Black Crystal Part 1 - The Origin

Chapter Seventeen ~ The Bell's Chime

That day in the City of Eugene was quite pleasant, and considering that they were always surrounded by people trying to see Lenora, they felt pretty confident that the Bishop wouldn't be able to find them. They finally regained their strength after receiving care from Millicent and Horace, and were able to tell tales of their travels from their small village hundreds of miles south to the big city they were in now. They were always telling people their tale, from how Lenora was found in their village from out of nowhere, with no memory as to how she got there, how they combatted demons, how they discovered secrets in the Grants Pass Village Temple, how the Bishop betrayed all four of them, and they were not afraid to admit that he was coming after them.

"Then we'll combat the bastard if he dares to step foot into our city!" Horace exclaimed. "Rest assured, your highness; we promise to keep you and your friends safe!"

They were at peace in the City of Eugene. And only after a day, they were already wonderful friends of Millicent's and Horace's. There were only a few creeps who were about them, trying to get Lenora, but with the masses usually always around them, the creeps were quickly dealt with. By nighttime, they had retired to the inn again, but they were all outside around a bonfire, sitting with Millicent and Horace.

"What do you kids think of our city?" Millicent asked. Lucius scoffed and rose his glass of tea.

"It's a wonderful city," he said. "It's certainly far larger than our small village."

"I'd say it perhaps pales in comparison to the Capitol City," Horace replied. "Ain't that right, Princess?"

"Well, the Capitol is certainly quite large," Lenora replied. "I love it here, though, don't get me wrong! I just can't wait to get back home. I've been missing my parents."

"Oh, sweetie, I can imagine so." Millicent grabbed Lenora's hand and looked at her with a compassionate smile. "I can promise you, though—we'll get you home safely. The King and Queen must be worried sick about you right now!" They went silent and stared into the crackling fire. Millicent sighed and looked up in the sky. The stars were visible that night, even after the cloudy weather of autumn. "Beautiful, ain't they? You don't get to see 'em often during autumn." Everyone else followed suit and watched the stars in the sky. Garen sighed with content. It was absolutely peaceful. He couldn't be happier, either. Soon, he'd be able to live in the Capitol with the Royal Family, which meant he and Lenora would never have to part ways.

* * *

He won't stop coming after you... he won't stop coming after Lenora... Garen, you have to promise me that my sword will be put to good use.

The same woman's voice that told Garen the truth behind the Bishop spoke in his mind as he slept. Your sword...? Garen thought to himself in his subconscious mind. Well, who ARE you...? Almost as if it was in response to his question, the emptiness of his subconscious faded to white.

The bell of a temple in the center of the city began to ring early in the morning. It was ringing earlier than usual, which General Anita Leonhart thought to be unusual.

Wait a minute... Anita Leonhart?

Suddenly, a massive city came into view. People were all over the place, running about in a panic as the bell rang. The woman Garen saw in his last dream, Anita, came into view, holding that familiar sword again. It looked as if Anita was panicking like the rest of the townspeople, frantically looking for someone. "JOHN!" Anita shouted. "John! Where are you!?" She began to run through the massive crowds of panicking people and looked north towards what Garen assumed to be the Castle of the Capitol City. "He must be in there," Anita whispered and promptly ran towards the Castle. Garen could practically feel what Anita was feeling—panic, fear, and regret. But why regret? It was a very heavy feeling, almost like Anita had done something she wish she hadn't done.

She finally came to the front gates of the Castle and the guards let her in without hesitation. "Lady Anita..." one of the guards spoke meekly, but Anita walked right past him. Her walk broke into a sprint as she headed towards the interior of the Castle. The bell was still ringing all throughout the Capitol City, loudly. And with each toll, Anita's heart practically skipped a beat.

"John, you'd better be alive," Anita whispered to herself as she stormed through the Castle. Garen could sense that panic within her as if he himself was Anita. It was such an intense feeling of fear, unlike anything Garen had ever experienced. The feeling was so strong, it was as if the world was ending around Anita. The world slowly began to fade, and Garen could feel himself shouting.

Anita! John! He exclaimed in his subconscious. There was a feeling inside of him, as if he knew who those people were. I'm here! I'm alive! I'm begging you... please don't die for me!