Fan Fiction ❯ Dragon's Illusion: Hunter Dreams ❯ The Stranger ( Chapter 1 )

Legal Disclaimer: This story is based on my ideas alone. If there are things from other sources, they will all be explained when the time comes. Please email me and tell me if you like it or what I can do to make it better. Enjoy!

Writer's Note: I used to have this story up on fanfiction.net under Laurie Bethany, but decided to get rid of the aliases and go with the real deal. Enjoy! Ja ne!

The Stranger
By Krisis Conspire

"So Zara, how are you enjoying the competition? Are you having fun?" the valiant King questioned her daughter. Princess Zara Hikari was his only child and the soul heir to the throne of Coronus, one of the most powerful planets in the galaxy of Avalon.

"I love watching the competition! There are much more competitors than there were last year."

Princess Zara loved the art of the Sword ever since she was a small child. Unfortunately, she was not permitted to take up the art. Inside of her was an object of immense power, one that only resurrected every 100, 000 years. This object was called the Dragon's Tear. Its purpose is still unknown and the only information they had on it was that it was powerful. If she were to be killed before her eighteenth birthday, the power could be stolen and used for evil deeds. However, if the Tear remained in her body after that date, the powers were to be hers and no others.

Not only did the Tear possess great power, it was the key to releasing the power of the Angel Relics. The Relics were said to be objects that held the twelve gods and goddesses, which created this universe, captive. If the Relics were in the hands of darkness accompanied by the Tear, then they who possess them can rewrite the universe to their liking.

Though it would make her so happy to participate in the ring with the other fighters, it was too much of a risk. At times it seemed that Zara didn't see it the same way, but has now sees it at the same level. Zara's mother had died when she was only three years old and since then he had remarried. Zara did not like her stepmother at all, partially because she had convinced her father not to let her take up the Black Arts (fighting, magic...). So to make his daughter happier, he created the Zarian Games when she had turned eleven. Warriors from all over the world came to participate in the games and show off their skills. Since then, Zara had become much more obedient and ceased in her persistence to take up the arts.

"So who do you believe will win this final match?"

"Sakari."

He looked to her with a curious eye. "Really? I would have thought that you would be cheering for Sir Derwin."

The Princess smiled. Prince Derwin of Phados was her fiancé and they were to be married the day after Zara's eighteenth birthday. At first Zara detested the idea of arranged marriages, but took a liking to the man after awhile. "I was... but then again he is fighting against Kari and I will always vote for her no matter what. Besides, she is the reigning champion."

King Reyam laughed. "How silly of me to believe otherwise," he joked.

Sara Sakari was Zara's best friend in the entire world. There weren't many children in the palace, certainly not around Zara's age and most of them were boys training for battle. Luckily, Sir Jarvis, the King's head Knight and childhood friend had a daughter at the same time. Sakari and Zara were raised together by the King's request and were nearly inseparable. No matter where Zara was, she requested the presence of her friend and vice versa.

"So Zara, how do you like your new professor?" Queen Della asked her step- daughter while the final match went on. But the child did not answer her back and seemed to be engulfed in the match. She sighed heavily.

The King rubbed her hand. "Please don't mind Zara," he apologized for his daughter's rude action. "This match is ver. . ."

Suddenly Zara rose from her seat and cheered in excitement. When they looked to see the commotion, they saw Sakari pinning down the young Prince with two swords in hand, one hers the other his. She ran down the podium and made her way down to the side of the stadium and waited patiently for the two to come back.

"Congratulations Sakari," the King announced. "I deem you the winner of the fifth annual Zarian Games!" A loud roar filled the stadium as the two finalists bowed in respect to their King. "To celebrate this occasion, I invite everyone who has witnessed this final match to join me and my family for dinner and festivities!" Another loud wave filled the stadium after the King's invitation.

"Congratulations Kari!" the princess cheered as the two fighters approached the exit. She gave her best friend a big hug.

"What about me?" Prince Derwin asked seeing the reward that Sakari got.

"Good job," she teased nudging him in the shoulder.

He looked at her sarcastically. "So Kari gets a big welcome and a hug while I get pushed around?" he joked. "Don't you think I got beaten up enough already today?"

"I'm sorry. You did an excellent job against Kari my Prince," she joked clapping her hands together. "Let me give my runner up a big kiss!" Zara exclaimed grabbing him by the neck and a kiss.

"Much better," he laughed.

"Come on you two! We're going to be late!" Sakari giggled as she hurried the two along.

"Not so fast little Sakari," came a voice.

The lavender-haired girl turned to see the King with Queen in hand blocking their path. "Oh, your Majesty," she bowed.

"There are no need for formalities young one, you know that," he reminded her. To him, Sakari was like a second daughter to him. "There is something that we need to discuss before you begin to celebrate."

Sakari looked to Zara in confusion. The Princess also looked the same and shrugged in response.

"Is there something wrong?"

The King shook his head. "First I would like to congratulate you on your victory, you have improved much since the first opening of the games."

"Thank-you very much, I have been practicing hard."

He nodded. "I know, and it has paid off. And that's the reason that I am asking you to do me a favour. I want you to become the new head Knight of my army."

"But...." she suddenly burst out.

"What is it darling?" the Queen asked seeing the panic in Sakari's eyes. "You do not believe you can do the task?"

Sakari shook her head. "No, its nothing like that. It's just that... what about my father?"

"He is the one that recommended you for the job. He feels that you are ready and skilled beyond any of his warriors to take the title."

"But what will happen to him?"

"I have made him my chief advisor dear, and he is requesting that you take his title," the King explained to the girl. "But the choice is yours Sakari. If you choose not to take the position, it will be fine by me. I cannot force you to do something that you do not want to do."

Sakari looked to the Prince and Princess. Their eyes were telling her to take the chance and fulfill her childhood dream. "It would be an honour sire. Thank you for your confidence," Sakari beamed.

"Think nothing of it, besides through the years I have seen that you were a natural leader. You will do great things Sakari."

* * * * *

A few days later . . ..

"What do you mean you can't find her?" the King exclaimed as his scout gave him the news. "Call my daughter!" he ordered.

A few minutes later, Princess Zara entered the room. "You sent for me father?"

He nodded. "Do you know the whereabouts of Sakari?"

"Why?"

"Something has happened in Opanu. Someone has stolen the Angel Relic from there. We need to retrieve it."

"She isn't here."

"Do you know where she went?" the King asked.

"It's a coincidence actually. She had left this morning to Opanu to get a new sword that she had been eyeing. I'm pretty sure that if something had happened to the Relic she would know about it."

"How? Did you tell her anything about the Relic?"

"No," she said quickly knowing the knowledge of the Relics were not to leave her lips ever. Even to tell Sakari about them could become fatal. "But if someone did steal the Relic, it would become big news. At least I think it would. But if you would like, I can contact her."

"How would you do th...." the Queen began.

"Sakari has half of the Liasa Amulet, and I have the other. If you would like for me to contact her father, I can."

"Please do daughter, but be careful in your words," he warned.

* * * * *

"Ah! Hello Miss Sakari!" greeted Zorinth, the black smith. "I was wondering when you would be coming along."

"Is it ready yet?" she asked anxiously.

"Almost," he told her. "I didn't know you were coming today and I had gotten an order this morning for the same weapon. I knew that you wanted that stone you brought in last week inside it so that's all I had to do. The man that wanted the same sword wanted his done today. I hope you don't mind waiting for yours a little longer."

"No problem Zorinth!" she assured him cheerfully. "I'll come back later for it." Sakari was nearly out the door when she suddenly felt a panic arise in her. Something was wrong. "Hey Zorinth!"

"Hmm . . ." he replied concentrating on the sword he was forging.

"Has anything weird happened in the past few days?"

He shrugged. "I wouldn't know. Maybe talk to someone in the bar, you can get all the latest news there."

"Okay thanks!" the warrior responded as she darted to the bar several blocks down. There were a lot of people in the bar; surprisingly they were mostly men drunk with alcohol.

There weren't many seats at the tables, so she decided to take a seat at the bar. There was a warrior there already seated, she sat one seat away. He was talking to the bartender, but when he saw Sakari, he took her order and resumed his conversation.

She didn't mean to eavesdrop, but the armoured man had mentioned the Angel Relic that was hidden in that city. Something has happened to the Relic? She listened to their conversation more but was interrupted by the glowing of the Liasa amulet she hung around her neck.

"Where you going pretty lady?" asked a man from behind. "Don't tell me your leaving?" he said gripping her shoulder.

"Leave her alone," the bartender warned grabbing the attention of the rest of the people in the facility. "Don't you make any trouble for yourself."

"All I want is a kiss from the pretty lady," the drunken man reasoned turning Sakari around. Just as she was about to teach the guy not to mess with her, a hand had grabbed the man and knocked him out cold. She looked to see who it was.

It's that guy who was talking about the Relic! she realized. She stared at the man for a few seconds as he stared back. The sound of chairs and bottles breaking broke the tension between the two. I better get myself out of here. Sakari dodged the flying objects and made her way to a back ally.

Taking out her amulet, she activated it. "What's up?" she asked the princess who was on the other side.

"Someone has stolen the Angel Relic from Opanu!" the Princess told her frantically.

"I know," she replied flatly. "I knew that something was wrong with the Relic. I could feel it. But there's something else that's bugging me."

"What?"

"There was this guy at the bar...."

"Aren't you too young to be in there?" she reminded her knowing that she was only seventeen.

"I know that, but I needed to get information!"

"Did you find any Kari?"

The young warrior nodded to the hologram that the amulet emitted. "Some, it turns out that someone else is looking for the Relic too. I didn't get to talk to him but I intend to find out what he wants with it," she told her friend with fierce determination. "I want you to do a favour for me."

"Anything," the Princess complied.

"I want high security placed on the palace, especially on you."

"Why?"

"If someone is after the Relics then that means they're going to go after the Dragon's Tear. If anything were to happen to you...."

"Don't worry Kari, nothing is going to happen to me," the Princess assured her friend. "I'll go and tell the King about the security thing, but you have to promise to contact me every night and fill me in okay?"

"I promise."

"Take care Kari," the Princess waved good-bye as the image faded out.

I will, she thought in her mind as she held her hand over her heart. That one special area was always covered in heavy armour. It was her only weak point. She stood there for a while thinking about how she was going to get the Relic back. How am I going to get it without making people suspicious of me?

Several hours later . . .

Seeing that the sky was nearly black now, she decided to go see if her sword was done. As she pushed the door open, she noticed another presence in the room. Sakari closed the door behind her and waited patiently for Zorinth to come out. She didn't see who the stranger was but could feel a strange tension between them.

Curiously, she peeked at the stranger's face. Oh great! It's that guy from the bar. I wonder what he's doing here? she thought to herself.

"What do you want with the Angel Relic?" the man asked coldly not even looking at Sakari.

"What?"

"I can tell you're after the Angel Relic. What do you want with it?"

Sakari quickly turned the other direction. "I don't know what you're talking about," she denied.

"It's not polite to eavesdrop on other people's conversation," he scolded her.

"I don't know what you're talking about! I don't know what an Angel Relic is! And I was certainly not eavesdropping on your little conversation okay," Sakari defended herself.

"You shouldn't lie, it's not very ladylike. Besides, I noticed the way you reacted when I mentioned the Angel Relic, so you must know something about it," he told her as he turned to face the girl.

The first thing she noticed about his face was the striking shade of yellow his eyes were. They were extremely light like hers were. I wonder why I didn't notice his eyes earlier? He wasn't wearing a helmet or anything.

"Well do you?" he asked again forcefully.

"What I know is none of your business, and I recommend that you stay away from the Angel Relic," Sakari warned the other. "It's none of your concern."

"And why would it be yours?"

"Because I am the Dr . . ." she began, but stopped herself before she revealed her secret. "Because I am the friend of the keeper of the Dragon's Tear. And I am investigating the disappearance of the Relic for her."

"So you know Princess Zara? I thought that the knowledge of the Relics were to be kept a secret. Are you telling me that she broke her pledge to secrecy?"

"Of course not!" she defended her friend. "I learned of the Relics on my own!"

The man glared at the girl suspiciously. "From where?"

Sakari could feel rage burning inside her. Who does this guy think he is? And how did he know that the Princess is the Dragon Child? The identity of the Dragon Child was not made public and was a royal secret as well as the Relics. Her hand began to creep down to her thigh where her dagger was hidden underneath her armour. "Perhaps it should be me asking you where you heard of the Relics from," she snapped.

"Ah Sakari! Sir Reid! Good you both are here! I just finished your swords," Zorinth interrupted happily. "Stay right here and I'll go get them."

So his name is Reid? I don't think I've heard of him before. But what could he want with the Relic? Sakari though hard in silence as they glared at each other.

"Here they are," the blacksmith cheered as he came out with two weapons. "Sir Reid this one is yours, and Sakari this is yours. Too bad you are giving it to the Princess, it would be better suited for you Sakari."

"Yes but I know she really wanted it and I didn't give her a present for her birthday. So I thought it would be the perfect present," she explained, as she looked the sword over. The handle was carved carefully looked like the head of a dragon with the blade coming from the mouth. The blade was thin and long, made of the finest material that could be found. The name Zara Hikari was engraved into the stainless steel. The purple crystal was shaped into a star and placed on the forehead of the dragon.

"The princess has good taste," Reid commented, as he looked his own sword over. It was exactly the same except for the gem and name.

Sakari was about to reply when that feeling came over her again, the feeling that something was wrong. The Angel Relic was nearby. Suddenly a loud scream could be heard from outside sending the two warriors out to investigate. There were men dressed in dark armor rampaging around the city with torches and weapons. There was one man on a black horse holding a glimmering object in his hand.

"Bring every child to me!" he ordered his men as they began to abduct children from their home. "The child is here somewhere and we're not leaving until I have the Dragon's Tear!"

"The Angel Relic!" Sakari burst out seeing the treasure the General held in his possession. He's going to hurt innocent people here! I have to get that Relic! she told herself as she drew her sword and ran out into the rampage.

"Sakari wait!" Reid yelled to her as she ran past, but she didn't seem to hear her. Following her actions, he too drew his weapon and headed out after her. Stupid girl! She's going to get herself killed!

Several men on stallions tried blocking her way, but she used her acrobatic skills in combination with the sword and managed to knock them both off their horses. Using her newly acquired weapon she struck both men across the neck insuring their death. Quickly, she turned her attention back to the General who had now a child in his grasp. Jumping off his horse, he approached the shaking boy who struggled to get away.

Taking out a dagger from his holster, he raised it to the air. "Don't worry child, it will be all over in a matter of seconds." The scream of the boy as the cold hard metal pierced his chest sent Sakari's temper flying as she cried out in the boy's defence. Yes! This boy must be it! the General thought as the Relic began to glow in his hand. With a bloody hand he reached for the boy's heart. The heart was the place where Dragon's Tear was kept.

"Get away from him!" Sakari warned as she bolted straight for the General. She kicked his hand away from the boy and began to strike at the General. He dropped the Relic and reached for his weapon. Filled with anger, she announced several words and struck the ground with her sword. The ground began to shake violently and it began to open. Gigantic vines began to grab the dark soldiers and pulled them underground against their will. When each was devoured, the earth ceased to rattle and sealed its cracks.

When the earth was calm again, she raced to the injured boy leaving her weapon lodged in the ground. She tried getting a response from the child but with no such luck. Her hands were covered in blood from his body; if she didn't do something soon he would die.

"Sakari!" Reid yelled from behind as he watched her grab the dying lad and run off to the nearest home. Something is going on with that girl, and I'm going to find out! He grabbed Sakari's sword from the earth as he passed it by. He looked at which sword it was. When he had first seen her, she already had her own sword, two in fact. Instead she had used her newer weapon, the one she claimed for the Princess.

Inside someone's house....

The woman screamed as Sakari kicked the door open. Holding her young children close she pleaded for her to leave her children alone.

Sakari ignored the woman's plea and laid the child down on the couch. Ripping the child's shirt open she examined the wound in his chest. "I need some water," she told the woman who looked at her in fear. "Please, or this child is going to die. I'm not with the soldiers, please believe me."

When she saw the truth in the stranger's eyes, she sent her daughter for water in the kitchen.

"Thank you," Sakari replied. "Do you know the name of this child?"

The little girl nodded. "That's Hardy, he lives across the street."

The warrior sighed and faced the child with the glass of water. She began to chant something in a different language that was thought to be dead. Please Goddess Eris of Avalon. I beg of you please revive the life of this young boy, Hardy. I beseech you to bring him back to life. With this water, the element of life, may he once again open his eyes to live again, she spoke. She poured the clear liquid over the boy's body. When that was done she held her hands over each other on top of his wound and looked to the sky.

What is she doing now? Reid thought to himself as he watched Sakari perform her ceremony. Suddenly he noticed the Angel Relic began to glow in his bloody hand in harmony with the boy's wound. The boy began to stir once again. The warrior removed her hands and tried to wake up her patient.

"Hmmm . . ." the boy murmured as he slowly opened his eyes.

"Hardy?" the woman's daughter whispered.

"Ivy?" the boy spoke.

Sakari let out a sigh of relief. She had gotten to him in time. "Come on Hardy, we better take you home now." Taking the boy's hand she stood up and got ready to leave. She turned to the woman. "Thank-you again for your cooperation. And I'm sorry that I had entered your home so violently."

"Are you an Angel?" the woman asked in awe.

"What?"

"Only Angels must have that kind of power. The power to restore life," she rambled.

"No, it...um... it was only a simple spell I learned when I was young. Um . . . come now Hardy."

For a moment, she stopped as she noticed Reid standing by the doorway with the Relic in his hand. I hope he didn't see what I just did, she hoped making her way past him and out the door.

Reid closed the door and snuck up on Sakari. He grabbed her left arm tightly so she couldn't get away. "What was that Sakari?"

"What are you talking about?" she whispered back to him looking at the boy who had just gotten revived.

"You know what I'm talking about."

"Not really," she lied jerking her arm away as they approached Hardy's house. With the little boy tagging along, she delivered him to his home and bid farewell. Please let him be gone, she hoped as she started for the door. Looking out the window before she departed, she saw no sign of Reid and let out a sigh of relief.

Suddenly she began thinking about her sword. The last she remembered she had it was when she used the "Terra Shock" element attack. Closing the door behind her she turned around to see a sharp sword stained with blood two inches away from her face.

"You dropped this," came a dark voice.

Oh great! she thought as she saw his amber eyes glaring at her from the shadows. Without a word she grabbed the weapon and tucked it inside the empty scabbard that crossed the other two across her back. Not turning back, Sakari began walking toward the Inn, which was several blocks away. Suddenly she started to feel weak, but continued on her way just to get away. Sensing his presence not too far away, she began walking faster.

No matter how hard she tried, he caught up to her. "You didn't answer my question," Reid hissed jerking her in his direction.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she repeated as she felt her energy slowly draining away.

"I don't like being lied to," he threatened.

"Who said I'm lying, it's unladylike remember," she smirked. "Besides I wo..." she began but suddenly felt faint and dropped to her knees. She had used two major energy-consuming spells in the past fifteen minutes and was getting tired fast.

"What's wrong?" Reid asked still gripping her arm. He tried to help her back to her feet but she only ripped her arm away.

"I don't need your help," she snapped ungratefully and struggled to get to her feet. "It's only a dizzy spell, I used up too much of my energy."

"Where did you learn those spells?"

Sakari shook her head and began to walk away. She didn't get too far before she was hit with the faint feeling again. This time she tried her best to stay on her feet. Taking a deep breath she stood straight again. Once retaining her balance she took several more steps.

This time she couldn't hold her balance. Whipping out one of her swords, she struck the ground and was able to keep herself from falling all the way down. Damn, I'm not going to be able to make it like this, she thought as she struggled to see straight.

When her eyes opened, there was a shadow beside her. Though she didn't look to the face, she knew who it was. He offered his hand to her. "If you aren't going to answer me truthfully," he whispered softly. "At least let me see you to safety."

His tone was completely different from before. It wasn't cold or hard, it was warm and inviting. Amazed at the change, she looked to his face. Though it was completely dark, his eyes illuminated brightly. Sakari had never seen eyes like these. Feeling helpless, she released her pride and allowed him to help her to her feet.

"That wasn't so hard was it?" he told her sarcastically.

She felt like snapping something back, but decided that it was better to conserve her energy until she was at the Inn. She started to reach for her sword but Reid had got to it first. Supporting Sakari with his right arm, he took the sword with the left. Before she had time to react, he had placed it back in its place and was ready to go. "Now where are you going?"

"W-A-I-T-!" a frantic voice yelled from behind.

"Huh?"

"Ple... please...please wait!" the young man pleaded. Holding a hand up to block their way, he took a few minutes to catch his breath. "Are... are you... are you...." he asked to Reid.

"Am I what?" Reid answered back.

"The...the K... the ki..."

"Are you going to finish your sentence any time soon?" he asked annoyed at the boy's inability to complete his message.

"Are you the King Reyam's knight," he burst out finally.

"No..."

"I am," Sakari spoke up weakly.

The boy looked at Sakari in confusion. "You are?"

"Is there anything wrong with that?" she glared.

"But you're a girl..."

"Gee, I didn't notice," Sakari snapped. "Are you going to give me the message or not?"

Scared, he ripped out a piece of paper and began reading it out loud. "The King says that once you find the item that you are looking for, to rest at the Inn overnight. He also says that he gives you permission to use the Royal's room for the night and he wants you to return as soon as possible with the item."

"Is that all?"

"Yes sir.... I mean ma'am.... I mean..."

"Sakari, just call me Sakari."

"Yes... um... Sakari. Your room is ready," he told her as he ran off to the Inn.

Reid was about to take her to the Inn when she stopped her. "What's wrong?"

"What about you?" she asked quietly.

"What about me?"

"Where are you staying for the night?"

"That doesn't matter," Reid responded. "Come on, let's go."

Sakari pulled him back with little strength. "You can stay with me if there are no vacancies. Its a big room plus I'm getting it for free," she offered. Besides, I still need that Relic, she though as she remembered that he had it.

"Let's get you there before you think of anything else first."

She nodded in agreement. At least he had heard her.

Several minutes later they made it to the Inn. There had been no vacancies at the Inn since the fall festival was in several days, so Reid had reluctantly accepted her invitation.

Finishing her shower, Sakari took a few minutes to look around the bathroom. She remembered it very well. She and Kari used to come here every year for the fall festival. The two of them called each other 'Kari' the entire time they were together given the likeliness of their names. Zara Hikari and Sara Sakari were the best of friends for what seemed to be forever.

Reminiscing about the past, she looked in the mirror. They had become much alike in appearance too. Their mothers came from the same planet, which gave them the same hair and eye colour. Falic, the planet their mothers were from, was known for the clone-like appearance of their people. There were small difference, but it looked as if they were all part of the same family. However, when their DNA is examined, it showed that people were different genetically.

Just like the people of Falic, she and Kari looked almost exactly the same. There was only one difference. The Princess had a star birthmark on the back of her right ear; otherwise they could be mistaken for identical twins.

"It's weird being here without you Kari," Sakari told her reflection.

"What?" Reid answered back from the room catching her attention.

"Nothing!" she yelled back. I forgot he was here, she thought in her head. Drying off her lavender tresses she looked over her clothes. The only thing she found suitable for sleeping was a thin opaque black nightgown that came down five inches above her knee. It's better than nothing, she thought.

"I'm finished," she told her companion as she exited the bathroom. "You can go in now." In search for a brush she wandered over to the dresser and opened its drawers. Looking in the mirror, she noticed that he hadn't moved much. "What?"

"Do you have something I can use afterwards?" he asked finally. His clothes, much like hers were bloodstained and dirty from their run in with the General and his men.

"Don't worry about that," she assured him as she went back to her search. "I'll find something. Just go get cleaned up."

Reid shrugged and made his way to the bathroom.

"Where the heck is that damn brush!" Sakari exclaimed in frustration.

"What?" he yelled back again.

"Nothing!" Giving up her search, she found her Liasa amulet and decided to ask the Princess.

"Hey Kari.... nice outfit," the Princess's hologram commented as it looked over the small nightgown.

"Do you know where the brush is? It's driving me crazy!"

"It's in the first drawer on the night stand closest to the door," she instructed her friend. "So... are you there alone?"

"No," the young warrior replied flatly as she approached the dresser.

"Who's with you?"

"Here it is!" Sakari cheered finding the brush in a mess of odds and ends.

"Kari!"

"What?"

"Who's there with you?" the Princess repeated again slowly.

"The guy that was looking for the Relic at the bar," she replied quietly as she ran the brush through her damp hair. "There were no vacancies and he didn't have a place to stay. So I invited him to stay with me for the night. Besides, he has the Angel Relic and I have to get it away somehow."

"Couldn't you have thought of a different way?" Zara joked making reference to her slinky outfit.

"What are you talking about?" she asked naïve of the situation she had gotten herself into. "I was going to get it when he fell asleep."

"If you say so, but if I were you I'd rethink my whole ensemble."

"This was the only thing I could find! I can't sleep in my regular clothes. They got dirty not to mention the many bloodstains in it," she defended herself. Feeling another dizzy spell coming on she sat down on the bed quickly. She held her eyes shut for a while to try and stop the dizziness.

"Kari are you alright?" the Princess asked concerned about her friend.

After awhile, she responded with a nod of her head. "I drained a lot of my energy today. I'll be fine by morning. Don't worry about me," Sakari assured her. "Is there any Ambrea in here?"

"There should be in the little cooling unit under the dresser. So are you coming back tomorrow?"

"If I can get the Relic..."

"Even if you don't, come back anyway. As long as you know where it is, it'll be fine."

"Alright, so I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye," Zara replied giving her friend a wave.

Pouring herself some of the red liquid, Sakari began thinking about ways she could get the Relic away from Reid. Unfortunately, she didn't know where he kept it. It had to be in a safe place where no one could get it. Looking around the room, her eyes looked for his armor. Glancing at the sheath of his sword, the design caught her eye. She had seen it somewhere before.

The sound of the shower shutting off reminded her that she didn't have anything for him to wear yet. Putting down her glass she opened the large wood closet. There has to be something that I'll fit him in here! she thought frantically seeing that some of the clothes were too small. She couldn't see his build easily through his armor, but she could tell that he was tall and quite big. He was more fit than most of the warriors at the palace that was for sure.

Finally finding something close to his size, she opened the bathroom door a crack. "I found these for you. I hope they'll fit," she told him as she handed him the clothes through the space.

"Thanks," he replied taking the articles of clothing.

"Pass me your other clothes, I'll take them to the cleaners. They'll be done by morning," she instructed her guest. Taking their dirty clothes she left the room for a while. The cleaners weren't too far away from their room. When she returned, Reid was already out of the bathroom.

"The shirt didn't fit," he told her.

"Oh, sorry about that. I couldn't see any bigger size," she apologized taking the shirt and placing it back in the closet. "If you need anything feel free to call the guy downstairs. It's all taken care of."

"Are you sure it's okay that I be here?"

"Uh-huh," she replied dully grabbing a book from the closet. "I personally know the King and his daughter, we're like family." Opening the hardcover book she took her glass of Ambrea, she leaned up against the dresser and began to read.

"What are you reading," Reid asked in curiosity.

"The dictionary," she told him flatly not paying attention.

"The dictionary?"

"Yup."

"Why the dictionary?"

"When I was little people used to use big words with me and I'd get confused. I figured if I read the dictionary and I learned the big words, people couldn't confuse me as much," Sakari explained with ease. Taking a quick glance away from her book she took a peek at her companion.

Reid was on his feet and was stretching his arm around. From the side view she could see that he was very well toned. There were a few scars on his right forearm but that was about the only flaws she saw in his body, at least from what she could see. Despite the fact that the shirt was too small, the black pyjama pants she found for him fit perfectly.

She was about to go back to reading seeing that he was turning in her direction when something caught her eye. Across the right side of his chest, there was a deep wound.

"What happened?" Sakari asked suddenly catching his attention.

"What?"

Putting down her glass and book, she walked toward her companion. Using her fingers, she touched his wound carefully to see how recent it was. The first time he winced, but before she could react, he grabbed her hand to stop her from trying it again.

"I'll be fine," he told her sternly.

"Did it happen today?" she asked innocently.

"I'll be fine," Reid repeated letting go of her hand as he walked away. She watched as he made his way to a chair across the room gripping his wound.

Looking at her fingers, she saw that the wound was still bleeding from the blood left on her hand.

"What are you doing now?" he asked as he watched the girl climb the dresser to reach the top of the closet. When she finally came down, she was carrying a white box.

"We have to close up that cut of yours," she told him as she opened the health kit.

"I told you I'll be fine!"

"Look, I have to stitch you up or it's going to get infected. Believe me you do not want that to happen," Sakari told him remembering the time she hid a cut from her father and it had gotten infected.

"This is crazy," Reid objected raising from his seat.

Not letting him escape, Sakari pushed him back down with her right arm. She glared at him with her light blue eyes and warned him not to leave. "Relax, I've done this a trillion times," she told him as she threaded a special needle with the thread.

Reid sat silent as he waited patiently. "What's the ice for?"

"I have to numb the area that I'm going to stitch up or its going to hurt like hell. It's either the ice or I knock you out."

"I'd like to see that happen," he joked.

"Don't tempt me," the warrior threatened. Grabbing a cube of ice, a pair of scissors and her threaded needle, she returned to her patient. "Now sit straight," she instructed him as she knelt on the floor beside him.

"So... you're a knight for the King," Reid spoke up trying to make conversation. He was trying his best to ignore the contradiction between the warmness of Sakari's fingers and the sharp coldness of the ice on his skin.

"Uh-huh," she replied focusing on the wound.

"What kind? Rookie? Amateur?"

"For your information," Sakari snapped. "I am the head Knight of the Corovan Military for King Reyam the third. And I'd thank you not to make any comments on the fact I'm a girl. The King has great faith in me and I know that I can do a better job at it than any guy can."

"You have high confidence in yourself," he commented.

"If I don't no one else will."

"That's not true."

She looked up to look at his eyes, there was that same mysterious glow in his eyes that she had seen before. "You don't know my past," Sakari told Reid quietly. "Don't make assumptions on things you don't know."

This time it was her eyes that trapped him. Before, all he could see in her eyes was anger and annoyance. Now they changed. Her crystal blue eyes were filled with sorrow and sadness. He could see a tear form in the corner of her eye. Sakari had turned away before he had a chance to wipe it away.

The girl continued to work on sealing his wound in silence. When she had finished she threw the needle and the remaining thread in the garbage and went to wash her hands.

"Take some of the Ambrea and drink it," she instructed him as she dried off her hands.

"Why?"

Sakari closed the door quietly as she re-entered the room. Ignoring his question, she grabbed a glass and poured him some. "Here," she said handing him the glass of dark red liquid.

"What is this stuff anyway?"

"It's a little drink me and Zara made up," she began to explain. "Its a mix of strawberries, peaches and ambrosia. The peaches and strawberries are just for the taste but the ambrosia has amazing healing powers."

"Oh really?"

She nodded. "If you don't want to drink it then don't, its your choice," Sakari snapped as she drank her glass. Though her energy came back she was feeling a bit sleepy.

After pouring herself another glass she walked to the other end of the room. Grabbing a few extra blankets from a cabinet she laid them out on the ground and took a pillow from the bed. "What are you doing now?" the young man asked as he watched Sakari lay down on the floor.

"I'm getting tired, you can take the bed. I'll stay here on the floor."

"Why don't you sleep on the bed and I'll take the floor," Reid contradicted.

"Because you're injured and the floor is no place for you to rest. It's better for your health," she explained to him as she covered her lower half with a blanket. "It's perfectly fine for me to stay on the floor."

"I am not taking the bed Sakari," he told her.

"Well I got here first."

"Sakari..."

"Stop trying to be a gentleman! Just take it!" she hissed through gritted teeth.

"No," Reid replied rather calmly.

He was pushing her buttons again. Somehow in the short period of time that they had known each other, he had learned her pet peeves. She didn't like being disobeyed and she didn't like to be wrong either.

Stopping herself from blowing up irrationally, she thought of a solution. "Alright then. Since neither of us will be happy unless the other is on the bed, why don't we just share the bed? It's big and I'm sure that each of us can stay on our own side."

"Fine," he responded seeing that she wasn't going to obey him anyway. Besides he was getting tired and wanted to rest.

Content with their agreement, Sakari grabbed her pillow and chose her side of the bed. As she tucked her self underneath the comforter, she found herself watching as Reid made his way to the other side of the bed.

She hadn't noticed it before, but he had a tattoo on his back along his spine. Suddenly her eyes flashed and she saw the same design on something else. When her eyes went back to normal, he was at the side of the bed. She looked away for a moment to think of what just happened. Where have I seen that sign before?

"Good-night," came Reid's voice as the light went out.

"Night," she echoed lying down.

Several hours later....

Suddenly opening her eyes, Sakari found she was awake again. It was still completely dark outside. It must have only been at the most, one in the morning. She didn't know why she woke up; it couldn't have been a bad dream because she didn't remember any. Looking to the right, she noticed that Reid was still there, he didn't leave.

Who is this guy? she thought to herself as she looked him over. They had never met before, but she felt that she'd known him forever. Then again she didn't know anything about him. For some reason she felt safe with him, and scared to death of him at the same time. And that tattoo on his back just confused her more.

When they first met, though not formally, she could feel that he was looking for the same thing. Subconsciously she knew that she could get information from him. She did locate the Relic, but unfortunately she didn't have it in her possession. But how did he even know about the Relic?

In confusion, she looked at his face as he slept. Reid looked so different when he was asleep. There was no motion in his body except for when he breathed. He looked so innocent like a small child. She stared silently as the man slept beside her.

Oh my god! Sakari screamed in her head. If Kari heard me thinking like this, she would never let me live it down! Covering her face with her hands she took a deep breath and exhaled. What was it about him that made her invite him to stay in the one-bed room? Inside it made her angry not knowing, but at the same time she felt relieved that she didn't know. If she did know, she knew she would find a way to avoid it and that wasn't something she wanted at the moment.

As much as she didn't want to admit it, she felt safer knowing that Reid was there with her. Inside she held a dark secret that if it were discovered, it would mean her immediate death. Maybe it was the paranoia Sakari felt that made her want to learn the way of the sword, to gain the power to protect herself. Or it could have been desire to prove she can do what most girls want to but never do? She couldn't think of many women that actually tried to fight. There was never that many at the Zarian Games.

Sitting up in the bed, she stared at his face again. The light from the moons outside crept in and reflected softly off his skin. It revealed strands of gold along his front hairline rimming his face. Against his jet-black hair, they now stood out illuminated by the moonlight.

Her heart pounded as Reid began to stir. She tried so hard not to move, but she did want him to wake up. She wanted to find out what keeps trapping her in his eyes every time she looked in them. Shortly, he ceased to move once again, but her heart didn't slow down. She had never felt this way before, about anyone, but why Reid? They had only meet some six hours ago, one fourth of the day had passed and yet she felt this way. There had to be something that she didn't see that was catching her attention.

Becoming tiresome of the amount of thought she was putting into Reid, Sakari decided to try and go back to sleep. As she lay back down a small glimmer had caught her attention. Sitting back up, she looked on the dresser next to Reid.

There it was in plain sight, the Angel Relic. How did I miss that! she exclaimed to herself. Seeing that Reid was a peaceful sleeper, it was her chance to snag the ancient treasure. Doing her best to not disturb his slumber, she crept closer and closer. When she was nearly touching him, she arched herself over his body. Reaching out with her slender hand she reached for the Relic. Just as her hand was about to touch the jewel her body was snapped back in the blink of an eye. When she opened them, her arms were pinned down above her head. Underneath her back a hand assisted his body in preventing movement.

She looked up to see his golden eyes looking straight into hers. "Is there anything I can do for you Sakari?" Reid's deep voice sounded sending her heart pounding several thousand miles a second.