Into The Unown

The Locked Memories - part 4

The smoke inside the hut thickened. Ash coughed, waving it away with his hands, but it was no use. The air was too dense to see through.

"Serena?" he called out between his coughing bouts. "Gary?"

"I'm here!" Gary's voice rang out, muffled but near. "Ash, take my hand!"

After some struggle, their hands found each other. The moment they made contact, the world shifted.

They were pulled into another memory, forgotten in time.

This time, they found themselves standing inside the round table chamber. Rain pattered softly against the tall windows. Eiran stood by one of them, watching the water slide down the glass.

The door slammed open. But it wasn't Luke.

It was Xenos.

"I'm starting to think neither of you understand the concept of knocking," Eiran muttered.

"You're sending me away to Johto?" she demanded, her voice sharp with disbelief.

"It's for your own good."

"I'm getting better," she said quickly. "My health is improving. The illness is retreating. You know that."

"It doesn't matter," Eiran said, turning back to the window. "Your presence here is driving my court against me. It's time for you to go."

Xenos's breath hitched. "Do I mean that little to you?"

There was a pause.

Then Eiran said, without looking at her—too quickly, too flatly, "You mean nothing to me."

The scene shifted again.

Ash and Gary stood in the corner of a dimly lit infirmary.

Eiran burst through the doors, his cloak soaked from the storm which was brewing outside. In his arms was an injured Luke, with one arrow sticking out from his leg and another from his arm. He gently let him down on the bed. The healers rushed from behind.

"How is she?" Eiran asked gently.

"She's stable," the healer draped in white answered. "Lost blood, but the wound didn't hit anything vital. She's resting."

Eiran gave a gentle nod. He pressed Luke's shoulder, giving him a gentle pat. "We were ambushed," he said simply.

"Who?" Eiran's voice was cold.

"I don't know," Luke replied, "but it wasn't just a robbery. Someone wanted her dead."

Eiran's eyes narrowed. "I'll handle it."

When the scene shifted again, Ash was back inside the great hall whose walls Xenos had shattered at her hearing.

The storm outside the walls had greatly dimmed the glory of the courtroom. The nobles who were gathered under torchlight looked worried.

Eiran stood at the head of the chamber. Luke was by his side, now patched up. On the opposite end, Lord Xavier stood before the gathered council, his hands were bound in the same chains Xenos wore in Ash's last dreams, but much smaller.

"It was you," Eiran said. He gave no explanation, only an accusation.

Xavier stepped forward, "I won't stand here and be accused. That girl—she's dangerous."

The chamber roared in accusations, but everything died down after Eiran held up his hand.

"What do you mean?" He asked in a calm voice.

"She's a Van Black," Xavier said, voice rising. "You can't see it because you coddle her like a wife-to-be. She is a symbol of everything we fought against."

Luke flinched beside Eiran.

Xavier continued, "Mark my words, she is a poison. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But when the time comes, and she betrays you... don't say I didn't warn you. If all you just want to bed her, you don't need to woe her, tie her up and then get it over with. You shall see no judgement from us. But mark my words, Eiran—kill her before she kills us all."

"She is a child," Eiran stood up, "and you would murder an innocent to soothe your fears."

"She's not innocent," Xavier growled. "You just refuse to see it."

Eiran took a deep breath. "The court knows what happens to traitors who attack our own. I, Eiran Raider, condemn you to exile."

Eiran raised his hand and a streak of blue aura, as dark as the storm outside,  surged, blasting Xavier until the man crumpled into a heap of unconscious body.

Eiran said. "You will no longer serve this or any court. All of your titles and the land of Unova goes to his eldest son. If you ever set foot in this country again, I will execute you myself." He turned towards the rest of the court, "The kingdom of Kanto will never bend to the ghosts of wars and shadows of the past. If anyone wishes to counter me, speak now, or forever hold your tongue."

The court stayed silent.

"Very well," Eiran continued, "I declare Xenos to be part of this kingdom, now and till the end of time. The session is adjourned."

As the nobles started to leave, Eiran said. "Xenos will stay here, Luke, by my side, if she wishes."

Luke didn't argue, "Very well, I shall send over my mother'ss textbooks."

Eiran's lips curled into a smile. "I did the right thing,"

Luke nodded, "But you managed to alienate the whole court against you."