Chapter 8.5: The Demon's Reign: Trials (J&K)

"Hey?"

"Mffph."

"If you don't wake up, I really don't care."

"Arrrtherrrlospski."

"Huh?"

"Mffph."

Kriel sighed. Jarald seemed to be a heavy sleeper, and would not wake up. Which caused quite a problem.

"I don't know where the rendezvous area is.. JARALD!"

"Forthyerd."

"Courtyard?"

"Mffph."

Now that he acquired the location, Kriel proceeded to leave, but stopped and gazed at the sleeping squire.

"Argh..." He approached Jarald, and shook him vigorously. Kriel didn't expect the squire to grab him and throw him against the wall.

"Ow..." The king felt sore, as if he'd been flattened.

"Oh. Sorry." Jarald had woken up, and looked at Kriel with an amused expression. Kriel felt resentment, and picked himself up and stamped out the door.

"..Not my problem." Jarald muttered to himself, and started getting ready.

"Jarald Heindikey."

"Yes sir."

"Harald Heindikey."

"Yes..sir."

(Apparantly H comes after J. Who knew? Or maybe they're just standing in that order.)

As the Knightmaster went down the row of squires, one squire next to Kriel nudged him.

"Harald, what's different with your face?"

"Huh?"

"You look pretty grim."

"Oh..uh..Jarald threw me against the wall. Still a bit sore."

"Again? He's such a bastard. How do you live with him?"

"Uhm..." Kriel didn't know what to say. Jarald noticed however.

"Quiet Barvoski." Jarald snarled.

Barvoski just sneered. "Or what? You're gonna beat the shet out of me? You know if you do that, you'll get you and your brother kicked."

Kriel flinched slightly as Jarald spat on the ground at Barvoski's feet. "I have better things to waste time on you cur."

The squire's face turned bright red, and socked Jarald in the jaw. He responded with a tackle.

Silvyen the Knightmaster scurried over to the fighting squires.

"Break it up. Now."The cold in his voice seemed to literally freeze the two scuffling boys. They stood up and saluted, both sprouting injuries.

"Jarald. Come with me." Barvoski smirked in Jarald's face as he gritted his teeth.

"Barvoski, ten runs around the fields." The squire's mouth fell open in shock, and Jarald snickered under his breath.

"Sir.." Kriel muttered. "I'm coming too..."

"Harald, you can't always defend your brother you know." He caught Kriel's determined face, and sighed. "Very well..."

"Ow.." Harald had a sore feeling in his jaw, and wondered if he was getting a toothache. He rolled over, still musing over the experience of sleeping in a soft bed. "Kriel must be unused to ours." he muttered to himself, and sat up.

The room, which seemed much friendlier in the morning light, was completely surrounded by books. Thick ones, thins ones, well-worn, new, leather covers, or just plain paper bound, they were stacked in neat piles or shelved. A small desk of cherry stood in the corner, with scrolled parchments and a ink well, while a dresser propped up against another. A small table set stood in front of a cold, dead fireplace, with a basket of steaming loaves inside. A rainbow of lights splashed across the oak floor, and as Harald tumbled out of the bed, he landed on a firm, red velvet rug with a pattern of leaves scattered around it. Besides the carved designs of the furniture, and the bed, it looked like a miniature version of the castle's library.

"I would enjoy having a room like this." Harald grinned, and helped himself to a loaf.

A scrolled parchment was placed upon the dresser. The squire broke the seal, and Kriel's fine, spidery script jumped out.

To J or H (In hope you can read.):

Considering that you have no idea what I do, I wrote down what I usually do this moon. You don't have to follow though.

First off, clothes are in a box underneath the encyclopedias. I got your measurements from the tailor's, and had garments made.

Please take care of my books, graphs, maps, and sketches. I would be most angered if anything happens to them.

Usually, during workdays, I am in the gardens in the morning, until 12 o' clock. I've arranged lunch in the courtyard, alone, so you won't have to run into anyone. After lunch, I tend to either head to the library or observatory for four hours or so. At seven, I head out for an hour outside of the castle, then retreat at eight for supper in my room. I usually wander or stay in my room until ten, so during this time you can visit your brother, SECRETLY.

Restdays are spent the same way in the mornings, and after that I wander outside castle grounds. I suggest you take a weapon with you, and saddle my horse Epona.

Pelros in the Observatory can help you if you have any questions.

Enjoy your time. You'll enjoy the food, definitely.

Kriel.

Harald chuckled as he read the last sentence. Instead of rolling up the parchment, he instead tore it apart so no one else would be able to find it.

He searched for the box, found it, and clothed himself.

The squire left the room, and headed for the gardens

Kriel waited outside of the Knightmaster's room, feeling a bit sick from nervousness.

He had been standing there for a while, hoping Jarald wouldn't get in trouble, since he was complete ignorant of squire matters.

In fact, it was like an esoteric lifestyle to him.

"Hey Harald!" The king almost jumped in shock upon hearing soneone's call.

What do I do!?!?!? Kriel started to panic, as a boy and a girl approached him. Fortune though, seemed to be on his side, for Jarald just walked out the door.

"Oh-" was all he could get before the girl tackled Jarald.

"Seriya!" The boy rushed to pull her off. "Sorry again."

To Kriel's amazement though, Jarald just grinned, and brushed himself off.

"Hai Jarald and Harald kun~" Seriya squeaked. She lengthened her r's, which led Kriel to suspect she was a foreigner.

"Hey Seri. Hey Sol."

Sol was looking over 'Harald' with a searching gaze. He tried to clear his throat several times.

"Uh..Jarald, I dont-"

Kriel cut in quickly. "I gotta go. I'll see ya guys later." He sped out of the hallway, leaving the others in stunned silence.

"So, right, Sol!" Seriya giggled. Both of them turned to the apalled twin for explanation.

"That Harald is not Harald?" The trio jumped at the voice of Silvyen as he came up behind him.

"I-I can explain." Jarald stuttered as the three questioned him with their stares.

He hoped Kriel wouldn't mind.

Meanwhile, Kriel was heading towards the castle's library, still a bit frizzled after the near revelation of his status.

But he didn't feel confident that Jarald would be able to explain.

Arghh, I'm such an idiot, he cursed himself. The king then stopped, feeling the chilling shivers as if someone was watching him.

"Anyone there!?" he called out, voice a bit high, mixed with panic and nervousness.

Nothing answered.

Kriel shrugged and tried to convince himself that it was all imagination, that his nervousness made him believe something was watching him.

But in a corner of his mind, suspicion still lurked, trying to warn him. The sense of foreboding grew larger, and he decided to get that.

Before he head to the storage rooms, Kriel looked around one last time, giving into his suspicions, but there was nothing there..

"Lira Avol." Kriel muttered the words under his breath while picturing light, and sure enough, clear blue hovering ball of light appeared around shoulder height, lighting up the dark weaponry.

He had felt foreboding, as something bad was to happen, and decided to arm himself.

He stumbled a bit, tripping over boxes that he thought were shadows.

At the very corner, the dark hid a long slim box made of ghostly white ivory. Red rubies ornamented the box and glimmered in the bluish light, shimmering mystically as if they were burning with flame from their hearts.

"Lova Aril." The light went out, leaving the king in darkness. But not for long.

He blew gently on the box, and it responded with a warm glow of crimson

Something inside it clicked, and out slid a glowing, but very faintly, sword, similar to an Italian style dueling rapier. It was silver from tip to hilt, and a ice blue sapphire was set. Words were written, and as Kriel tilted it, they shone in gold.

Moda Quade Necess ne neque ol Calig

Only when needed and never for darkness.

"Never for darkness, huh." Kriel smiled grimly. "No one ever stays pure.."

And with that, Kriel sheathed his mother's sword in a black sheath. "Lira Avol." And left the weaponry.

The box shut with a sigh, as if it was in reminisce.

Kriel abruptly met, no slammed into Harald in the hall.

"Ow.." The squire rubbed his arm, and Kriel felt as if he'd been thrown against the wall again.

"Oh, hey."

Harald grinned. "What's been up so far? Enjoying the new life?"

"It's just the first day." Kriel didn't have anything new to say, except for that lingering feeling.

"Have you've ever felt as if you're being watched, Harald...?"

Harald frowned and scratched his head. "...Not at all."The king sighed in relief, but it caught in his throat with the next words, "but, on the day we switched, I thought something was watching me..."

Kriel felt hurtingly sick, as if he had come down with a stomach ache. The world whirled and threten to overwhelm him, and it was moments before he heard the twin's next words.

"..been bothering me lately, but what made you pale when I gave you our story?"

"Huh?" Kriel tried to recall...and was met with the painful memories of the past. Darnit. Harald might see him cry, and that might give it away. Darnit, no, no, you fool!

Unfortunately for Kriel, Harald was a keen observer.

"What's wrong..?" Harald had never seen Kriel in a state like this so far. He always seemed cold and far, from the clutches of the warmth.

He was reminded by a small memory, of his mother, with the same style of guard, and position.

In fact, Kriel acted exactly like she did, when she was hiding something of pain.

He wondered why he never noticed before, but the king's posture bright images of Seriya to mind.

Feeling immensely off guard and awkward, he uttered the question. "Kriel...are..you a girl?"

Notes: WHEW. I think this is shorter than Chapter 8 by a bit, poor poor Kriel, he gets the question twice in both paths!

I feel sad for Jarald too. Mercy of the trio.

Lol Epona again.

As you can see, Seriya still has a fail Japanese action. Wow, you can see a lot of Kriel's thoughts here.

I don't know if you can tell if a person is a girl or a boy from how they're acting.

COMMENT PLOX.