Asellus walked slowly from the house she shared with her Aunt. Her Aunt wanted her to run an errand for her. It came as no small surprise when a horse's head darted into her field of vision with a scream of protest. And that was all she remembered for a very long time. Asellus A story based on the SquareSoft game 'SaGa Frontier' for the Sony Playstation By Greenbeans She awoke with a scream as the dreadful scene played out in her dreams. Nothing could frighten her more than to see horse come trampling down on her once more. It was a recurring nightmare that she finally broke free of, or so she hoped. "You're awake, I see," a droll voice said from the shadows. "Where am I?" Asellus brushed her unruly green locked back from her sweat-coated face. "It's not my job to answer your questions, only to report when you are awake," he snapped before disappearing altogether. Shaking herself once more in hopes that she would wake up from *this* dream, she got up from the bed she was laying on. It was then that she noticed her clothing was torn with blood dried on it. Had she been injured? A quick examination of herself revealed no wound or scar. She felt perfectly fine. The answers to her questions wouldn't come to her if she stayed in bed all day. She pushed herself up off the mattress, walking out to the next room. A gasp caught in her throat when she saw the numerous coffins that lined the walls in the alter room. "These can't be re-" she touched on hesitantly. To her horror, she discovered that they *were* real and that bodies were incased within. A hand placed over her mouth held in the scream as she rushed from the room through the doorway on the other side. She emerged on a rose-lined platform. After several deep breaths, she walked down several flights of stairs slowly until she came to another doorway. Pushing the door open slowly, a room filled with roses of all colors greeted her. A small smile touched her lips as she complimented whoever had such fine tastes in decoration. There was no chance to scream when a man materialized behind her and ran his sword through her. Her body slid down the sickly skewer into a crumpled heap on the floor. The man just as quickly disappeared as her blood spilled, coloring the white rose ground cover to a purple shade. She couldn't make out the words, but there was someone on a balcony above her who had supposedly witnessed this brutal act. Her lips moved to call out to them for assistance, but she was having difficulties pulling enough air to breathe into her lung. The power to yell for help wasn't there. After several minutes drifted past and she was fairly certain that she would not die, she was able to pull herself upright. The wound had healed completely in that time. The miracle behind this occurrence baffled her. She should be dead. If this was a dream, she hoped that she would wake up soon! She retraced her steps out of the once beautiful garden, still feeling drained from the near-death experience. A supportive hand was trailed along the stairway railing as she worked her way up to more unexplored areas of this massive structure. She found herself out along a breezeway. The height she was up from the ground was dizzying. She clung to the handrail to keep herself from becoming overwhelmed by it. "Hello," a man with disheveled, bright red hair greeted from nearby. She didn't even notice him when she had walked out this way. "Who are you?" She asked. "Sorry, got to go. We'll chat later," he grinned impishly then disappeared. Not more than a heartbeat later two more people appeared, one on either side of her. "He got past us again!" One lamented before they likewise disappeared. Before long, she found herself in a tower with a calm pool of water in the center. Leaning over it, she looked at her ragged reflection and was glad she had encountered few people thus far. Her looks alone would have frightened them away! Suddenly, she felt herself being pulled towards the water. Rose petals surrounded her, swirling in a mind-numbingly complex pattern. She was floating above the waters she had just been looking into and then she was gone. A heartbeat, then two, and she fell forward into a near identical tower with an identical pool of water. 'This must be some sort of teleporter,' she reasoned. Stumbling forward on shaky legs, she encountered a man with bleach white hair. His expression was grim as he firmly blocked her from proceeding further along the path. "Leave!" His voice boomed, leaving no room for argument. She shied away from him like a wounded animal. His gaze pierced into her until she rounded the corner and found herself back in the tower she had come from. With a bit more confidence this time, she reached out for the water. It pulled her in with a swirl of rose petals, depositing her whence she'd came. 'This place is a maze, surely!' she thought to herself. She decided to try going in towards the center of the structure instead of looking for the towers. This led her to a courtyard with a beautifully crafted rose crest on the tile floor. Broad double doors gave way with the slightest of touch. There were others in this room. Now was her chance to get some answers. "Hello?" She asked tenatively as she came into the room. There were people in fine clothing lining both sides of the walkway. A man in regal attire sat upon a throne at one end. Retainers flanked him as his cool eye looked over her. "What is your name?" He asked, leaning forward slightly to get a better look at her. "Asellus. Isn't it rude to ask the name of another without first introducing yourself?" She took the opportunity to look him over herself. He was richly dressed with long robes the flowed around him. Long locks of loose hair covered his shoulders, giving him a more wild look than distinguished. "Insolent!" One of the retainers barked. Each member of his court announced a title of his. It was all rather confusing and overwhelming for her. None of them stuck with her except 'Charm Lord Orlouge' as the last had introduced him. He leaned back and smirked. "It was I who saved you when my carriage ran you over. If it were not for my blood running through your veins." "Carriage?" He continued, ignoring her question. "Even though you are a half-mystic, you still have a responsibility to this Kingdom. Ildon, I leave her to you. Take her to Rootville and make sure she is properly attired." "Yes, my Lord," a green haired man with shallow features and a blue cloak bowed in acknowledgement. "Half-mystic?" She asked, confused even more. "Yes!" His eyes bore into her. "With the red blood of humans and the blue blood of mystics, you now have the purple blood of a half-breed. Surely you saw that when Ciato put his sword through you!" "You!" Her tone was accusing now. "You really should be thanking me. I've relieved you of your pitiful human existence and giving you the immortality of the mystics," he held his hands out as one who wasn't properly thanked for the favor he performed. "My Lord, perhaps Ildon isn't the best person for the job," the man who stabbed her, Ciato, said from his position lining the walkway. "Do not question me!" The Charm Lord snapped angrily. "Ildon is whom I have chosen, but perhaps he would do better with some help. I will awake White Rose to teach this halfling some manners." "Yes, my Lord," Ciato withdrew quickly, lest he risk the angering his Lord any further. The room quickly emptied of all except Ildon, who remained where he was. She watched him with a mixture of suspicion and confusion. He returned her regard with a level look of his own. "Come along, Asellus, you heard with our Lord commanded," he half bowed to her out of courtesy, indicating the way out. Ildon lead her through the courtyard to a wrought-iron gate that had roses grown entangled in it. With a nod to the gatekeeper, it was pulled up to let them pass, and then lowered again once they were clear of the sharp spears on the bottom. The traveled down a short path that turned into a set of creaky boards fashioned into a steps along the spine of a tree root. Indeed, looking back at the place where she had been, she could tell that it was fashioned as a giant tree with roses adoring it everywhere. "This is Rootville," Ildon indicated the small village that was nestled between the tall roots of the tree they lived in. "We mystics control this town. The humans are here to support our needs." "That seems rather parasitic," Asellus commented dryly. "Watch your tongue, girl. You are a part of our society now. Such flippant remarks would be seen as unbecoming," he looked down at her disapprovingly. She shrugged it off the best she could. The rest of their walk into the village was conducted in silence. Ildon lead them to a small house at the far end of what passed as the center of the village. He opened the door for her, motioning for her to precede him in. A man rushed from behind a counter when Ildon followed her in. A woman dressed in white peasants clothes had just come down the stairs to the left. "It's an honor to have a mystic in my shop today. What can I do for you?" The shop owner nearly fell over himself in an effort to properly greet his customer. "Dress her in the outfit I ordered," he said simply, giving her a small push towards the tailor. "Of course! Gina, take her upstairs and help her into her gown," he turned to the woman near the staircase. "Come this way, my Lady," the woman bobbed her head politely. She was lead up to an attic with many beautiful dresses on display. "Please pick one which you find pleasing," she invited. "I-" Asellus looked around her at the many dazzling outfits. "I honestly don't know which one to chose. Do you have a preference?" "The master completed this one not long ago," she indicated one that was somewhere between read and purple in terms of color. Its rich fabric invited her to touch it, enjoying the velvety softness. The trousers came to mid-knee, with the bodice leaving a sliver of the belly exposed. Long tails of cloth curved off of waist, causing them to come around again to almost cover the exposed legs. Matching boots had been made and dyed to the same color. Asellus tried the outfit on, instantly feeling that *this* was the one she would chose. It was finer than anything she had ever worn before and would likely have the opportunity to wear again. "I'm afraid that I don't have any money on me. How can I repay you?" She asked Gina as the woman assured that no alterations needed to be made. "All the dresses here have been made for you and are already paid for. The rest will be sent to the chateau this evening," she explained as she twisted the younger woman about, examining her with a trained eye. "You must be joking!" Asellus gasped. The cost of this many custom-made outfits could buy her several air cars back home. Gina shook her head. "I am not, my Lady. It is as the mystics have ordered it," she gave the sleeve a satisfactory tweak. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" "No, thank you. You've done plenty already." She bowed respectfully. "We live to serve you." Asellus was unsure as to how to respond to that. Her doubts about the truth of that statement had dissolved during her fitting session. The idea of anyone serving her in such a manner left her feeling very uncomfortable. Her and Ildon returned to the chateau as they had come, in silence. This time it was not because of her rubbing her pride after being stung by him, but instead in reflective thought. The amount of power the mystics held here was unnerving. To think that she was now a part of that was even more so. She never asked to be thrown into a society many people thought was only a myth. Every little kid in her hometown of Shrike grew up believing that mystics would suck your blood out if they captured you. They were creatures to be feared and avoided if one happened to encounter them. "Let's get White Rose," Ildon broke through her train of thought. She had followed him past the courtyard and up several flights of steps without realizing it. He led her down a long branch of the tree to a tower. Inside, more coffins filled the alter room. She shivered subconsciously, not wanting to think who may be inside them. The room past that held a single coffin. Ildon waited for her by the door, shooing her to push open the casket lid. She did so after several moments of nervous hesitation. A woman with billowing locks of curly white hair lay within. She stirred slowly before sitting up and looking at her questioning. "It's good to see you, Princess," Ildon said from his position by the doorway. "It has been too long, Ildon," she returned the nod he gave her. "This is Asellus. Our Lord has asked that we train her properly in the ways of the mystics since she has his blood." "Is that so?" She gave Asellus a curious look. There was no malice in it, only genuine curiosity as to what (and who) could prompt their Lord to give such an order. Ildon nodded. The two of them seemed to share a bond that Asellus couldn't tap into. White Rose got out of the coffin, looking none the worse for wear after who knows how long in there, and smiled at her. "Where shall we begin?" "I think giving her a tour of Chateau Aiguille would be in order," Ildon suggested. "I've already taken her down to Rootville for a session with the tailor." "Indeed," White Rose nodded thoughtfully, "I thought I recognized his work. I'll need to commission him once we have some time to spare." The three left White Rose's rooms to begin exploring the chateau from top to bottom. "I am the 46th Arch-Princess," White Rose explained as they walked along rose-lined breezeways. "This," she opened a door to another coffin-filled room, "was the room of the first Arch-Princess, Princess Rei." "What happened to her?" Asellus examined the open casket with its lid lying ajar on the tiled floor. "She escaped the Charm Lord," Ildon answered. "In fact, he was in search of her when he ran into you." No pun was intended. Asellus tactfully let the statement slide by. They left Princess Rei's room and went to the other end of the same level. Another room of coffins was there and Asellus was beginning to have a sinking feeling about a running theme for the Charm Lord. "This is where my elder sister, the Lion Princess, is," White Rose ran a hand along the coffin lovingly. "She's a fierce warrior for our Lord," Ildon chimed in. He was always respectful when he approached one of the princess's rooms. He always stayed back by the doorway and kept his commentary to a minimum. "I think this is enough for today," he said when they returned to the main trunk of the chateau. Asellus was escorted back to her alter room, where Ildon informed her that he'd be waiting for her at the training grounds. "I'll see you later," White Rose smiled at her before departing herself. Asellus wanted to sink to the floor and cry. She didn't want to live in a room lined by coffins, which might or might not be occupied. She didn't ask anyone to make her a mystic half-breed. All of this was so very confusing and she didn't see the point in playing games with her. She dragged herself into her private chambers, where an unexpected, and unwelcome, guest was waiting for her. The man she had met briefly earlier today on the breezeway was leaning back against the vanity. "Don't you know better than to not go where you aren't invited," she gave him a scornful look, then turned her back, hoping that he would pull his disappearing trick again. "Go ahead and ignore me. But one thing's for certain, you don't need any more enemies," she turned around quickly and pinned him with a startled look. "My name's Zozma. I'm not welcome at Chateau Aiguille, but the Charm Lord himself is the only one powerful enough to stop me from coming here," he grinned proudly. "So what brings you here?" She didn't trust this man on a gut level. Something about him urged her to get him out of her chambers as soon as possible. "Just gawking at the latest spectacle," he leaned back a bit further. "Things are going to get interesting with you around and I wanted to meet you myself." "Are you satisfied with what you see?" She spun around on a toe, allowing him to view her from all angles. "Very." "Good. Now that your curiosity has been sated, please leave," she put her hands on her hips, making her request as firm as she could. He shrugged. "Alright, I'll go. But I guarantee that this won't be the last time we meet," he winked at her before vanishing. She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. She doubted that she would *ever* get used to having people appear and disappear around her at whim. The concept of a door and knocking was probably a foreign one to these people. She sighed. When would she be allowed to return home? ********** The next morning came with streams of bright sunlight coming through the open window. Asellus couldn't recall what happened after Zozma left last night. Judging from how she was in her original clothing, she suspected that she had peeled off her nice dress and changed into something more suitable for sleeping. Everything seemed like a dream to her still. It was hard to believe that she was in such unusual surrounding as coffins and roses in a tree chateau. She changed back into the outfit she wore yesterday. The ones Gina had promised were delivered at some point; she discovered when she opened her closet. Surreal was really the best word to describe her feelings. Asellus wandered around a bit until she found her way back to White Rose's chambers. The Arch-Princess appeared as though she had been waiting for her to arrive, though made no comment to that effect. The book she was reading was set-aside on the vanity as she stood up to greet her charge. "Lady White Rose, I wanted to ask you a few questions," Asellus began, but was cut off. "White Rose is fine. Please, ask your questions," the woman smiled. "I was wondering what you meant by 'Arch-Princess'? I'm not familiar with the term." White Rose nodded as she considered her answer. "The closest human term would be 'mistress', I think." "You're a Mistress?!" The older woman chuckled lightly in good nature. "I don't think there is an exact term for it. The Charm Lord replaced my human blood with that of mystic. I owe him my immortality and gratitude." "Then what are all the coffins?" "Those are other Arch-Princesses. Our Lord has a hard time letting go of things he has acquired," she explained. The two women left White Rose's, walking slowly to their meeting with Ildon at the training grounds. Asellus thought this morning's revelations carefully before asking her next question. "Then what does that make me? An Arch-Princess also?" White Rose laughed. "Oh, goodness no, child! You have our Lord's blood in you. You are our Prince." "Prince? How can I be a 'prince'?" The entire system of mystic hierarchy eluded her understanding. "You simply are. When Orlouge is no more, you will be the King of the mystics. That is why Ildon and I have been charged with training you properly." Asellus simply shook her head. The idea of her being the next ruler of the mystics when she was a full-blooded human not two days ago was absurd. They turned the last flight of step to see Ildon on a landing waiting for them. "I thought you would chicken out. I'm glad to see that you came," he said by way of greeting. White Rose took a position at the far end of the training grounds, where she would be out of the way. Asellus walked out into the middle and waiting for whatever Ildon would unleash upon her. "Ready? Next!!" His command teleported a beastie in the shape of a flying rabbit in front of her. It was only then that she realized she was without so much as even a belt knife. She tried to beat it down with her fists alone, but it was too strong for her. The beast dissolved into nothingness again, leaving her on the floor. "Next!!" Ildon called, thrusting her into another battle. This one featured a puddle of slime that looked out of place in such a refined environment as the chateau. It spat a solvent at her that stung against her exposed skin. She winced away from it. Like the last creature, it succeeded in knocking her to the floor. Ildon was relentless in his training, calling forth another beast to challenge her right after she managed to pick herself up. A dragon pup hovered above her head. She would have considered it cute if she hadn't known that there were malicious intentions in its eyes. She tried to defend from its ruthless strikes and once again failed. "That's enough for today," he finally announced. She was sore in places she didn't know she had from the trouncing the beasts had given her. White Rose and Ildon escorted her back to her room. A well-dressed man stopped them in the courtyard. "Have you heard what the other mystics are saying?" He stopped Ildon to ask him. "They're already afraid of her power. It's about time someone shook up this place. It's become stagnant with time." "Ridiculous, Rabtaban," he brushed passed him. "A half-mystic like her couldn't upset the order of things." "Just wait and see," Rabtaban bowed formally to Asellus then walked away. White Rose shook her head in disbelief. "I do believe our friend has finally lost it." "He's young. Always looking for someway to upset things," Ildon turned to Asellus. "He's trying to show difference to you by not teleporting away. Personally, I think he's afraid of you." "Afraid? Of me?" Asellus boggled at the thought. "Fool, don't pay him any heed," he advised. The three of them passed by a staircase Asellus didn't recognize. When she asked where it led, Ildon made it clear that she should never go there. "It's a dangerous area filled with monsters. You'd best keep away from it." After the pounding she had just received, she was inclined to agree. ********** White Rose and Asellus' friendship continued to flourish. They would go everywhere together. The Charm Lord was pleased that the kindest of Arch-Princesses was having a calming effect on the wild hare that was the Prince. One day, the pair traveled together to Rootville. The place was as desolate as Asellus remembered it from her first, overwhelmed, visit there. The tailor was as nervous as ever when she poked her head into his shop to see how things were going. She quickly decided that staying there would only cause the man to become a wreck. They went next to Gozarus'. He was a burly built, green skin mystic who disliked Asellus on sight. White Rose smoothed things out for them and he presented the young Prince with a Charm Necklace since he noted that she wasn't wearing any jewelry. He also offered to sell her a sword named Asura. It was a fine work of craftsmanship. The price for it was a steep one. He would only accept some of Asellus' life force in payment. With such a mighty weapon in hand, meeting the challenges of Ildon's training became more reasonable. The sword lent itself well to powerful attacks and the mastering of new techniques. One day, the two women were in Princess Rei's room discussing her fate. "How did she escape?" Asellus asked. It was becoming harder and harder for her to accept that she would spend the rest of her life in such a confining place. She needed away from Facinaturu and any clues she could get would be helpful. "She committed suicide and escaped via rebirth into a human form," White Rose answered, not knowing of her reason for asking. "Suicide?!" The Arch-Princess nodded. "That is the only way to leave this place. To be reborn into a new body. I still don't understand why Rei wanted away from here so much." Asellus said nothing. She couldn't bring herself to attempt the same thing. There had to be another way out of Facinaturu. ********** Asellus like to explore the area she lived in with more and more detail. She didn't hold any illusions that she would find a magic rabbit hole that would return her to Shrike, but she needed *something* to fill her time. She'd taken to challenging the easy monsters by the base of the forbidden area when she was feeling adventurous or to exploring Rootville more when she was alone. The people of the Village treated her with the same awestruck respect that they showed every mystic. She came to the decision that she found their difference to her as being annoying. She wasn't anymore 'special' then they were! There was no reason for them to fear her! She was running out of new places to go. She had overturned nearly every rock in Rootville already. The exception was a small locked door off to one side which she couldn't get in. Someday, she would find out what was behind that door. Feeling dejected, she slowly walked up the chateau path and into the courtyard. Ciato was standing there, seemingly waiting for her. He wasted no time in getting to the point. "You want out of here, right? There's a man in the bar in Rootville that can help you," he disappeared. She stood there dumbfounded for several minutes as his words sunk in. He just gave her a way out. Turning about face, she rushed back down the path to Rootville to find the man Ciato mentioned. True to his word, there was a man at the bar when she arrived there. Point in fact; they were the only two patrons in the place. "I hate this town, there's no nightlife," he complained, taking a swig of his beer. "You're not from around here, are you?" She demanded anxiously. "What do you mean? Of course I am!" He said over the rim of his stein. She decided to cut to the chase. "I want to leave Facinaturu and I was told that you can help me." "Well," he drawled slowly, "with the right amount of funding I've been known to afford a safe passage out." She frowned. "I don't have any money, but I know where I can get some." "Why don't you meet me next door after you've picked up your wallet, okay?" He slid his chair back, standing up. "I'll go get things ready in the meantime." Asellus nearly flew as she ran back to the chateau. This was her big chance and she wouldn't blow it! She knocked quickly on White Rose's door before letting herself into the older woman's room. "Do you have any money?" She asked in a rush, catching her breath. White Rose frowned slightly. "I'm not sure what humans are using for money nowadays, but I do have some metals that should be acceptable. What are you up to?" "I'm leaving Facinaturu," Asellus announced. The frown on White Rose's face deepened at that. "Well, our Lord did give me the task of accompanying you. So I will join you." The two women went to Rootville, acting as non-chalantly as possible to not arouse suspicion. The door that had always been locked previously opened with the key the man in the bar had given Asellus. Slime was waiting for them inside. It hit a switch that revealed a secret passage to some caves behind a bookshelf. "Where did you find out about all this?" White Rose asked, surprised by the scale of the operation they were taking a part of. "Ciato told me about it," Asellus answered, ducking her head into the cave, looking around before they entered. "Ciato? How odd..." she mumbled to herself. Monsters roamed the caves they traveled through. The practice Ildon had provided proved useful in defeating the beasties that go in their way. When they came to the end of the passages, they discovered (to their dismay) that no one was waiting for them. "We've been double-crossed!" Asellus was furious. Ildon and an escort of guards from the chateau had closely followed them. White Rose bowed her head in defeat. "Don't worry about it. Perhaps I can talk our way out of this." "That's something you'll have to discuss with our Lord," Ildon announced. The guards rushed into the cavern, effectively trapping the two women. There were only two ways out; one was the blocked cave they'd taken to get here. The other was a steep cliff that promised nothing but a brutal death to anyone foolish enough to separate themselves from the ledge. "NO! I refuse to go back!" Asellus backed up to the ledge. "Asellus!" The fear of White Rose's voice was unmistakable. "I'd rather die then have to return to the chateau!" She announced before jumping off the ledge. Everyone was too stunned by this sudden turn of events to move forward. They were even more stunned when it turned out that she had leapt onto the wing of the craft she and White Rose would be escaping on. "Sorry I'm late," the pilot called. "Hop on!" White Rose jumped forward, catching her hand in Asellus'. The younger woman smiled encouragingly at her. Ildon was livid. "How dare you bring that mechanized FILTH here!" His orders to turn around and land were quickly drown out by the distance that grew between them. ********** The pilot pulled them in for a smooth landing at Owmi. "Again, I'm sorry about being late in picking you up. I won't charge you fare for this ride and for the next. How does that sound?" The pilot offered once they were in port. "We need to do some maintenance on the plane. Why don't you have a look around the city and come back in a while?" Owmi was a port city situated by a lake. A gently flowing river ran through the middle of the city with a bridge connecting the two halves. Fishing was a major industry, providing not only a good portion of a native's diet, but a way of life for many residents. On a hill, not far from the city proper, the Lord of Owmi built a manor. Its current owner was a well-off citizen of the town. The two women stopped on the bridge that connected the town and admired some petals that were drifting in the current. "These are forming letters," White Rose informed Asellus in an undertone. "Can you read them?" She asked, amazed at the diversity of skills her companion displayed. "It's a message from some water mystics. One of their daughters is missing. Water mystics are reclusive by nature, it's rare for you to ever see one," she explained. "I wonder..." They continued to mill about the town. Many of the citizens were proud to talk about their hometown. A few told of a mermaid that was caught in a fishing net and taken by the man living in the Owmi Manor. They approached the owner of the manor. At first, he denied knowing anything about the mermaid, but admitted it on second thought. Asellus asked to speak with her. He was reluctant since the mermaid hadn't spoken to anyone since coming under his care, but relented with some persuasion. They asked to speak with her alone, so that she would be at ease. "I smell noble blood and human blood," the water mystic said when they came in the door. "You're right on both counts," Asellus approached the small pool that she was being held in. "I am half-mystic." "Lord Orlouge's blood runs through her veins," White Rose amended. The water mystic blanched. "I mean no offense, my Lady! My life would end if I offended my Lord Orlouge." "I'm not him," she reminded with a slight smile. "What is your name?" "I am Mesarthim. I was caught in a fishing net and injured. I want to go home. The stench of humans is stifling." "We will get you home, don't worry," Asellus promised. They approached the manor owner with Mesarthim between them. They wanted to take her for a walk around the manor. Again, he was reluctant, but agreed after insistent that they don't leave the grounds with her. There was another way to the sea from the manor via the basement. They fought many monsters, including a giant squid. With Mesarthim returned to her home, Asellus reflected upon the man's predicament. "Humans and mystics can't live together," she decided. Thinking of how his love for the water mystic had nearly killed her. White Rose didn't offer her opinion of the matter. **********