Conspiracy for Feelings
Yes, I realize I don't own the characters...sob I'm sorry if there are any misspelling, out-of-character moments, wrong info., etc. but I'm certainly going to try my best to get this right! Hopefully...I warn ya that Nel is probably going to be most out of character because I swear she's evil and impossible to write...but I'll try anyway. Oh yeah, there's lots of switching around too...so be warned. ()
7/21/05 EDIT: For some reason this chapter was gone and apparently had been for a while. oO Ah well, all fixed. I'm not sure how many mistakes are in here now because I recall having to fix a lot of 'em back in the day and I don't remember if I saved them in the original file or not (which was what I had to retrieve this from). So if there are mistakes, I apologize.
Chapter One
"I won't fail," Albel grinned confidently to his father. Glou put his hand on his son's shoulder.
"I know you won't. Now go show everyone else how strong the Nox blood is!" he smiled. Albel smiled excitedly, accepting his father's faith. He knew there was only a 30 percent chance of success, but he assumed he couldn't lose since his father is the captain of the dragon brigade.
"I won't let you down!" Albel quickly waved and ran off for the Accession of the Flame to begin. The captain of the Dragon Brigade anxiously watched Albel walk slowly towards the relatively large air dragon. Albel took a deep breath and stepped forth to the dragon. And so Accession of the Flame began.
Albel couldn't remember exactly what happened next after challenging the dragon, but one fact was clear-he failed. He couldn't believe it, but he knew what was to come-he was to be killed, burned up by the dragon. He bowed his head in disgrace, accepting his fate as a failure to the Nox name. He could see the dragon raising its head and beginning to open its mouth, flames building.
As the flames began to shoot towards him, Albel braced himself for his death when he realized someone just ran in front of him. Albel looked up with terrified eyes as he saw his father being destroyed, being completely reduced to dust.
"Father!" Albel cried, reaching forward with his left arm trying to grab him in a foolish effort knowing that he was the one who should be burning right now. His arm touched the flame and began to burn. Albel cried out, closing his eyes shut in the pain, and fell backwards. When he opened his eyes, he horrifyingly saw he was missing his left arm from the elbow down. Looking up to where his father had stood, was nothing but a pile of burnt remains.
"Father...Father!" Albel screamed, gripping his left arm tight with his good hand. The other men came rushing to him, some asking if he was okay and some screaming "Look what you've done! Our Captain--!" Albel hardly noticed though, just staring frighteningly at the remains and trying to hold back his tears.
"Father...!" Albel hissed, waking up from his dream. He sat up and closed his eyes, resting his head on his good arm and trying to forget that night. He cursed himself in his mind for being unable to forget, he knew he needed to forget. Why did he sacrifice himself for me! I should've died that day...! he thought, opening his eyes and suddenly filled with anger. He got out of bed and got dressed quickly, feeling like the castle was suddenly going to suffocate him if he didn't get out now.
"Guard, have you seen Albel?" Woltar asked one of the guards.
"No sir," he replied, shaking his head.
"I see...well if you see him, tell him I need to speak with him," Woltar answered and began to continue his walk down the hall. It was strange that Albel was not up now yelling at the guards or whoever else irritated him.
"Ah...Fayt, Nel. May I inquire why you are here this morning?" Woltar asked, stopping as he saw Fayt and Nel walking towards him.
"We need to speak to Albel," Fayt explained. "We need his assistance."
"The Majesty has requested it," Nel added.
"Well, that's certainly their odd. Albel seems to have made a habit of not being around when he's needed this morning. I'll go see if he's up," Woltar smiled, beginning to head toward Albel's room with Fayt and Nel following behind.
"Albel? Are you awake?" he knocked on the door, but no one responded. "This is certainly odd..." Woltar opened the door and was surprised to see that he was not there-no Albel was in sight and a few of his belongings were gone as well.
"Where is he?" Fayt asked, peeking inside the barren room. Woltar gave a heavy sigh.
"This isn't the first time he's run off...it could be days or weeks until he decides to come back, considering it is rare we are actually able to find him," Woltar replied softly.
"What?" Fayt exclaimed.
"Where do you think we might find him?" Nel sighed, getting irritated with Albel's reckless behavior.
"...I'm not sure. But I'm sure he had a good reason for leaving, although his timing should have been reconsidered." Nel and Fayt both sighed and mumbled, "We'll be back..." and trudged off. Woltar could not figure out where he could have possibly gone-usually his nightmares would leave him in a fit and he'd start wrecking havoc almost immediately. But leaving so quietly...it didn't make sense. Where are you, boy?
Albel stared at the writing on the grave before him, feeling the words "Glou Nox" beating in his mind. Why? Albel thought to himself angrily. What did you see in me that you decided to spare me and let yourself be taken? Albel would normally consider any sacrifice a foolish action, but when it was dealing with his father...he didn't know what to call it. After all, his father was the bravest and smartest man he'd known.
He sighed and took a seat before the grave. It slowly began to rain, but he took no notice. He didn't care how long he'd have to sit there before it made sense-it had been bothering him far too long already.
"That man is just too reckless and unpredictable...And he calls us fools...," Nel grumbled miserably. They'd been searching for a long while with no luck.
"I'm sure he has a reason. He only does things when he feels he has a reason to do them," Fayt said, trying to calm Nel somewhat since she was growing irritated.
"Maybe if he explained his reasoning before killing everyone he meets or just plain leaving, then maybe I would try to be somewhat understanding," Nel responded, her voice somewhere in between calm and an irritated growl. Fayt just sighed.
"Well...," he began, his eyes wandering and still searching. "Albel?" Fayt stopped, staring to his right. Nel stopped too and followed his view.
"Why's he in a graveyard? I can't imagine Nox mourning, or even caring that someone died," Nel said, confused but still curious.
"Albel?" Albel glanced behind him to see who had called him, but then turned back to the cold grave before him. It began to rain harder.
"Albel, Woltar needs to talk to you as do we. Come on." Fayt paused. "Why are you here anyway...?" Albel didn't respond right away, making Fayt a little nervous. Nel on the other hand just watched calmly from a distance.
"You're lucky, Fayt," Albel said as he got up, and then turned to face him. He had his usual smirk, but there was hint of something else...sadness? That couldn't be right.
"Huh?" Fayt replied, trying to figure out what Albel meant. Albel shrugged and walked a little past Fayt before continuing. "At least your father's sacrifice proved to be worth it." Fayt was surprised, as was Nel who was having trouble comprehending Albel being the one to say those words. Albel shrugged and started walking back towards Airyglyph.
"Come on, you were making it sound important and now you're not moving? Worthless maggots."
"Where were you, boy? We might have to lock you up at night just so you don't run off on us...But I'm glad you didn't destroy anything this time. I suppose your journey with Fayt has changed you some, eh?" Woltar said calmly, and then smiled.
"You're senile, old man. What makes you really think I've changed. I just didn't feel like killing someone. But if you really want me to, I'll be happy to do so. As for where I was, that is none of your concern." Albel just shrugged the old man off and was about to leave when he remembered why he was there to begin with. "Oh, so what was it you wanted old man?"
"Nothing too important, it's just that you have no wife nor children...You realize that the king will choose you as heir? You should extremely consider it...In fact, I order you to do it," Woltar answered smugly.
"Who said I wanted to get married! Who said I wanted to be the next king! Stop trying to set out my life for me!" Albel slammed his good hand against the wall in frustration, angry that Woltar was also telling him to do something.
"You know your father would want the same for you..."
"Just shut up old man!" Albel left, slamming the door behind him. Woltar couldn't help but smile at Albel's reaction. When Albel got outside, he was taken a little off guard to see Fayt and Nel waiting.
"What was that about?" Fayt asked.
"Nothing that concerns you, fool," Albel said bitterly. Nel shook her head.
"Anyway, Albel, we require your assistance. The Majesty has requested it," Nel told him.
"Since when have I worked for Aquios scum?" Albel questioned.
"Watch your tongue, Nox!" Nel yelled.
"So, what is this problem that you need my assistance for?" Albel sighed, feeling bored with them already.
"There are some ruins near the mountains we've been told to investigate, but there are too many dragons for us to get through," Fayt explained.
"You know I'm not fond of dragons. Why not get someone from the dragon brigade?"
"You're the only one we trust." Albel flinched at the words.
"Bah." Albel paused, thinking. "I guess I could assist you. It's better than what Woltar wanted me to do."
"What did he want you to do?" Fayt inquired, wondering what Woltar could have asked that had upset Albel.
"What is this, gossip hour? Let's go already," Albel snapped impatiently.
"Alright..." So they headed off, still confused but knowing better than to try and get Albel to talk. Meanwhile...
"Did he go?" King Airyglyph XIII asked Woltar.
"He did. I have a feeling things will turn out quite well for him in the end."
"I agree. It's hard to ignore how he looks at her when she's around, not to mention how hard he tries to ignore her..."
"But what about Fayt? Won't he meddle a little? I have a feeling that would cause a little trouble..."
"Don't worry Woltar, we talked to that one girl last she visited. She'll take care of him."
"Ah, I see. Good work sir."
Oi, that was a long chapter...I actually wasn't intending on doing chapters, but I ended up writing too much so...yeah...
Next chapter: Maria came, and then they left...