Summoning Woes

Ch 7 - Cornered

There was something different about Klavier’s way of playing the piano. It sounded more soulful, mixed with melancholy and hope stirred together with a cello and a violin into a piece of coherent music that took her mind into a parallel universe. Memories reeled in her mind’s eye, reminiscing the moments of Alice’s birth and the new desire that burned within to protect the infant. Her vision started to distort like she was looking through a body of water. She blinked, wiping the tears off her eyes fast enough before Klavier turned around. He raised his eyebrows as their stares locked on each other for a split second.

“Did something happen?” he said with a gentle grin.

“I just remembered something, that’s all.”

“Must be a bitter one,” he stashed the white sword on his waist as he rose from his seat.

“No, not really. But still, I wished that father would allow me to show myself to her…”

“You mean Alice?”

“Yeah,” her eyes lit with a hint of enthusiasm.

“The time will come.”

“But how can that happen without father ever knowing?”

“He doesn’t need to know.”

“What?”

“He doesn’t need to know about it,” he turned his back on her, walking out of the piano room before she could throw any more questions at him.

She wasn’t about to let him get away with her question left unanswered like that. She dashed towards the exit, reaching out for Klavier when a beam of light flashed on her. The environment around her turned bloody, shadows of soldiers charging into battle only to be slaughtered by human-like creatures that wielded unearthly powers. In the carnage was a platinum-haired man, the solidness in his grey eyes shown nothing more apart from the desire of the widespread destruction. On his hand was a great sword whose guard resembled that of angel wings. He stared right back at her, mouthing the words “The end is near” before charging towards her at an inhuman speed akin to teleporting.

Elza awoke abruptly, the aftershocks of the dream replaying in her mind. He wasn’t about to disappear just when Bariura Empire needs him, would he? No, it was a very real possibility. After all, she was the one who took him from Themis’s care against his will. She tossed herself out of the bed, donning her battle equipment, picking the scythe that leaned against the wall and stormed out of the room. She zipped through the countless pathways and flight of stairs, unable to shake off the cryptic message he sent in that dream.

The air around her started to feel heavy as she approached Klavier’s room. It couldn’t have been that gravity decided to pull her down harder. Rather, it seemed like there was an intruder, a very strong one for that person to release an aura that threatened to smother her. She lightened her footsteps, keeping her body low as she snuck up towards the top of the tower when she noticed an orange haired man stand in front of Klavier’s room with his arms folded. She leaned against the wall, studying his movements but all he did was yawn or dig his ear with his black claws. Perhaps he wasn’t a dangerous person-

“Hmph, you’re the first person who dares to stalk me,” his voice reverberated in her ears, sending shock waves that shook her to the core. “Second Imperial Princess, Elza.”

“Who are you?” she withdrew from her hiding, clenching the handle of her scythe.

“Your worst nightmare. Pfft, that was cheesy. Maybe I should try another one.”

“You’d best leave, stranger. Do so and your life will be spared.”

“Oh? If you’re going to spare my life, then what about Klavier’s?”