Cross Ange: The Knight of Hilda

Chapter 22: The Fallen Prince

"Tomorrow?" Hilda repeated. "At noon?"

"That is correct," Salamandinay answered. "We finally received word from Lizardia yesterday. She has located where Aura has been imprisoned off the coast of the Velda Dynasty. Already, the different clans are gathering for the assault." It was early in the morning, before even breakfast, and Salamandinay had come by their quarters at the shrine to invite Ange and Hilda to join her at the onsen. Hanging on the very edge of the waterfall, the spring gave a panoramic view of the valley and the city underneath.

"Why are you telling us this?" Ange wondered. "Is this another ploy to win me over?"

"Not at all," Sala said. "You may do as you please. You may stay here or you may return to your world. I simply wished to inform you all of the situation. Of course, I will admit, with you and your friends on our side...our chances of victory would be increased." Ange didn't answer. "I understand. It is a lot to consider. You need not give your answer yet. Now then, I have a favor to ask. Hilda, might I borrow Sir Rio for the day?"

"Borrow?" Hilda asked, her voice betraying her suspicion.

"You needn't worry. I have no desire to take him for myself," Sala assured her. "There is something that I would like to give him. Something that I think he will find most useful."

"What exactly?" Ange asked as Sala stood up out of the onsen.

"Before I answer that, there is something about Rio I think you both should know."

Atop the back of the Schooner, Rio followed behind Salamandinay as the land underneath gave way to the endless blue of the ocean. He still wasn't sure what he was doing here. He and Tusk had just finished a light sparing session and had sat down to breakfast when the Sala and the girls came in. Hilda had told him he needed to go with Sala but hadn't explained why other than 'she needed to show him something.'

"So how much farther is it?" he asked over the headset she had given him for communication.

"Only a few more minutes," Sala assured him. "I've already sent word of our arrival. And Gila is very eager to meet you." That didn't exactly set his mind at ease. If this Gila was anything like Dr. Gecko then he could expect anything from dissection to what Tusk went through. Plus there were other things he had hoped to do today. Top of the list of was that energy from yesterday. It wasn't the Light of Mana. Aside from Embryo stripping his Mana from him it just didn't feel the same. The Light of Mana flowed into him from the outside. Or rather leeched off of Aura as he now knew. But the energy he had used to save Lamia wasn't from an external source. Rather it felt as if it came from inside him. So where did it come from? "So tell me," Sala suddenly said, "how did you obtain your name?"

"Huh?"

"Your name. Rio...what does it mean?" Rio wasn't prepared for that. How could he explain it in a way that she would even understand.

"Well traditionally it's an ancient word that means river. However, I took it from Rio Starr."

"Rio...Starr?" she repeated.

"Rio Starr was a character in an anime I watched as a kid. He was an outlaw. A wandering spacer. Sometimes a criminal, sometimes a hero. He lived by his own code rather than what society deemed was right. When I joined the Network, I couldn't help but notice the parallels between himself and me so I figured why not." Sala didn't answer. "I know I'm a geek. I've heard it all before."

"I don't understand. What is a 'geek'?"

"You know," Rio explained, "a dork, a nerd, a loser."

"Why would that make you a loser?" she asked. "Clearly you admired this Rio Starr and the ideals he stood for. And they undoubtedly played a role in your breaking free of our enemy's control. If possible, I would like to hear more of him if you so choose. Ah, we have arrived." Looking up, Rio saw an island looming on the horizon. Like Tusk's island, it was dominated by a low, jungle covered mountain although this one was about ten times as big. In the center of the coast facing them, a near perfect half-circle cove had been cut out of the rock. Something about that cove seemed familiar to him yet he couldn't put his finger on it. As soon as they were overhead, both Enryugo and his mount descended towards the rocky crags overlooking the cove's rear where a landing pad had been carved out of the stone. No sooner had they disembarked then from a nearby doorway, a female DRAGON rushed out to greet them. She had long black hair and wore glasses over her large dark eyes. As she ran forward, Rio also couldn't help noticing her rather prominent chest which bounced with each step.