... I've just dropped the soap..." Jinxes laughed.
"Then make yourself decent when I go down and get it," Jinxes replied. Jinxes dived under and got it, handing it to Salem, who was a deep shade of red.
"Well, I guess I do," Jinxes said. Salem was puzzled for a moment, then realised it was the answer to his question earlier.
"You've been in love with someone before?" Salem asked. Jinxes folded his arms.
"Not before Mraya. That's what I'd do if I had the chance, but she likes Victory, and he likes her. I guess that everything will work out for them," Jinxes cupped some water in his hands and splashed it on his face.
"Harsh," Salem said.
"Maybe... Hey gimme the soap! I need to wash too ya know!" Salem let the subject drop.
Miri looked at herself in the mirror. She felt like a porcelein doll, that had just been put out on display. Miri's mother gasped and clapped. She had the most annoying way of doing that when she was happy. Miri looked to Rachealla, who shook her head and looked away. The dressmaker looked at Miri with questioning eyes.
"You look lovely dear. Oh I wish your grandmother could see you now!" Miri's mother pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed the corner of her eye.
"I hate it!" Miri said. "It's the most boring wedding dress I've ever seen. I don't care if it was my great-great grandmother's. I refuse to get married in it! If I have to marry this Canon, I will do it my way or not at all!" The dressmaker hung her head and began to un-pin the adjustments.
"I agree with you Miri, it is rather plain," Rachealla said. Rachealla would always back up Miri's arguements. Miri's mother considered Rachealla a stylish young woman, but not good enough to be her daughter's tutor.
"It is you're grandmother's and you will wear it!" Miri's mother cried. Rachealla stood up, the dressmaker shrank back.
"Redo the adjustments if you would, ma'am," Rachealla adressed the dressmaker. The dressmaker showed surprise at the term "ma'am" but did as Rachealla asked.
"Now what color Miri? Red? Blue?" Rachealla asked. Miri's mother narrowed her eyes.
"I should like a sky blue and turquoise dress," Miri said, her eyes were bright. Rachealla pointed a finger at the dress. It changed color, the bodice becoming sky blie with silver emboidery and the long skirts becoming turquoise with gold embroidery. Miri's veil became a deep blue with crystals on them, and her trail and arms a purple.
"Much better!" Miri and Rachealla said together, grinning. The dressmaker was in shock at the display of magic. Miri's mother was speechless with rage. Suddenly the dress was on the otherside of the hall, on a hanger and Miri had her normal clothes on. Well, her normal princess clothes, a long dress and a shawl. The dress became hidden by a quick moving curtain.
"Miri!" called Canon. Miri supposed she was supposed to go rushing into his arms, but she busied herself with arranging her shawl. Miri's mother frowned.
"There you are! I have come to inform you, are wedding shall be in tomorrow. I take it that everything is prepared?" He asked Miri. Miri looked at him blankly. One day? A measly day?
"Everything will be ready, except perhaps Miri's heart. That will take a long time to be reaady, longer than your lifetime," Rachealla said. Canon clenched his fists.
"Listen, witch, I do this for the good of Northern Heights. Do you really think I would put myself through this for that heart-broken wench?" Canon spat. Rachealla showed no emotion but raised her hand and as quick as lightening slapped Canon.
"How dare you talk to me in such a disrespectful manner! I am a Lady and I am your elder! If another bad thing about Miri or I comes out of your mouth then I shall have me and Miri far from here faster that you can say "ouch", got that?" Rachealla shouted. Canon looked taken aback but quickly this turned into rage.
"How dare I? I am a Prince! You are a Guardian of the House of Dreams, that I'm sure is only for freaks, like you and that-that-" He didn't finish his sentence as there was a tiger sitting on his chest. He realised he was looking at the ceiling.
"Ever say anuthing wrong again and Shinko will get you and destroy what Rachealla has not already burnt!" Shinkokami said, she jumped off him and ran to Miri's side.
"Please leave," Miri said tonelessly. Canon left with evil thoughts in his mind.
"So," said Salem, rolling away his bed roll. "How long'll it take to get there?" He gave up trying to fit in into the bag and magicked it in instead. Victory looked at him disapprovingly.
"You've gotta be careful with magic now, got that?" Mraya said. Salem and Jinxes shrugged, caught each others eyes and started laughing.
"Geez, this is gonna be a long two days. Hope they aren't gonna be like this the whole way!" Victory said. He'd loosened up alot since they'd left Dreamer's Academy behind. Salem was beginning to like him, as a friend.
"Two days?" Salem repeated. He looked down at his watch. In the House of Dreams it had been playing up and now it read, 45/99/6008 BC. Well, guess I won't need to tell the time, he thought.
"Yeah, maybe one and a half. We head to Tokyo by train, then we go by plane to the Southern Lands Capital. Then we'll be in walking distance of the Palace. Got any ideas about how to get in?" Victory asked. So far Salem hadn't thought about that.
"Er... Blast the doors off?" Jinxes suggested. Victory and Mraya shook their heads.
"We'll have to do it quietly, sneak in through an open window..." Mraya said. Her eyes widened, her jaw dropped. "S-Salem? Wh-Wh-What's THAT?" She gasped.
Salem turned to see a fifty foot furry monstrosity. It had a strange way of humming a thoughtful tune. It looked down at them all and laughed.
"HA HA HO HO! AREN'T YOU THE LUCKY ONES!" It boomed. Mraya screamed and covered her ears. She crouched, and tried to look small. Salem winced, the sound made the floor shake.
"I AM ALRET, YOU ARE IN MY HOME. YOU LOOK SCARED, DO NOT WORRY. HA HA HO HO! I AM IN LEAGUE WITH KRISTEL. WHY, SHE'S A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE!" Alret called. Victory smiled, it might be a less difficult journey.
"Alret, it is I, Victory! We need your help!" Victory shouted up to it. Salem wasn't surprised that Victory knew the beast, he was Lady Kristel's knight, so he protected her when she left the House of Dreams.
"VICTORY? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? THESE STUDENTS? AH, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YA?" Alret croaked. It bent down and stuck it's head in Victory's face. It breathed all over him, Salem was sure Victory was going pass out.
"We need to go to the Southern Lands Palace. Can you take us?" Victory asked. Alret thought for a while. "You owe me one Alret, remember that?" Victory prompted. Alret sighed, a sound like rock crumbling off a cliff.
"FIRST I NEED TO SEE MY WIFE. SHE'S ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH, SEE. I'LL BE BACK BEFORE SUNDOWN, STAY 'ERE AND I'LL GETCHA," Alret took off, and Salem saw his wing span. He was massive.
"Alret is one of the resident dragons. He protects the House of Dreams west side. A handy friend to have, especially in cases like this. He could get us to the Southern Lands in about six hours, at full speed, with only one passenger. With the added weight, we'll be there about noon," Victory explain. Salem had never thought that dragons would be so ugly.
Salem wondered what he was going to do for the rest of the day, when Mraya laughed. He looked at her, she was pointing at something in the trees.
"Cherry blossoms! Oh wow! Look a whole glade of Cherry Blossoms! C'mon!" Mraya ran off into the trees. Salem nodded after her, Jinxes and Victory ran into the glade. Salem shrugged to himself and walked into the glade.
Above Alret smiled. Lady Kristel would be happy to know they were safe, but he'd take them to Miri first. After all it was their decision...
Miri looked at herself in the mirror. She saw a girl who was barely recognizable from the one at Dreamer's Academy. This girl had a haunted tormented look to her eyes, and had make-up plastered onto her face. The girl in Dreamer's had been happy and had liked the fact she didn't have to look pretty all the time. Miri looked away, unable to look at the wreck she had become.
"You do not like the girl in that mirror, do you?" Rachealla asked. Miri shook her head.
"I hate her. I hate what she has become, I hate what her life must be. I hate the way she feels. I hate her hope..." Miri trailed off. She did hate that girl in the mirror. She would have to come to terms with the fact that the girl in the mirror was her.
"I will think of a way to stop the wedding Miri. But you knew that this would happen, didn't you?" Rachealla asked. Miri sat down on a chair by the fire, she put her hands in her lap.
"I knew," She whispered.
"Then why?" Rachealla asked, naturally curious about the choices that Miri had made.
"I wouldn't be able to be with Salem after I left Academy. It would have ment that both of us would be living in some doss house in the ghetto of some major city. I am a Princess, and that's all I'm good at being. And anyway, I have an obligation to this Prince, I have to marry him to repay the debt of my family to his..." Miri looked hard at the fire, which was crackling merrily.
"What debt?" Rachealla asked. Miri's hand went to her forehead, she sighed.
"My parents killed his... He was left with no one, except his uncle, who then handed the throne to my father. It was quite a shambles, but my parents said that they would repay him for his loss. It seems that they have decided I am to be the payment..." Miri knew that she could not run away now. Now she realised why his heart was so cold, because he was like Salem, never loving, for love always brings more pain.
"Maybe it is time you repayed your debt then..." Rachealla said. She left Miri alone with her thoughts and went out to the balcony. Rachealla knew of Miri's love for Salem it was apparent from the way she spoke of him. Now it was time to see if Fate and Destiny were really two seperate entities...