The True Ruler of Solaris(Xenogears)
by T.Avery
Comments: Here's my two cents on Krelian. ^^; It's not as good as some of the other Krelian stories, but I think I was one of the first people that I know of to write about him....just the last to finish. >< Anyway, I tried to touch on every aspect of his life. Before Nisan, Nisan, after Nisan....Solaris...¬_¬;;;; Also I got just about all the information from the Guardian Angels' page. ^_^
Chapter One
The woman smiles down at me and tucks the blankets
around me tighter. She has long, blue hair and blue eyes like me.
She turns away and seems to crumble before my eyes as
her frail body is wracked by a horrible cough. Another
woman comes to her aid and leads her away from me.
That was the last I saw of her.
"Krelian?" a soft voice said.
Krelian blinked. "Huh? Oh. Hello Elhaym."
The girl smiled and tucked a strand of light auburn hair behind her ear. "Are you all right? Lacan told me that you had been out of it lately."
Krelian smiled at her thinly. "I’m fine. Where is Lacan anyway?"
Elly paused for a moment and looked around the small house the army of Nimrod had been gracious enough to give them. Her blue eyes lighted on the basement door and she gestured toward it. "He’s down there painting."
"Painting?" Krelian asked raising an eyebrow in mild amazement. "I didn’t know Lacan could paint."
Elly nodded. "He’s pretty good at it."
Krelian got up and went down into the basement. Sure enough, there was Lacan standing in front of an easel his tongue between his lips and his brow furrowed in concentration as he painted a few more strokes on the picture. The boy batted at the fly that seemed content to land on his nose and ended up flinging blue paint onto the wall and himself. He groaned and batted at the fly again now putting a streak of green on his forehead.
Krelian shook his head , and Elly giggled when he turned in their direction giving them a full view of his now colorful clothing and his obvious frustration.
"Stupid fly," Lacan muttered wiping the sweat from his face. He glared at Elly as she lost complete control of herself and began to laugh harder. "What?"
Elly cleared her throat, took one of the clean cloths hanging from a nail near the easel, and wiped the paint from Lacan’s face. She only succeeded in smearing most of it together, creating quite a nice blue green color, but getting very little of the paint off. "Uh…I think you better go take a bath," she laughed.
Krelian noticed Lacan blush under the paint and his suspicions that the boy had a crush on Elly were confirmed. He stared at them for a moment and went back upstairs.
* * * * * *
"What’re you reading Elly?" Lacan asked peering over the young woman’s shoulder.
"Just some religious, philosophical stuff," Elly said in a preoccupied tone.
Lacan laughed. "Since when were you interested in that?"
"It’s interesting. If you combine it with that new religion that’s gotten so popular, you’ll see that they connect."
"I’ll take your word for it," Lacan said sitting next to her. His face grew serious. "I don’t know how you’re going to take this, but Krelian says that we’re leaving Nimrod."
Elly looked up from the book in alarm. "Leaving Nimrod? Why?"
Lacan shrugged his soft, brown eyes troubled. "He’s been acting strange since his father came back."
Elly’s face twisted in confusion. "I thought his father was dead."
"Apparently not. They sort of looked alike so I guess it was his father. Poor Krel. He—"
"Wait a minute Lacan," Elly interrupted placing a bookmark in the book. She got up and folded her arms across her chest. "You guess? Didn’t you ask?"
Lacan shook his head vigorously. "No," he said drawing out the word as if asking Krelian a question would get him in trouble. "He’s been a little touchy lately. I’m not supposed to tell you this, but he got suspended from the army for a month for punching one of the soldiers."
Elly’s eyes widened. "Whoa. We’ve been living with him for five years now and he’s never been the friendliest person, but I’ve never known him to be violent like that."
" I know what you mean," Lacan said.
"I’m going to go talk to him," Elly said leaving the room.
Lacan, concerned with her safety, followed her up to their guardian’s room. There was no sign of the melancholy man and they went back downstairs wondering where in the small house Krelian could be. Then they heard the strange noises coming from the basement. Lacan raised an eyebrow and wrinkled his nose, his mind obviously in the gutter. Elly flashed him a look of disgust and opened the basement door. Sure enough, Krelian was there releasing his pent-up anger on the punching bag. The two teenagers watched as he did a complicated series of punches and kicks on his "opponent," but it was obvious that it was doing very little to alleviate his anger.
"Krelian?" Elly said taking a step toward him cautiously. She felt Lacan bump into her when she stopped and fixed him with a frosty look.
"Sorry," Lacan whispered sheepishly.
The man turned to them his blue eyes blazing. "What do you want?" he asked.
Elly took another step toward him. "Is something bothering you?"
Krelian turned away from the redheaded beauty and began a new series of punches and kicks on the punching bag. Why does she have to look at me that way? Doesn’t she know what I’ve done? For years, they have depended on my support and now I can no longer provide it. If it weren’t for that damn soldier, I wouldn’t have been expelled from the army. How can I tell her that we won’t be able to stay here? Nimrod is her birthplace. I have no right to take that away from her. He stiffened as she put her hand on his shoulder.
"Please Krelian," she said in her gentle voice. "Please tell me what’s bothering you."
Krelian’s anger flared again and he glared back at her. He got the satisfaction of seeing her step back a little. "We’re leaving Nimrod. I don’t care whether you were born here or not." He immediately regretted his words as he saw Elly’s lower lip quiver slightly. He could tell that she was trying to regain control over herself and he wanted to take her in his arms and comfort her. His eyes narrowed at the thought of it. I am almost ten years her senior. What could possibly happen between us?
"I understand," Elly said evenly. "Where are we going?"
"Elly," Lacan said pulling on her sleeve gently. He took her hand. "We better go back upstairs."
Elly ignored him and returned Krelian’s gaze. "Where are you taking us?"
"Nisan."
Lacan and Elly looked at each other in confusion. "Why Nisan?" Lacan dared to ask.
Krelian started to answer then noticed that they were holding hands. Jealously rose within him so quickly that it made him nauseated. "Get out," he said in a low voice. "Get out now!"
Lacan turned and half dragged Elly back upstairs. "Look I don’t know what that was all about, but I’m glad we’re outta there. I hope he’s in a better mood when we leave."
Krelian sat down and put his hands to his head. "I shouldn’t have spoke to her that way. What I can vaguely remember of my mother is just like Elhaym. They have the same eyes. That beautiful, clear blue that can pierce through the ice of the cruelest man’s soul. I am not worthy to look into those eyes."
* * * * * *
Chapter Two
"How can people be so stupid?!" Elly cried slamming the broom on the floor. "Why
would they get mad at me for being nice to them? You know what Krelian? I hate people!
This world is full of idiots!"
Idiots you say? Krelian thought as he watched the scene before him. You had such a negative attitude toward people for so long my dear Elly…no you are called Sophia now…the founder of the Nisan religion, also known as the Great Mother of Nisan. How odd that you have become the person whom all the people look to for support and spiritual guidance. But you have developed an undying faith in the human race at an inopportune time. He looked at her standing before the crowd with the usual kind, gentle expression on her face. Despite the distance between them, her voice carried to his ears and he could do nothing, but listen.
"…we are all the same in the eyes of God. There should be no reason for us to look down upon one another. We all have our faults thus making us equals. We should not hold grudges and should always be willing to forgive…"
A loud cough broke through the sweet words and Krelian glared back at the soldier. The man was fairly new and didn’t know what Krelian’s icy glare meant. He chuckled and gestured at Sophia.
"What the hell is she babbling about? And why in the hell are we here anyway?"
Krelian kept his face neutral and gestured for the man to follow him. He saw Lacan look at him in shock and concern and ignored it. Lacan had nothing to say that he would listen to anymore. His stupidity had almost cost Sophia her life several times…but she seemed to want to be around him anyway. Krelian dismissed the thought irritably. Now was not the time to dwell on what could not be. He turned to the soldier and narrowed his eyes. "Do you have a problem with this?"
The soldier smirked. "Hell yeah. What’s the point in listening to some bitch talking about us loving one another when she’s part of the war too."
"Krelian," Lacan said warningly.
"What? Did I say someth-" the soldier’s words were cut off as Krelian’s fist connected with his face. He dropped to his knees and put a hand under his chin to catch the blood.
Krelian walked back toward the throng and listened to Sophia again. Lacan will tell her what happened. He thought nonchalantly. He’ll probably tell her while he’s painting one of those god-awful paintings of his. His nonchalance turned to anger and he had trouble resisting the urge to punch Lacan as he and the soldier walked past him. The only time he got to spend with her was the day she told him that reading would calm his soul or some such thing. He immediately berated himself for not remembering it. He looked at Sophia again only to bask in the warmth of her gentle smile.
* * * * * *
Krelian woke up with a start and began to mutter curses at himself. Melchior is going to kill me. He thought grabbing a handkerchief to wipe the moisture off the book. He wiped the side of his face, glad that he was alone for once. What a riot the soldier’s would have if they found out that their general drooled when he slept. He thought ruefully. He blinked a few times to clear his vision of spots and poured a cup of coffee. Where did I leave off? He thought as he turned the pages. Oh. Here it is. He shook his head and tried to smooth the pages down that had folded as he shifted in his sleep. "Nanotechnology? And what is this?" Krelian read further down the page and nodded his head instantly understanding the definition. "Nanotechnology is the growing science of automatic microscopic machinery that can be released into the environment or into the human body to do work (from terraforming to genetic engineering) on a molecular level. Hmmm. This knowledge would be ideal on the battlefield. Would this include regeneration of limbs also? Would it cure diseases? This I must look into."
* * * * * *
"They want to what?" Sophia asked incredulously.
The choirboy shifted nervously and blushed when Sophia gave him a comforting smile. "The people want to see a painting of you. We have several skilled artists in town waiting for you to take your pick. The guy who has that big ship…I forget his name…" the boy paused for a second his eyebrow furrowed with thought.
"Roni," Krelian supplied from across the room.
The choirboy jumped at the man’s voice and began to stutter. "Y-yeah…him…h-he said th-th-that," he swallowed hard and started again and spoke so fast that the rest of the sentence came out as one word. "ThatLacanshouldbetheonetodoit!"
"What?" Sophia asked. She stood up and put her hand on the boy’s shoulder. He seemed to calm down at her touch. "A painting of me? I’m not too sure about that."
"Okay," the choirboy said his voice a mixture of disappointment and relief. "I’ve got to get back to my duties."
Sophia watched the boy dash down the long cathedral hallway in confusion. She turned to go back into the library and bumped into Krelian. "I’m sorry Krelian," she said with a small smile. "Do you have any idea what he said?"
"About Roni?" the man asked taking his seat at the table once more. "I have no idea. I heard him say something about Lacan, but he’s been a bit busy lately. I doubt he’ll have the time to paint your portrait."
"Hmmm. I’d agree if Lacan was the one to do it," Sophia said softly. She saw Krelian look up at her from the book he was reading and raise an eyebrow. She hadn’t meant for him to hear that.
"Why is that? His art is mediocre in my eyes. It lacks feeling. He wouldn’t be able to capture your true beau-" Krelian caught himself and cursed his body as the color rose to his pale face. Lacan was an excellent artist; his pictures seemed to capture the essence of every living being. He knew that he was only speaking out against him because he wished for the talent also. Sophia seemed to hold Lacan and his talent in high regard. She rarely came to him for anything unless she wanted to be alone. Krelian was the first to admit that he seemed to have a built-in people repellant, and as a loner was glad about it most of the time. There were times when he longed to have someone to talk to, but the longing was soon killed whenever he had to lead the army out to fight in that stupid war between Solaris and Shevat. I don’t trust that Queen Zephyr for some reason. She talks about rescuing land dwellers from her city situated on the Tower of Babel. It seems to me that she’s looking down on us the way Solaris is; and refuses to admit that she’s only using us because of our military. He thought shaking his head. He put the book back on the shelf and walked over to Sophia who was looking out the window. She looked up at him in a disarming manner and smiled her small smile.
"Can’t you do something about his work load?"
Krelian groaned. "I’ll let him know," he said.
"Really?!" Sophia cried practically tackling him with a hug.
Krelian put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. He originally had no intention of telling Lacan anything, but holding Sophia-no-Elly this close shattered any hard feelings toward Lacan. He wanted to make Elly happy and if letting Lacan paint her portrait would make her happy he would be glad to do it.
* * * * * *
Krelian shielded his eyes against another explosion and piloted his Gear toward the general of the Solaris army. The general saw him coming and sidestepped him delivering a strong blow to his back. Krelian turned and swung his sword severing the other Gear’s hand. He watched the body part regenerate right before his eyes in terror. What kind of material was Solaris using to make their Gears? And how could it be defeated? The general used his moment of distraction to hit Krelian with tiny, green, diamond shaped, projectiles.
"Owwww," Krelian moaned shaking his head to clear his vision. "This is going to be much harder than I thought." He lay there a moment later wondering why the general wasn’t taking the opportunity to finish him off then heard the Gear advancing toward him. He got up quickly and attacked catching the general by surprise. He managed to get a few decent hits on his opponent, but his triumph was short-lived as the projectiles hit him again. He groaned and his head lolled to one side. His eyes widened as he heard the familiar sounds of Lacan and Sophia’s Gears. He had never been so happy to see the two of them together. He got up and used a Frame HP on himself then joined the fray. Lacan and Sophia had already landed several hits on the general’s Gear. Krelian grinned when he saw the fuel leaking from the fuel tank of the enemy Gear. Solaris had oppressed the world long enough. Now was the time for their reign of terror to end, but how had they found them?
"Sophia?" he said. It hurt to talk and he wondered if he had suffered a serious injury.
"Krelian? Are you all right?" she asked. Her filled with concern. She piloted her Gear to him careful to avoid Lacan’s Chi bolt.
"I’m fine," Krelian said. "Cast a fire spell on him. The fuel’s leaking. I doubt he’ll survive an explosion."
"All right. Be careful Krelian?" Sophia said going back to stand near Lacan.
Krelian heard a small explosion and gasped when Sophia’s Gear fell before him. "What just happened?"
"Elly!" Lacan cried running to the downed Gear.
"I-I’m fine," Sophia said getting up. "You said a fire spell Krelian?"
Krelian looked at her Gear. It had taken severe damage from Lacan’s Chi bolt and he wondered what had been going through Lacan’s head at the time. He could hear their conversation as he covered for them. Lacan was apologizing and Sophia was telling him that it was okay and she would be fine. She cast the fire spell and the enemy Gear that had grown weaker from Lacan’s Chi bolts and a lack of fuel slumped over as huge sparks came from it.
"Run!" Lacan yelled quickly piloting his Gear away.
"W-wait!" Sophia yelled. "My Gear won’t-" Her words were cut short as Krelian picked her up and flew to safety.
Krelian jumped out of his Gear and stormed toward Lacan who was talking to Roni and Rene. He grabbed the man’s arm and flung him against a tree. "What the hell is wrong with you?! First you damn near kill her and then you leave her behind when you knew her Gear was disabled. You don’t deserve her!"
"What’s that supposed to mean!" Lacan yelled pushing Krelian away. "What are you? Jealous or something!"
Krelian grabbed the man’s shirtfront and would’ve broken his nose had Roni not begun to shout furiously and point to the sky. Rene ran over to them and pulled them apart.
"Look! Solaris’s ship is about to blow us bits if we don’t do something! Stop fighting over her! Sophia!" Rene cried looking around for the young woman.
Krelian and Lacan ran toward an empty ship intent on fighting to the death for their freedom. Just before they got to it, it rose into the air and began to speed toward the Solaris ship on a suicide mission. Roni and Rene ran toward them looking very confused.
Rene pointed to the ship with a shaking finger. "Who?"
Lacan shrugged and Krelian looked around. Fear clenched his heart when he didn’t see Sophia tending the wounded. Please God say she’s in the tents. He prayed running toward them. The people started at the sight of him and began to moan and ask him where Sophia was.
"She’s not here?" he asked his voice rising almost to a shriek. His body went cold and numb as he looked up at the speeding ship. His body recovered slightly and he ran back toward Lacan and the others. "She’s in the ship," he told them breathlessly.
"WHAT!" Lacan cried. His face went white and he looked as though he might faint. "She’s…in there?" He snatched the radio from Roni. "Elly? What do you think you’re doing?! They’re firing at you turn around!"
"Saving you," she said calmly.
"You’ll die stupid! Come back!" he yelled.
"You don’t understand. As the Great Lady of Nisan it is my duty to save my people."
Krelian listened to the whole conversation his body going stiff with rage, shock, and grief. God? He prayed once again. If you have any power will you please save her? Please! Krelian looked toward the sky and saw a single star twinkling through the smoke. His ears picked up the last of Sophia’s words.
"Please take care of everyone. And Lacan! Live!"
The four men watched the explosion dumbly. The soldiers, who had no idea what had just happened, began to cheer and sing that the war was over and that they had won. Krelian stared at the ship’s remains floating from the sky like feathers from a bird’s wing…or an angel’s wing. He put a hand to his head and gave a shuddering sigh. He felt someone’s hand on his shoulder and looked over at him. It was Lacan. Maybe I should be supportive. Krelian said when he saw the man’s tears. He thought back to the eventful day and realized that Lacan was to blame for everything. He shrugged his hand away and glared at him maliciously.
" ‘ Lacan! Live!’ "
Krelian mulled her words over in his head. Sophia didn’t love him. She loved Lacan. She had mentioned no one else before she died. He walked toward a cliff looking heavenward.
" ‘Lacan! Live!’ "
She had counted on Lacan for comfort and he shouted at her and told her how stupid she was for saving them. Why couldn’t he be grateful for what she had done? Her action was the ultimate act of love…for him. I should be the one receiving those feelings! Krelian thought clenching his fists and glaring back at Lacan who had a wild look about him as if he were about to lose grip on reality.
" ‘Lacan! Live!’ "
He glared up at the sky and began to hurl curses at the stars. Where was God when I needed Him? I prayed to nothing! "Where was God when all of this happened?!" he yelled turning to face the bedraggled and grieving trio. "If God does not exist in this world, I will make God with my own hands!"
* * * * * *
Chapter Three
I have nothing, no one. It is all gone. My home, my love, dare I say my sanity? The man thought as he trudged through snow deep enough to swallow him to his thighs. I have wandered this continent for nearly a century trying to figure out so much. My home has been destroyed by a man called Graph. I believe that I know from somewhere. Roni and Rene died long ago…I should’ve joined them. The only thing that has really kept me going is my knowledge on nanotechnology, and the nanomachines in my body. Even that seems to be failing me as well. Have I truly been so foolish to think that I would be able to create god? Does such a being even exist? And if so where was he when Sophia sacrificed herself? I have asked that question so many times. If I succeed, will he do as I say? He clenched his fists as tears of frustration ran down his cheeks. I know nothing of the true nature of a supreme being.
The man stumbled and fell on his hands and knees. He could feel the snow and ice seep into his clothing and began to think of how easy it would be for him to just lay there and let the snow cover him. He heaved a shivering sigh and sprawled out in the snow as if it were a bed filled with the down of the softest animals. As the cold that chilled him to his core began to bring about the warmth of death, his eyelids drooped slightly then widened wearily when he caught a glimpse of a figure rushing toward him. Just let me die. He thought as the wind blew his now fading blue hair into his eyes. He closed his eyes and heard the person come closer. Soft, gentle hands half carried and half-dragged him to what he hoped was his grave. I have nothing to live for. He could hear a door being opened and a blast of heat engulfed his cold body sending an ache that seemed to effect every nerve in his being. He was lying on something now and the room buzzed with a cacophony of incoherence. The huge figure looming above him began to pour what felt like acid down his raw throat. He tired to fight the person off as best as he could, but his arms felt as though someone had tied them to the bed and the only sounds he could muster were more incoherent than the noise in the room. He struggled a moment longer then lay still as everything went back to normal. Before he fell asleep, he saw a woman sitting near him with white blond hair in a single braid draped over her shoulder. His attempt to speak failed as his tongue felt four sizes too large. Who is she? He thought as he drifted into unconsciousness.
* * * * * *
"You know you heal remarkably fast sir," the woman said putting a steaming cup of tea in front of the man.
Krelian looked at her, blinked, and turned his attention to his tea wondering if she had put something in it. What am I thinking? He mused as the tea leaves in the bottom shifted around. If she wants to kill me, it will not matter. My studies are at a stand still for there is nothing here save for this woman and myself.
"Not much of a talker I see," she added. "Will you at least tell me your name?"
Krelian sipped the tea and grimaced slightly as the hot liquid scalded his insides. How he managed to keep a neutral expression on his face was beyond his understanding. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Something feels odd. He thought, then realized in panic that his circlet was gone. He fixed the woman with a glare so malicious that she gave a tiny gasp and choked on her tea.
"Where is it?" he asked trying to ignore the frog-like sound of his voice and the pain in his throat.
"What?" the woman coughed. Her pale eyebrows knitted together and she shrugged her shoulders.
"Sophia gave that to me as a gift when she and Lacan first came to live with me! Where is it!"
The woman shook her head. "I apologize," she said as she as handed the circlet to Krelian. "I found it in the snow this morning and figured it belonged to you."
Krelian glared at her, still not sure whether to thank her or be angry. Then, without meaning to, he noticed that her eyes were a strange, golden color and her hairstyle reminded him of the way Sophia wore her hair when she was in her teens.
"Thank you," he said with a grimace as his throat began to hurt again.
The woman smiled. "My name is Kahrina Ramsus. I’d ask you who you are, but I can tell by your facial expressions that it hurts to talk."
Krelian’s eyebrows raised a fraction when he noticed that her appearance and accent looked and sounded vaguely familiar. I see nothing much has changed since then. It has been a century and Solaris is still sending spies to the surface. What could they possibly want from me?
"Someone came here for you while you were ill," Kahrina said.
"Did they state their reason?"
"No. She just told me to stick to what I could comprehend; and that I was keeping you from reaching your full potential or something like that. Strange woman."
"Indeed," Krelian answered. Who could that be? I believe I need to find somewhere else to go. This situation is obviously not going to be anything beneficial for me.
"So who are you? She didn’t mention your name. She only said that you know more about the past and the key to life than you know yourself," she shook her head. "She spoke in riddles mostly. Then she told me that my eyes were beautiful and I must’ve fallen fell asleep because I woke up near the doorway. I apologize for anything that might’ve happened over that."
"Where are you from?"
Kahrina looked a bit surprised at the question. "Well…it’s quite far from here. There aren’t too many people who know about it."
"Where are you from?" Krelian repeated.
She sighed. "You already know don’t you?"
"Of course."
"Listen, I was sent here to find you and then that woman came and started speaking to me in these weird riddles and then she saw you and said that she needed you in Solaris."
"And who is she? You?"
"N—no!" Kahrina cried. "I came here to spy at first, but I wanted to leave Solaris anyway. That place is…horrible. I also came here expecting peace only to find that most of this continent has been destroyed by war. I believe the person responsible for the destruction is Graph. Does that name sound familiar?"
Krelian nodded. "Yes. Graph, the seeker of power, the one responsible for awakening the four pillars of destruction: Marlute, Harlute, Metatron, and Sundel. He managed to wipe out my birthplace, Nimrod, and many more places. How can he be stopped?"
Kahrina shook her head. "How could I know? I do know that I’ll have to keep that woman from taking you with her. There’s something very disturbing about her that gets to me."
"Does she have a name?" Krelian asked careful not to let eagerness creep into his voice. Anything that would teach him something new was interesting to him. He did not care how disturbing she was.
"Oh I have no idea. Her hair and eyes were indigo. I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful…or so odd."
Krelian was getting a bit annoyed with the woman’s continuing description of how strange, odd, and weird the woman was. She would use a different word, but they all meant the same thing. It was not helping him form a decent mental picture of the woman who wanted to see him. When will she return? He wondered. And will I be well enough to receive her?
"You look tired," Kahrina said. "Why don’t you go back to bed?"
Krelian, unusually obeident, got up and let the woman lead him back to the guestroom. As he drifted off to sleep, he saw the woman Kahrina spoke of appear in the mirror.
* * * * * *
"Did you really think you could protect him?" asked an echoing voice.
Kahrina dropped the glass she was washing and whirled around to see the indigo-haired woman standing behind her with a sly smile on her face. "Do you really think that I’ll let you have him?"
"Oh you will," the woman said. "You cannot disobey the Mother."
"Mother? What are you talking about?"
"Where is he Kahrina?"
Kahrina grabbed a large knife from the dishwater. "You can’t take him with you!"
"Tell me!"
"NO!" Kahrina charged at the woman and they struggled for a moment before she was able to overpower the dark-haired woman. This seems too easy. Kahrina thought as the woman grabbed the hand wielding the knife and turned it toward her. She shrieked as it cut into her right arm and dropped the weapon.
"Where is he!"
Kahrina put her hand over the wound and shook her head. "I won’t tell you."
The woman kicked the knife over to her. "Tell me or die."
Staring from the woman to the knife, Kahrina put a hand to her head and laughed. "How can you kill me if you just gave this to me?" She grabbed the knife and ran toward the woman again. Just as she drove the knife into her chest, she realized that the woman had not made any move to defend herself. Kahrina stepped away in horror as the appearance of the corpse changed to one terribly familiar. "No…," Kahrina whispered dropping to her knees next to the corpse. "This isn’t happening. How could she have changed into her? I’ve murdered my best friend." Suddenly Kahrina felt her blood run cold and the corpse before her had little meaning. She could feel her entire body tingling and looked to the heavens. I know all and see all. She thought as she walked to the room where Krelian slept. And now I have my wish.
* * * * * *
Krelian woke up to a soft voice calling his name. Half expecting to see Kahrina, he planned to open one eye then go back to sleep. When he did open his eyes though, he saw Kahrina, but she looked totally different. Her indigo eyes bored into his pale blue ones making him feel an emotion he dealt with poorly and did not experience often. Fear. She smiled and tucked strands of her indigo hair behind her ears.
"I’ve found you," she whispered.
"Kahrina?" he asked.
"Don’t be afraid. I have something for you."
Krelian’s eyes widened as she held up a test tube. "Nanomachines?" he asked taking it from her.
"The Ministry seeks your knowledge. You are their only hope. As we speak, they are dying from age. They will tell you everything you need to know. Come with me Krelian. Help them and they will help you. All you have to do is follow me."
As if he were in a trance, Krelian followed the woman through the house and outside.
"Hold on to me," she said.
Krelian did as he was told and felt himself slipping into unconsciousness. Now I will have the knowledge I so desire. He thought. Darkness followed.