Sorcerer Hunters Fan Fiction ❯ A Brother's Love ❯ 02 - Qeran's Aftermath ( Chapter 2 )

~Chapter 2~

 

 

 

"... uhh... uuuh..."

 

Carrot blinked his eyes open, feeling disjointed. He opened his eyes to... somewhere that seemed light. A little too bright. His mind took a step back, and he remembered the fire... had he died? Was this the afterlife?

 

He sat up, and, at seeing Big Mama and Dota, he realised where he was; not the afterlife, but Eden, the main branch of the Stella Church. Second best thing.

 

He scratched his head, "I... what... what happened?"

 

Dota rushed to the group, who were arranged in an unceremonious heap on the floor in front of Big Mama. Her hands were clenched together, and her wings fluttered nervously.

 

"Oh, oh, oh, I'm so happy you guys are safe! We were just, well, we were just sitting here, then Mama got this feeling, and we looked, and we saw what was happening, and... oh man, you guys almost got killed! We almost thought you guys were goners, I was so worried, but Mama managed to stay calm and she managed to transport you guys here... do you feel okay?"

 

"A little weird, but okay... man, that Radish dude is one freaking maniac, though. He did this weird thing to my head I think, he looked at me and it tickled, it was weird. Didn't think brains were made to be tickled. Jeez... thanks, Mama. I can think of many better ways to die than, y'know, burning to death."

 

Big Mama looked strangely sad, just nodding to Carrot in response.

 

Chocolat and Tira then woke up, blinking their eyes open and realising where they were, Gateau following suit. There were a few moments of silent realization and looking around at each other and smiling at how wonderful it was that they'd managed to cheat death for the umpteenth time, until the group seemed to realise something all at around the same time.

 

They silently stared at each other, it was Gateau who eventually voiced what was on everyone's mind.

 

"Where's... Marron?"

 

An uncomfortable silence; Carrot turned to Big Mama, nervous worry on his face.

 

"M-Mama? Mama, where's Marron?"

 

Big Mama was met by five pairs of questioning eyes; she looked away, the sadness on her children's faces wasn't something easy to stare in the eye of.

 

"Marron... could not be rescued."

 

The mood seemed to abruptly change in the room as Big Mama said that; from uncertainty it dropped to sudden hopelessness; Carrot just stood there, numbed, un-moving... the other three had still been on the floor from where they'd been rescued; Tira put a hand to her mouth, her muffled "Marron-chan..." spurring a choked sound from her sister.

 

Gateau was in a similar state to Carrot, not wanting to believe what Big Mama had just told them. He looked up at her, his voice shaking.

 

"... he... couldn't be rescued? You mean, he wouldn't let you or something, or...?"

 

Big Mama stood up, turning away from the others; her voice was similarly strained.

 

"I'm sorry, my children... I've failed you."

 

Big Mama walked out of one of the side doors, followed by Dota crying "Mama! Mama? Ma.. Mama!"... the rest of them just remained motionless, Carrot dropping his head, his eyes closed. Chocolat looked up at him, "Darling?"

 

"I... I... I wanna go to my room."

 

"Darling, I'll come with you, I-"

 

Carrot stood in the doorway, looking over his shoulder with an empty look in his eyes.

 

"I'd rather be alone, Chocolat."

 

"Da... Darling..."

 

Chocolat didn't argue, unsure of what to do; she couldn't think of anything to say, and so let Carrot go. She'd extended her hand to Carrot, but let it fall once Carrot left.

 

Chocolat heard Gateau stand up, and turned to look at him, "Gateau?"

 

He was silent.

 

"Gateau, are... are you okay?" She knew that he wasn't, but didn't know what else to ask.

 

Gateau didn't say anything, just wordlessly heading through the doorway that Carrot had gone through. Tira sighed loudly, attracting Chocolat's attention.

 

"Marron-chan's... gone, then..."

 

Chocolat nodded slightly, "I... I guess so..."

 

Tira knelt there silently; Chocolat stood up with a sigh, walking a little closer to her sister, putting her hand on Tira's shoulder. Tira looked up, Chocolat could see Tira's tearful eyes behind her large glasses. Chocolat gently removed Tira's glasses and folded them up, helping Tira up with a hand. Tira's eyes seemed to wobble with tears for a moment, before she launched herself at her oneesama, crying suddenly; this surprised Chocolat, but it was something she expected. Chocolat felt tearful herself, but... she felt sad that she couldn't help Carrot or Gateau, so... maybe trying to be strong for Tira would be a better option. Or at least be someone she could cry on.

 

Chocolat sighed, rubbing Tira's back with one hand, holding her glasses in the other. They stood like that for a short while, Tira's cries seeming to echo in the tall-ceilinged hall... Chocolat let herself cry with her sister for those few moments, before gently hugging Tira to her, "Maybe we should go to our room..."

 

"Y... yes..."

 

Chocolat nodded, and the two of them turned around to go down the corridor that lead to their bedrooms.

 

Tira separated herself from Chocolat once they were walking, hugging herself tightly. The two were silent for a while, but Tira was eventually the first person to speak.

 

"... I feel bad for Carrot..."

 

Chocolat nodded, "I, I know... I know he said he wanted to be alone and everything, but part of me wants to check that he's okay... I don't think he should be alone right now..."

 

"Maybe just for a little while, let him think about... things... I agree though, oneesama... perhaps we should check on him in a little while..."

 

Chocolat stifled a yawn, she felt so suddenly tired...

 

"Tira! Chocolat!"

 

The Misu sisters looked up at that call; Eclair was running towards them from the direction of the bedrooms. Chocolat didn't smile, but she seemed to relax for seeing Eclair.

 

"Oh, Eclair... hi."

 

"Hi... look, do either of you guys know what's wrong? Gateau came in, he just won't stop crying... it's really weird, I've never seen him like that before! I kept asking him what was wrong, but he couldn't even speak, he was so choked up... it was a bit creepy, I thought I should maybe find out what happened from someone else..." Eclair seemed to notice the looks on Tira and Chocolat's faces. She frowned slightly, "Did... something bad happen?"

 

Chocolat sighed heavily, half-spinning on her heel, and leaning against the wall. "You could say that."

 

A pause, Eclair looked from Tira, to Chocolat, to Tira, to Chocolat again. Neither said anything, Eclair waved her arms in frustration.

 

"Well, is somebody gonna tell me what happened, or what?"

 

Chocolat closed her eyes, "Marron died."

 

Eclair froze.

 

"Wha.. what?!"

 

"Marron died. We were chasing after a Sorcerer, who'd set up this massive inferno... there was a shield around us all, and suddenly it let out, I guess... all I remember is that one moment, we were under the barrier... then it suddenly got really hot for just a moment as it dropped, then my mind's just a blank... after that, all I remember is waking up in Eden. That was when we realised it, he was gone."

 

Eclair stood silently, listening with respect as Chocolat spoke. She nodded throughout, sighing once Chocolat became silent.

 

"Oh, god... Marron... he...? I- I'm sorry, I didn't realise... I... I guess that's what was getting to oniichan, then. Damn... I don't know what'll make him feel better now... if anything..."

 

Tira looked up, looking slightly confused.

 

"What do you mean? W-well, no, I mean... of course Gateau's going to be upset, we're all upset, but you sound like... it's something else..."

 

Eclair bit her lip, wondering if she said too much. Her eyes dipped to the floor for a moment before she looked up, letting her body relax a fraction. "Where were you going?"

 

"Huh? We were going to our room..."

 

"Oh, okay then. I'll come with you, I'll tell you guys once we get there. It's not something I should really discuss in corridors, you know?"

 

Tira and Chocolat nodded, curiosity burning deeper than sadness for a few moments. The girls reached the Misu bedroom, Chocolat opened the door, let the others in, then took a running jump onto the bed. Tira followed her, sitting next to where Chocolat lay; Eclair closed the door then just perched herself on the edge of the bed, turning to face over her shoulder to speak to Chocolat and Tira.

 

"Oniichan really loved Marron. Did he get to... I mean... did they even speak before he died?"

 

Chocolat looked sympathetic, thinking of Gateau. "Really loved him?"

 

Eclair nodded, "Y-yeah... he probably wouldn't want me just telling people, but it's a bit late now... I mean, there's no risk of... of Marron finding out..."

 

Eclair sounded progressively sadder as she spoke, as if the events of the day were truly starting to dawn upon her. She looked at a random point on the bed, lost in thought for a moment. The silence eventually managed to snap her back into speaking, she looked up to see the Misu sisters in similar positions.

 

"... I know he wouldn't have known to say anything, but did oniichan get to... did Marron... I..."

 

Chocolat leant back against the headboard of the bed, leaning her arms against it. "Eclair, we didn't even know Marron was gone until we got back to Eden. I don't know if they saw each other during the mission or what, but... not before... that..."

 

"I see... I wish I could do something! He'll be going on about how he always wanted to say something and now it's too late... not that I mind him going on, it's just that I hate to see him sad, you know what I mean? Marron made him so happy and so sad, I always wanted something to happen just to see oniichan smile and have Marron smile back, it would have made him so happy! He spent quite some time angsting about Marron, let me tell you..."

 

"I can't quite picture Gateau-chan like that..."

 

Chocolat waved her hand, "Well, there was how we saw him just then... he didn't even say anything to me, I asked how he was, but he didn't say anything..."

 

Eclair nodded, standing up. "He probably couldn't speak for wanting to cry... maybe I should get back to him now I know what happened, make sure he's okay. Well, try and make him as okay as possible, even if it's not much... you guys gonna check on Carrot? How... how's he taking it?"

 

Eclair was standing by the door now; Chocolat looked down a little, "He said he wanted to be alone, so... we thought we'd let him be alone for a little while, then we'd go see him, 'cause no-one should really be left alone in a situation like that..."

 

The doorhandle clicked as Eclair went to open it, nodding at Chocolat, "That makes sense. Well, I should really go now... I'll see you guys later, okay?"

 

Tira and Chocolat nodded at Eclair as she quietly left the room.

 

Another silence, another time of people not knowing what to say; Tira felt an arm around her shoulders, she looked down to see Chocolat hugged against her.

 

"Oneesama?"

 

"I wonder what Darling's thinking and feeling right now? He's just lost his little brother... if... if I'd lost my little sister, then I... I..."

 

Chocolat's voice wavered; Tira put a finger to Chocolat's lips, "Oneesama, don't say it if it makes you cry..."

 

"Tira, it could just as easily have been you! Or me, or Gateau, or Darling... or any of us! It just happened to be Marron... I wish it hadn't happened at all, though. I don't know what Carrot or Gateau're gonna do now... or us... I feel sad, but... to them, it was something so much deeper than what we feel..."

Tira nodded, "Marron-chan's like a brother to us, isn't- ... wasn't he?"

"Yeah, but... you saw how he used to get around Carrot, always protecting him and stuff... he never said anything, but I'm sure Darling appreciated it. Even if we were getting mad at Darling, Marron'd always be kind to him... damn, I want to go right away..."

 

Chocolat made to leave, but was stopped momentarily by Tira's hand on her arm.

 

"Oneesama... maybe a little longer."

 

"Tira?"

 

Tira's voice was a little quieter, "I'd rather we stayed here like this for a little longer... I don't know what I'd say to Carrot, but I feel safe with oneesama..."

 

Tira trailed off, as if she was unsure as to what she wanted to say. Chocolat just climbed onto the bed again, understanding what Tira meant. She replaced the arm around Tira's shoulders, "Sure, maybe just for a little longer."

 

Outside of the room, Gateau walked past; Eclair was back in their room. She'd went in and told Gateau that she knew what'd happened and that she was sorry, but after saying that she was sorry and really really sorry, she hadn't seemed to have known what to say; Gateau didn't blame her. After days and nights of such constant feelings suddenly ending up like that... Gateau just said that he appreciated her concern and that he was going to go on a little walk; she'd asked him where, he'd shrugged, not saying anything to her. He knew where he was going, though; he was going to see Carrot.

 

Gateau reached Carrot's room, his heart feeling heavy as he knocked on the door.

 

No reply.

 

Gateau thought about trying the door-handle, but thought about how that might seem a little rude... he knocked again, a little harder this time.

 

"Ca... Carrot? Are you there?" He obviously was, Gateau thought... still, it might spur some kind of reaction.

 

It didn't.

 

"Carrot, if you're there... say something, please?"

 

He didn't.

 

Gateau sighed, more than anyone else in Eden at that moment, he wanted to see Carrot. Carrot was Marron's brother, Gateau thought that he might understand the loss he felt slightly more keenly than the Misu sisters or Dota might.

 

He opened the door, prepared to feel the door fight against him, but he realised that Carrot hadn't locked the door; it opened. He walked in, shutting it carefully behind him. He glanced around the room; Carrot wasn't immediately visible, but the human-shaped lump underneath the covers of Carrot's bed was enough to tell Gateau where Carrot was.

 

Gateau walked over and prodded the Carrot-shaped lump.

 

"Carrot?"

 

A silence, then Carrot's voice, barely audible, but still there.

 

"Gateau... why?"

 

"Huh?"

 

Another pause. Carrot threw the covers away from around his head. He was lying on his side, staring straight forward, speaking to Gateau without looking at him.

 

"Why? Why did it have to be him? Why couldn't it have been me? He... was always looking out for me, always protecting me, and that's not fair, it shoulda been the other way around, I shoulda been looking out for him, I shoulda been protecting him, but instead I just acted like a moron and barely let him know I noticed all his selfless crap..."

 

Gateau went to sit on the bed opposite to Carrot's own, but was prevented by Carrot.

 

"D-don't sit there."

 

Gateau gave Carrot a confused look. Carrot just glared back evenly, "Marron's bed."

 

Gateau 'oh'ed, standing up again, respecting the significance. He paced around for a few moments, listening in case Carrot wanted to say anything. In the end, he sat himself at the foot of Carrot's bed. Carrot sat up, the bedsheets bunching around him.

 

Gateau turned to his side so that he could face Carrot. Carrot didn't say anything, but Gateau almost wanted to cry again when he saw an object where Carrot'd been lying; he'd been sitting there with one of Marron's robes. That gesture seemed so sad to Gateau, but he managed to compose himself as much as he felt he needed to in Carrot's presence. He felt like he'd almost cried himself out in his exposure to Eclair earlier, all he felt now was... just empty.

 

"Was there... anything you wanted to say?"

 

Carrot just shrugged, "Is there anything to say?"

 

Gateau just blinked at Carrot, then looked down. "I guess not."

 

"Uhuh..."

 

Carrot shifted around on the bed a little, lying down, reaching to wrap his fingers between the fabric of the robe beside him. He stared up at the ceiling, his eyes narrowed. He let the silence reign in the room for a little longer before quietly speaking... he didn't doubt that Gateau could hear him, and he didn't feel in the mood for speaking full-force.

 

"He didn't deserve it. He sure as hell didn't deserve it."

 

"That's the truth..."

 

"I keep trying to get it out of my head but I can't... did it... do you think... do you think it hurt? That huge fire, and he was... he was out in it... how long would it take to... you know?"

 

Carrot curled up on himself, hugging his legs to his chest through the sheeting. Gateau looked up when he heard Carrot's voice strained with choked emotion.

 

"I can't stop thinking about it... I can't... I wish I could, I wish I could just sit here and remember him as he was... but just thinking of how we were so close to that fire... I keep wondering... what was it like in that fire? Did it hurt too much? He didn't deserve that kind of thing. Never. Made me wince in battle whenever he got hit 'cause he wanted to protect me, or he wore himself out doing some kooky magic spell to protect us all... mainly to protect me... and I couldn't even do anything..."

 

Gateau nodded, "I know, I know... if it's any consolation, none of us could do anything, could we? We didn't even know what happened until we were back at Eden, and by then, I... I guess it was... over..."

 

"Uhuhn..."

 

Carrot let out a deep, shuddering sigh. Gateau looked at him with tearful sympathy, but Carrot didn't even meet Gateau's gaze. Still staring away, he just looked to some point on the other side of the room, his eyes seeming blank almost.

 

"I... know whatcha mean about him not deserving it, though. He was the kindest person I knew, anyway..."

 

"Yeah, but... I don't wanna sound harsh, Gateau, so don't think I mean it like that, but... you're not the person he was always so selflessly protecting! He woulda given his own life in an instant if he knew it meant I'd be safe, he was always just so... he was always so like that... I taught him to be strong, and holy crap, he became strong... then he just seemed to blossom, y'know? Suddenly he was beautiful and powerful and everything, and I was just his big brother who couldn't really do anything anymore, but he still never stopped loving me..."

 

Gateau spoke with slightly more bitterness than he meant to, "At least he loved you."

 

Carrot looked at Gateau at that point. Gateau felt a slight stab at Carrot's look; he looked so wide-eyed, so curious... something like that had happened, and Gateau'd snapped at him... he just sighed.

 

"... s-sorry..."

 

"No, I... it's okay... but... you... I know you liked him and all..."

 

Gateau stood up and walked over to stand next to the window.

 

"Yeah, well. Not like it matters now or anything, does it? Marron won't know I loved him..."

 

Carrot's voice was quiet, "You... did, then?"

 

A nod. Gateau closed his eyes.

 

"Gateau... I'm sorry, I never knew..."

 

"That's the point, no-one did. Well, Eclair did. No-one else, though. Not least Marron. I always flirted with him and stuff, but that was just fun, y'know? I thought that anything else could wait until a more serious time... I don't know, maybe one time we'd be on a mission, and you guys would all be asleep, and I'd say to him I had something to say but I'd rather tell him alone, and..."

 

Gateau stopped himself.

 

"... it's too late now. I never got to say anything. I know it sounds stupid, but... I can't quite believe it happened, y'know? He was alive, Carrot... he was alive, and he was there, and now he's not, and I just feel disjointed between then and now... keep thinking he's gonna walk in here and laugh at the joke he pulled on us all."

 

Carrot nodded, "I know, I know... Marron wasn't the kind to play jokes, though."

 

"No..."

 

The two dropped into a nostalgic silence as they thought about just what it was they'd lost. Carrot eventually sighed, "Gateau, I'm not trying to push you out or anything, but I kinda wanna sleep now... I feel really tired, drained, y'know?"

 

Gateau walked over to the door, "Yeah, I know. I feel a bit like that too... I'll go try to get some sleep too, maybe that'll stop Eclair worrying so much if I'm quiet and calm. Just hope I don't cry in my sleep or something. Who knows, it might look better in the morning..."

 

"How can it, Gateau?"

 

Gateau paused, then sighed.

 

"I... I don't know."

 

****

 

"... fuck. He's beautiful, oniisama."

 

Bright daylight shone in through the large window at one end of the room. Outside of the window was forest; the house was hidden by the cover of the trees, and wholly unvisited for quite some time until Radish and Celery had arrived there earlier that morning with their charge. There was no worry, Celery insisted Radish, of being somehow caught in that place. To satiate Radish's growing worry, seals and barriers were erected around the radius of the house. Once that'd been taken care of, Radish was happy enough to take Marron inside. They'd taken him upstairs, and taken him into one of the bedrooms.

 

The bedroom in question was reasonably large and well-kept. The ceiling was high and decorated lightly, the outline of a raised flower surface invisible from the floor. The room was dominated by the window at one end, which showed a stunning view of the forest, near and distant. Marron was still asleep from the Qeran incident, kept under constant check by the brothers, and sedated by Celery's magic at any sign of waking.

 

Celery and Radish stood silently after Radish's announcement, just watching Marron as he slept. He was breathing lightly. His shoes were at the foot of the bed, and he was firmly tucked in... his dark hair contrasted with the bright whiteness of the bed and the rest of the room, but as the sun shone on him, Radish's thoughts were confirmed. It didn't matter. Marron was nothing short of beautiful.

 

Radish folded his arms, speaking in a whisper.

 

"I don't wanna disturb him or anything... he looks so peaceful now, doesn't he? Sleeping like that... I almost don't want him to wake up, 'cause then he won't be peaceful... will he, oniisama? He'll be all angry and stuff..."

 

Celery looked distant, not observing Marron with quite the intense detail that Radish was.

 

"That's to be expected though, otouto. You just murdered his brother and his friends in front of his eyes... as he is, he probably won't rest until you die..."

 

Radish looked suddenly deep in thought, "As he is..."

 

Celery's voice was matter-of-fact, "If you want to keep him then you're going to have to change him."

 

"Hey, hey, don't make him sound like some kind of pet! I know I'm gonna haveta do something, I just can't quite decide what... I don't even know how I'm gonna dare. Once he's awake, if I give him three seconds then he's gonna blast me into the wall. He's so peaceful right now, but once he wakes up, he's gonna be scary... I don't know what I can do. Oniisama, what... do you think?"

 

Celery sighed, "I should have known you wouldn't have thought this all through. The magic from Qeran will be the key, it's just a case of releasing it at the right time... and you have to be strong, otouto. It can't just be the magic it takes to read someone's mind, or to speak to them... it's so much more than that... are you... sure you're strong enough?"

 

"Well, we've gotta be strong enough, haven't we? If we let him go he's gonna fucking kill us. Fuck, it's like, we've captured some kind of wild animal while it's sleeping. I guess we just have to wait until he wakes up and decide what to do then, right?"

 

"If you don't think it'll be too late by then..."

 

Radish was already retreating towards the door, staring over his shoulder at Marron as he went. He turned to face the door, "I don't know if it will be or not. Anyway, whatever happens, we've gotta eventually get him downstairs, right? While he's asleep I'll go set everything up... it's gotta be perfect..."

 

"SUZAKU, KAEN GOKU!!!"

 

"OTOUTO!!!"

 

Celery leapt for Radish, pushing him down while the attack hit the door and slammed it to a close. The door sported a charred patch in the middle; it smouldered slightly, Celery waved his hand, and it smoked to a finish.

 

The two of them looked up at where the attack had originated from; Marron was sitting up on the bed, suddenly awake. Anger was plainly visible on his face, and his arms were still held wide from where he'd unleashed the attack. Radish pointed a finger uselessly, "You're awake! What the hell are you doing awake!? We cast enough spells on you to keep you asleep for another coupla hours at least!"

 

Marron just glared levelly at the pair, "I cannot sleep while my brother's murderers still roam this world. If it takes until my dying breath, I'll kill you."

 

Radish dusted his shirt down, muttering under his breath. "Keep on like that and that won't be too far in the future..."

 

He cleared his throat, looking Marron in the eye.

 

"Well, you're awake now..."

 

Marron cut Radish off, "Why did you bring me here? I'm a Sorcerer Hunter, just like they were; why not let me die alongside my brother and the others?"

 

"Oh, come on. You think I'd tell you my motives just like that? You're a stroppy pet," Celery rolled his eyes slightly as Radish went on, "but still... just co-operate with us a bit and it won't be so hard for you. We can't do anything if you keep trying to attack us every coupla minutes, you know?"

 

"Give me one valid reason why I shouldn't hit you with my entire power at this moment."

 

"We don't wanna hurt you, Marron. Just relax a bit, okay? You coulda died back there but you didn't, you're still alive, just treasure that, okay? We've... got something we need to take care of..."

 

Radish was already ushering Celery out of the door.

 

"You say you don't want to hurt me... but it's too late. Hurting me I can forgive. Hurting my brother... killing my brother..."

 

Marron paused, thinking of Carrot as he spoke. Random memories pained him before he remembered what it was he'd been talking about in the first place.

 

"... that... that, I can't forgive."

 

Radish's eyes narrowed, Celery caught that motion and put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "Radish..."

 

"Marron, just quit it with the melodrama. Okay, your brother died. Big whoop. Just try and forget about it, okay? Trying to set the house on fire ain't gonna bring him back, is it?"

 

Celery winced in the few seconds it took for Radish's words to have an effect. Radish narrowly managed to avoid having an ofuda pinned to his head; it hit the wall with a surprisingly loud sound, and when Radish turned to face Marron again, he already had another ofuda poised, ready to fire.

 

"This next one won't miss."

 

Radish felt uneasy, as if Marron was playing some kind of sadistic game with them; Marron, Radish supposed, felt he had nothing to lose. Radish felt his temper teetering on the edge; why couldn't things just be simple?

 

"For fuck's sake, QUIT IT! You can't even be grateful that we saved yer stupid life, we COULD have just left you to die, but no, me being the stupid prick I am, I thought that maybe I'd rather save you and find out what you're like... maybe you're just a little brother-obsessed bitch, maybe I should just kill you now..."

 

Marron's voice was low, "If you die or we both die, I don't mind either way."

 

"Oniisama, I don't want to kill him..."

 

"You shouldn't have provoked him, then."

 

"... shut up."

 

Radish growled inwardly as his brother's lack of sympathy. He pointed at Marron, calling a spell; red lightning suddenly poured to and through the bed from the ground and surrounded Marron, pulling around him, crackling and fizzing with menace. Another hand movement, and the lightning tightened a fraction more as Radish began his attack. Marron let out a surprised cry at his suddenly restricted movement; Radish approached him, still pointing his finger from the attack. He had a dangerous look in his eyes.

 

"I don't wanna kill you but I will if I have to. At least if I kill you I can know I've been the person to destroy such beauty even if I couldn't have it for myself... do you really want to die?"

 

Marron's body shook as electricity seemed to course it's way through him; he wouldn't give Radish the benefit of his pain, he just smiled as best as he could manage, "I'll return to niisan..."

 

Radish let the lightning build then fall away with another growl. Marron fell back on the bed, panting... he stared at Radish until he felt he had the strength to release another attack. He urged his body on and cursed it for succumbing to that attack so easily.

 

"Fuck, you are brother-obsessed, aren't you? Everything's just him him him him him. Like that Gateau guy and you..."

 

Marron sat up stiffly and frowned, "What... about Gateau?"

 

Radish turned his back on Marron, shrugging lightly. "Oh, well, you know. Back when we met outside of Qeran, I looked into your minds to see things that I wanted to see... I asked Gateau who he loved, and it was just you, Marron. The intensity of his emotions was enough to physically hurt me..."

 

"Gateau... loved me...?"

 

"But hey, he's dead now, so that doesn't matter, does it?"

 

Radish looked back over his shoulder, "Did you know he felt like that?"

 

Marron stared at the foot of the bed, "I... didn't."

 

Radish smirked, "Does that shock you?"

 

"... in a way, I... perhaps it does. I knew how he felt about me, or at least, I thought I did... to know more of his emotions... I want to hear his feelings in his own voice. If his feelings were truly that strong, then I want proof of that from his own voice... which was ripped from this world by you..."

 

"Hey, hey, don't shoot the messenger. If he couldn't say 'I love you' then that's his own problem. Would it shock you if I said I knew who you loved?"

 

Marron said nothing, glaring at Radish vehemently.

 

"... You wanna fuck your brother, don't you?"

 

"Don't speak of him like that..."

 

Radish just smirked, "You're not denying it... loving your brother in such a disgusting way..."

 

Marron glared at Radish for a few moments longer before looking back at the foot of the bed, speaking barely above a whisper. "I cannot deny... the truth."

 

Radish nodded, feeling a slight sense of victory at Marron's admittal.

 

"Ah, I see, I see. So you don't deny that you wanted him to fuck you?" He turned back around, standing close to the bed. He sat on the edge, next to Marron's silent form. He nudged his head in Celery's direction, indicating something about him.

 

"Me and him are brothers, ya know. I fuck him whenever I want to, he doesn't mind, he's happy for me to do that. Doesn't that make you jealous? See..."

 

Radish got up from the bed, and walked over to Celery. Celery was quietly distant as Radish looped his arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss.

 

There was silence in the room as Celery let Radish kiss him; Radish smirked against his brother's lips, he could almost physically feel Marron's eyes burning into the back of his head.

 

"You want to be like us, don't you, Marron? You and Carrot, you want that relationship to be like the relationship that me and Celery have... I love it when I fuck him and he's underneath me, and he can't even look at me, but he can't stop saying my name... did you wanna do that to Carrot? Or did you want him to do that to you?"

 

Radish pulled away, from Celery, directing his smirk at Marron.

 

"... but of course, Carrot's dead now."

 

Marron said nothing; he was staring out of the window now. Radish supposed that that was a better reaction than another attack, and took the opportunity to leave the room, Celery following behind him.

 

Marron heard the door close, and looked round for that moment. The room was still, the sound of his body shifting against the sheets of the bed the only sound left to be heard.

 

Thoughts of what Radish had been suggesting drifted aimlessly through Marron's mind. Being trapped underneath Carrot's body... Marron wouldn't look away. He'd look into his brother's eyes...

 

He fell back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, idly trying to make out the patterns etched onto it. Circles of some kind. Gateau'd loved him and he'd loved his brother. He hadn't even realised Gateau's feelings, if what Radish had said was the truth... he didn't trust Radish, but he didn't see why he'd make something like that up... and then Radish had kissed Celery, and Marron'd just stared... that was something Marron found hard to believe. Those two, they were brothers, but... Radish had said...

 

Marron sighed, wondering why he wasn't out in the corridors of the place he was in, hunting down Radish before he could go anywhere... somehow, he didn't feel in the mood. Suddenly, staring at the ceiling seemed about as much as he wanted to manage... and if he was still with the two Sorcerers at this point, he doubted that they'd suddenly be gone after sleep. They'd even brought him back to their forest hideaway... they could have killed him, but they hadn't... and they didn't seem to want to kill him, not even now...

 

Marron closed his eyes, seeing Carrot in his mind as he did so. Radish and Celery could wait until after he'd perhaps slept for a while longer. He couldn't stop thinking about Carrot, and he didn't want to move; movement reminded him that he was alive, and that Carrot wasn't... he clenched his fists. No, thinking about that... he wondered what else he could think about to divert his thoughts. He couldn't think of anything, and therefore eventually slipped into an indecisive sleep.

 

In another room in the house, one downstairs, Celery stood. Radish was sat on the doorstep, looking out on the garden and forest in front of that.

 

Celery's arms were folded, and he looked vaguely fed up.

 

"So what do you want to do now?"

 

He saw his brother's shoulders shift in a shrug.

 

"I dunno. Leave him be for a bit, I guess. At least we managed to get out of there without him kicking our asses, we actually managed to speak to him... or at least, I did. Maybe we're getting through."

 

"Whether you are or not, it doesn't matter, does it? While the thoughts he has now run through his mind, he's not going to be able to stop thinking about them. If you died... or if I died... Radish, would you want to stop thinking about me?"

 

Radish seemed to purposely ignore Celery's question, choosing to focus on something else instead.

 

"Heh, I wish I coulda seen the look on his face when I kissed you, though. He seems kinda frigid, don't ya think?" He coughed lightly, "I'll have to do something about that. I'll have him screaming my name like you scream it before too long. It's just a matter of how... I don't wanna rape him, I'm sure of that... he wouldn't be screaming my name in pleasure if I did that, and that's what I want, ya know?"

 

Celery sounded a trifle bitter, "Only that? You kidnapped him just to be your personal little sex slave?"

 

Radish shook his head, smirking cruelly back at his brother.

 

"No, I already have one of them."

 

Celery just glared, then walked over to the table in the middle of the room. He pulled one of the chairs out, and sat in it.

 

"So... you set everything up to your satisfaction, did you?"

 

Radish nodded, "Mmm, yeah. Everything's ready, more or less. All we need is him now, however long that takes... I dunno how we're gonna get him downstairs, though. Maybe you should go see him, oniisama?"

 

"How would I be able to help?"

 

Radish waved his hand vaguely, "Well, you're more quieter and stuff. Maybe you can talk to him without him trying to blow the room up."

 

"Perhaps."

 

Celery didn't seem in the mood for speaking. Radish wondered if he should say anything, but he couldn't think of what to say; there was something up with Celery, but Radish wasn't sure Celery'd tell him even if he asked. Besides, Celery was usually quiet and moody, there wasn't anything wrong with that.

 

"Oii, oniisama..."

 

"Hm?"

 

"There... isn't anything wrong, is there?"

 

Radish hazarded a query anyway.

 

Celery stared at the back of his brother's head for a few moments. Radish had asked him if there was anything wrong... of course there was something wrong. It was all wrong. No-one should be kidnapped to be manipulated like that, even if Radish was sure it was someone he liked so much and had never felt such feelings for before, or whatever... but Radish was stubborn. Celery knew that stating that opinion would probably end up in bloodshed somehow, he decided it might be better to stay quiet.

 

"... why should there be, otouto?"

 

"Oh, no reason... you were just all quiet and moody and stuff. You're always quiet and moody and stuff, I just hoped there wasn't something bigger than usual making you all quiet and moody. And stuff."

 

"I... appreciate your concern, otouto... you needn't worry."

 

Celery was surprised that Radish bothered asking at all. He appreciated that, at least.

 

Radish swung his foot at a nearby stone, and missed.

 

"Maybe he'll fall asleep again... or maybe he's plotting our deaths as we speak..."

 

"He misses his brother."

 

Radish looked around in time to see Celery stand up. "What?"

 

Celery pulled his cape a little tighter around his neck, making sure it was fastened properly.

 

"Just as I said. If you died, I'd certainly miss you."

 

"Yeah?"

 

Celery nodded. Radish smiled, "I'd miss oniisama too."

 

Celery stopped in his tracks; he'd been on his way towards the door, and hadn't been expecting any kind of reaction from Radish. He turned around and blinked.

 

"Otouto?"

 

"What, can't I say that either?"

 

Celery's face seemed to fall a fraction. "You didn't say anything earlier, and you do have someone captive for reasons you're barely letting me understand... I'm one thing to you, it seems... and you want him to be what I can't..."

 

Radish picked himself up off the floor and sighed, leaping at Celery, throwing his arms around him.

 

"Jeez, oniisama makes me sound so selfish. You're getting too confusing! Him, he's... he's beautiful and everything, but you're my oniisama, right? Nothing can be more important than my oniisama, nothing and no-one! Not even him. So don't get so jealous, okay? I still love you."

 

Radish squeezed a little tighter, and then let Celery go.

 

"Okay?"

 

Celery paused, then smiled slightly. "Y-yes."

 

Radish's moods came and went, but it always warmed Celery to hear sentiments such as that. Even if the next hour they were forgotten. He glanced at the door, "Should I go and get him now, or...?"

 

Radish shook his head, "Maybe leave it for a bit. Let him think about things for a bit, y'know? While we're around, he's just gonna be all 'oh, I gotta kill them', y'know? On his own... well, we can let him stew for a while, make him really think about things..."

 

The smirk on Radish's face un-nerved Celery slightly, but he let it go.

 

"... I see... well, in any case, I still have the key. Unless he gets violent, he won't go anywhere until we want him to."

 

"Unless he suddenly decides to jump out of the window."

 

"Otouto, that window's not been opened for years now..."

 

Radish nodded, "I know, I know. Well, hey, if we hear a sudden smash followed by a scream followed by a messy kind of thud, we'll know to get the soapy water out. Blood stains so horribly sometimes... anyway, while we let him on his own, I wanna know what you think about something, okay oniisama?"

 

Celery walked over to the open sash door and sat on the step that Radish had been sat on beforehand. Radish sat beside him, and looked to him for confirmation.

 

Celery looked back, "Of course... what is it?"

 

"Well... I think I've got it all worked out, what I want to do. I wanted to know what you thought, though..."

 

Celery let himself listen as Radish's plan unfolded.

 

****

 

The dying sun's light shone with fading brilliance through Carrot's window. He'd fallen asleep the night before after his talk with Gateau, and woken up when the sun rose, suddenly unable to sleep. He thought about things, things that just wouldn't leave his mind... it was too early to talk to anyone, though. He'd gone out of his room, wondering what to do with himself until anyone woke up; Gateau'd said that things might look better in the morning. Carrot had wondered how they would, and as he wandered around, he still wondered that. He'd slept, and he'd awoken, but somehow he didn't feel refreshed... only heavy. His heart felt heavy and his body felt similar. Waking to see Marron's carefully-made bed untouched had stabbed him before he even sat up, the feeling already trapped him even though he was only barely awake.

 

So Carrot walked around the corridors of Eden, trying to calm his troubled mind, or at least attempt to soothe his inner pain... even if that felt so impossible...

 

He approached a random window in one of the corridors of Eden. Carrot sighed loudly as he opened the window and leant out, certain that no-one was around to hear his sigh.

 

He wondered if he'd dreamt the night before. Something in his mind made him think of Marron; had he dreamt of Marron? He couldn't remember, and it annoyed him. If he'd dreamt of Marron, even if it'd been a nightmare, then he wanted to know about it. He wanted to treasure what memories he had of his brother, and if his mind chose to make new ones in the land of his dreams, he wanted to remember those too.

 

Carrot remembered crying; he'd cried yesterday, but this morning, he felt like he should want to cry, but he couldn't anymore. More than wanting to cry, he just wanted to rest on his bed and curl up a bit, think about how warm the sheets were around him... the wind picked up slightly outside of the window, catching inside a fraction, cooling Carrot's face as he let one arm hang out of the window. Wouldn't Marron's calm smile be warmer than the sheets? A reassuring touch the same? He closed his eyes, thinking about the wind. Wind was colder than the human touch, but refreshing. In his mind's eye, he could see a hill... he couldn't see the wind, but he could feel it, physically feel it against him. He could see Marron, just standing there, letting the wind play around his body, his robes being carried outward, his hair flying in the wind's direction... if it blew it over his face, he'd reach up and brush it away, tucking his hair behind his ears, letting it hold for as long as it'd hold...

 

Carrot fell to his knees, feeling suddenly unable to keep his body up. Marron seemed so vivid in his mind... he wanted to believe so badly that, once he'd finished wandering around, he'd go back to his room, his and Marron's room... Marron'd still be asleep, perhaps. Or maybe he'd be awake, he'd be awake and worried because Carrot wasn't around... Carrot allowed himself a sad smile as he thought about it; as he walked into the room, Marron's face would brighten slightly... not so visibly as a huge smile or anything, but something that Carrot just noticed... Marron's happiness, his relief, Carrot could spot it as easily as anything else; Marron was his brother, if Carrot couldn't notice things like that, then who else would be able to? Gateau? Gateau loved Marron, but even so...

 

Carrot pulled himself up against the wall, looking up at the ceiling, seeing the sun shining on the wall in front of him.

 

"Maybe yesterday was all some kind of bad dream... y-yeah. Yeah, that was it... a bad dream. And once I go back, he'll be waiting for me..."

 

Carrot didn't move. The longer he stayed out in the corridor, the more he felt he could pretend that Marron would be waiting for him once he went back to his room. The knowledge that his room would be empty preyed on his deeper mind, also preventing him from moving.

 

"... he'll be waiting for me... so I'll stay here a little longer..."

 

Carrot closed his eyes again, not seeing any reason to keep them open. Maybe he'd fall asleep in the corridor. He didn't see any harm in that.

 

His ears pricked as he heard footsteps. Marron's footsteps? No... but... who? Carrot didn't want to open his eyes to find out. Chocolat, Tira, Gateau, Eclair, Dota... any of them, he didn't feel like facing. They'd only remind him of what happened.

 

"Né, Carrot-chan, it's not good to fall asleep in corridors, you know. Someone might trip over you!"

 

Carrot winced inwardly. It was Milphey. Yet another person he wasn't in the mood to see. He turned his body and head away from Milphey's general direction, not opening his eyes.

 

"Go away, Milphey. I'm not in the mood."

 

Carrot could almost feel Milphey's crushing hug around his shoulders as he tensed his body, waiting for the attack that didn't come.

 

"You don't need to be all bad-tempered, Carrot. If you looked any lower you'd be in the basement. Come on, cheer up! You look like someone died, or something like that."

 

Milphey crouched next to Carrot, placing his hand on Carrot's shoulder. Carrot rolled away from Milphey's touch, feeling inwardly annoyed; seemed like no-one'd told Milphey what happened...

 

"Jeez, I guess no-one told you. Someone did die, okay? Marron, Marron died. Okay? Now you get why I wanna be left alone?"

 

Carrot opened his eyes, half-glancing at Milphey. He expected Milphey to probably stand up with an "Oh" and maybe go away... either that, or he'd start it with all the "Oh I'm so sorry" and everything... Carrot didn't want that. Milphey looked serious for a second or two before he prodded at Carrot's sides suddenly.

 

"Silly Carrot, Marron's not dead."

 

"Milphey, shut the hell up! He IS dead!"

 

Milphey fell back into a seated position, looking altogether too happy for his own good. Carrot just glared, if Milphey was trying to lighten the mood any, then it wasn't working.

 

"He's dead, I don't need you taking the piss."

 

"No, I mean... did you see Marron-chan's body at all?"

 

"Milphey, just shut up, I don't wanna think about it."

 

Milphey stood up, pulling on Carrot's arm as he went. Carrot didn't seem to want to stand up... Milphey pulled a little harder, "Come onnn, stand up!"

 

"Why should I? Milphey, just leave me alone, okay? I wanna be alone! I don't need everyone being all miserable 'cause Marron died, and I don't need you pretending he's not dead either! I just wanna... I just wanna think about him like how I wanna think about him..."

 

"You're so pessimistic, you won't even listen to me. Marron-chan isn't dead, we've found where he is."

 

Carrot froze for a moment, Milphey took advantage of that and managed to pull Carrot into a standing position.

 

Carrot just stared at Milphey. Milphey smiled back.

 

"I was wondering where you were because of that. I looked in your room, you weren't there, but I knew you had to be around somewhere. Mama sent me to find you, Dota's also looking for you, I think... anyway, I found you, so come on! I think the others are all there too, they're all waiting for you!"

 

Carrot felt in a daze, letting Milphey pull him along as they ran towards where everybody else would no doubt be gathered.

 

Was Milphey telling the truth? Was Marron really not dead? Excitement and relief flooded Carrot's body. Of course Marron wasn't dead! Marron was too strong to let a stupid Sorcerer like that kill him. They'd managed to escape many Sorcerers in the past, even really strong ones like Sacher Torte... Sacher'd wanted to kill half of the world in order to realise his ideals, now he was someone who was dangerous. He used to be Big Mama's head Haz Knight, even. Celery and Radish were nothing in comparison! Carrot almost wanted to laugh. He'd been so stupid... when they found Marron, he'd have to get Marron to hit him or something. How could he doubt his little brother's powers so much? Marron was strong, Marron was a survivor.

 

Milphey opened the door to the main hall; as he'd said to Carrot, the others were waiting there, along with Big Mama, Dota, and the other Haz Knights. The other Haz Knights? Carrot wondered why they were all assembled. He didn't care. He escaped Milphey's handhold and rushed towards Big Mama, barely able to contain himself.

 

"Mama! Mama, Mama, Milphey said... is it true? He's not dead! That was what Milphey said, anyway. Where is he? Can we go get him right now? Can you transport him here? Is he okay?"

 

"Carrot, calm down!"

 

Carrot turned to Tira, who'd spoken. The others looked strangely serious. Carrot wondered why. Marron wasn't dead! That was cause for celebration in itself, surely?

 

"Hey Tira, what's with all the serious faces? Marron's not dead, so... can't you all be at least a bit happy? Everyone was so sad before, but now, we don't have to be sad anymore! Okay?"

 

Carrot looked at Gateau, who he was sure would have something to say in Carrot's defence.

 

"Right, Gateau?"

 

Gateau seemed as serious as Tira, "Carrot, Mama explained it all to us. Just listen to her, okay? Yes, Marron's alive, but... well, just listen to her."

 

Carrot's eyebrow twitched; he felt confused, turning to look in front of him.

 

"Mama?"

 

Big Mama nodded once she felt she had Carrot's attention.

 

"It's true that Marron is alive, but... he's somewhere we can't reach."

 

She waved her hand, and the orb that Dota held glowed. Dota reached out, letting the orb expand; a view of Celery and Radish's forest house appeared.

 

Carrot put his hands on his hips, "Looks pretty. Where's that?"

 

"On the border between the Qerada and Ehret regions... a building that exists on it's own."

 

"Uh... huh... and...? What's so special about it?"

 

The view changed to the room where Marron was; he was currently asleep. Carrot gasped, "MARRON!"

 

Milphey waved one hand, "Don't worry, Carrot-chan. He's only asleep. Anyway... that's where Marron is, and that's what he's doing right now. He doesn't seem hurt or anything, and that's a good thing. Problem is, Mama's tried to get Marron out of there, but it's impossible, or at least, it seems like that. Nothing works..."

 

Carrot looked up as one of the Haz Knights stepped forward, feeling slightly nervous. He was used to Cinnamon Tea after she'd rescued them that time with Lendoll and Carlsburg, but the other two Haz Knights had always been more or less in shadow where Carrot was concerned.

 

Big Mama motioned to the Haz Knight who'd stepped forward.

 

"This house created a disturbance; Kahlua can tell you about it."

 

The Haz Knight, Kahlua, nodded.

 

"Yes, Mamu-sama. As you know, magic flows throughout the Spooner Continent, it is always around us, and Sorcerers have the power to harness that power... however, the Sorcerers who reside in that house, Celery and Radish Salt... the unbalance that exists between magic and our world... perhaps without even realising, those two are extending that unbalance."

 

Kahlua paused for a moment, looking at the Sorcerer Hunters to see if they understood so far; they all looked as if they were following him, except for Carrot.

 

"Carrot Glacé?"

 

Carrot visibly jumped, "U-uh-huh?"

 

"Do you understand?"

 

"Uh, well, there's magic and it's unbalanced and Celery and Radish are doing something to make it more unbalanced. Uh... is that it?"

 

Kahlua nodded, "In so many words... as you might have gathered, those two are destroying villages and towns that have Kinju sealed within them; they break the seals, collect the Kinju, and add it to their growing collection of magic, forbidden and usual. Such is their aim and goal in life. However... they seem to be collecting more magic than they know what to do with. Most spells will be collected, used once or twice, and then forgotten about."

 

Dota brought the orb back down to her chest, "Did you need the map now?"

 

Kahlua nodded, "Yes, if you may, Dota..."

 

Dota brought the orb to her, did something with her hands that Carrot couldn't quite make out, then let it expand again; this time, it showed what seemed to be a section of a map. Dota explained what the map showed before Kahlua continued.

 

"See, this bit here, that's the Qerada region, right? And this bit here is the Ehret region. And these swirly bits here show the path of magic around the regions. You can't normally see them 'cause it's magic and it's like, invisible. But if you could see magic, it'd look a bit like that. Anyway, usually, the magic goes whoo along this bit and whee along here-" Dota illustrated this with vigorous finger pointing along the path of the map. "- and flows harmlessly around. Now, Qeran is here, right? Qeran is where Celery and Radish last were, that's where they last broke a seal. The seal made the magic here go here instead, so it's changed a bit, but that's no big thing, 'cause magic is always changing and flowing differently 'cause so many people use it in so many different ways. Now, the problem is... well, uh... I'm sure Kahlua can explain it better than me, so, back to you, okay?"

 

Kahlua paused again, somewhat impressed by Dota's cheerful exuberance.

 

"... thank you, Dota. Magic seals call upon magic in our atmosphere for their strength; the seal in Qeran was destroyed, therefore, that magic was released back into the atmosphere. However, wherever Celery and Radish go, a massive build-up in magic, due to what they hold inside them, gathers. The recent fire near Qeran was partly caused by this."

 

Carrot interjected, "I thought that was just caused by Radish being a pyromaniacal little bastard..."

 

"It was partly caused by Radish's power, that's true. He triggered the reaction, but he has more power than perhaps he realises; the circumstances of the beginning of the fire we cannot judge, perhaps he meant for such a large fire to be created, perhaps he was only causing a campfire, but... whatever the circumstances of the creation of the fire, the results are only too plain."

 

The view on Dota's orb went to Qeran; the town itself seemed to still be standing, buildings on the outer edge of the town seemed charred somewhat, but people still went around the town. The Sorcerer Hunters seemed relieved at this. The view then went to what'd been the forests outside Qeran; the forests had been totally levelled, stopping only when the river that wound it's way through the region had created areas too large for even the fire to cross.

 

The view in the orb went back to the map of Qerada and Ehret.

 

"Put simply, Celery and Radish have too much power for their own good. Magic that they cast disturbs the atmosphere and causes such disasters as that of Qeran's forest fire..."

 

Carrot interrupted again, sounding impatient. "That's all great or cool or not cool or whatever, but what the hell's it got to do with Marron?!"

 

Chocolat aimed a kick at Carrot's leg, "Don't disturb a Haz Knight when he's explaining something! He's getting to that... right, Kahlua-san?"

 

Kahlua nodded, "Yes. Celery and Radish are currently at the house on the border of those two regions; Marron is also with them. It would seem that they have sealed the area around here-" Dota indicated the area around the house. "- and therefore have caused a disturbance in the atmosphere... the sudden build-up of power was what alerted my attention to it in the first place. We don't know why they have the seal over the building, but whatever their reason, the magic within them, the combinations that they might not know they even possess... we can't break the barrier. There's too much magic combined in that barrier for any one dispelling spell to break through; the layers created prevent us from bringing Marron back."

 

Carrot dropped into a cross-legged seating position, looking up at Big Mama, Dota, Kahlua and the floating orb that still displayed Qerada and Ehret.

 

"So... what can we do, then? If Marron's in there, there's gotta be SOME way of getting him out, right? Has anybody tried to break the seal?"

 

Dota nodded in Kahlua's direction, "When Kahlua first found out about the disturbance he went to try and find out what was up. He checked it out after we found Marron but couldn't get him back, that's how come he knows all about what's up now, ya see?"

 

Gateau cracked his knuckles, "Surely if they set up the barrier, they can get it down again?"

 

"Oh, I don't doubt that."

 

The group turned their attention to Milphey, who spoke next. He was calmly serious as he spoke.

 

"They have the power, but do they have the will to do something like that? They've obviously set up the seal for a reason. I doubt they're going to get rid of it just because we walk up to them, 'hey, can you get this seal down so we can have Marron back?'... I don't think they'd seal themselves away just for the sake of it; they obviously want to protect themselves from something."

 

Something seemed to occur to Milphey.

 

"Either... they want to prevent something getting in, or... they want to stop something getting out. They've got Marron. Who wants to bet that that's connected somehow? Hey, Dota, go back to inside the house there... thanks. See, look... he's asleep right now, isn't he? He seems peaceful, sleeping there... it's a nice house, a nice room, he's peaceful... if they wanted him, then they could have made a whole bondage-and-torture thing of it all, tying him down, chaining him up, whatever... they've not done that, but instead, they've placed a barrier all around the place to stop him getting out... right? He can go wherever he wants except for outside... the fact that Marron's still alive is good enough, but he's with those Sorcerers... what would the Sorcerers want with him?"

 

"Whatever they want, I KNOW it's nothing good..."

 

"Gateau..." Milphey was surprised by the sudden anger in Gateau's voice.

 

"DAMN, why did they have to kidnap him like that? Making us think he was dead and all... we shoulda killed that Celery guy when we had the chance, back in Qeran... at least we wouldn'ta let him lead us to Radish if he'd been dead! If I ever get my hands on them, they won't escape with their lives..."

 

Dota was waving her hand, trying to attract Gateau's attention. Once she had it, she smiled.

 

"I know you're angry, but that's not all. See, Kahlua can't break through the barrier and Big Mama can't transport through it, but but, there was something Kahlua noticed too..."

 

"Hm?"

 

Kahlua nodded, "There was something familiar about the magic; the magic used to create that barrier is one that I recognized... and if we managed to find someone else who wielded that magic, then we could break the barrier."

 

Tira looked up at Kahlua, "The magic was familiar? How?"

 

"Some magic in this world is triggered just by existence; Sorcerers are born with the ability to use magic, magic spells come to their lips as easy as their first words. Other magic is learnt and nurtured... such as, for example, Marron and his Eastern Magic. Such magic is that bit more complex, but as powerful - sometimes even more - than magic naturally given to Sorcerers. Have you heard of the Sorcerer Hunter, Walnut Brazil?"

 

Chocolat looked at Tira, who nodded.

 

"When we were in Qeran, one of the books in the Stella Library talked about him... something about him sealing away the power that Aboros had... Aboros was the Sorcerer who created the magic that Radish and Celery took from Qeran..."

 

Kahlua nodded, "Walnut Brazil was a Sorcerer Hunter who existed long before your time. He also harnessed magic inside of him, magic he was not born with... he nurtured and increased his power... he was a force to be feared, back in his time. He could have been destructive, but he chose to focus his powers on sealing and containing... many of the ancient seals in this world were placed by Walnut Brazil. Many of the seals being broken by Celery and Radish were placed by Walnut Brazil."

 

Milphey looked serious, resting a finger on his chin.

 

"Technically, they shouldn't even be able to touch those seals, but somehow they can..."

 

Big Mama spoke next. "Walnut Brazil was killed in battle; his mindframe was such, that... I don't doubt that, rather than allowing his powers to die alongside him, he sealed them away somehow. He had a family, descendents of which still reside in the Marata region; my eyes cannot see that far. My children... I know that your first concern is to rescue Marron, but in order to bring him back, we need to know... I need you to go to the Marata region and find his descendents. Through Radish and Celery's actions, I have reason to believe that they have somehow harnessed the power of Walnut Brazil... if his power was sealed away with his family, then they might have word on Radish and Celery... and they might have the key to breaking the barrier around that building."

 

Carrot sighed, "It's so vague... aren't you sure?"

 

Milphey leant on Carrot's shoulder, "We can't be too sure, but it's our best bet, we're pretty sure. Anyway, the Marata region's pretty far away... Mama, do they need a guide? I'd be happy to go along with them if they needed someone to go with them."

 

Big Mama nodded, "Yes, I would appreciate that. Guide my children to Marata... in the meantime, I shall concentrate my powers on trying to reach Marron... Kahlua and Shiffon will do the same."

 

"What about Cinnamon?"

 

The female Haz Knight looked up from where she'd been standing, on Big Mama's left side.

 

"Sssoommeeeoonnnee'ss goottaa lloookk aafftteerr Eeeddeen wwhiillee eeveeerryyoonnee's buussyy!!"

 

Carrot grabbed Milphey by the hair and started dragging him towards the door, "Come on, let's get going before she speaks again, else we'll be here all day..."

 

"Okay, okay, let go of my hair!"

 

Carrot did so once they were on the other side of the door, Tira, Chocolat and Gateau also with them. Milphey smoothed his hair down once Carrot let go of it.

 

"Okay! So, we're going to Marata... I haven't been there for a while. Last time I went there was when Walnut Brazil died, actually... we went there to pay our respects, you know. It's a bad sign if his magic's been disturbed, though... he was really powerful. It's like... you've seen how powerful Marron-chan is, right? He's only been studying magic for, oh... how long's it been..."

 

Carrot looked up as the group walked through one of Eden's corridors. "Well, it's at least been since mother died..."

 

Milphey nodded, "I know, I'm just trying to remember how long ago that was. Anyway, he's sixteen now, right? Something like that, I'm not good with ages. But, with Marron-chan and his magic... if he's that age, it can't be more than about six or seven years, if that, that he's been studying. Give or take a year or two. Brazil was an old guy when he got killed; he'd been studying magic for most of his life... look at how powerful Marron is after such a short time, and you might get some idea of how powerful Brazil was. Shame he's not around now, but hey, not everyone lives forever. If I remember rightly, his current living relative is his great-grandson, or great-great grandson, or great-great-grea-... well, you get the idea, it goes back a bit. Hazelnut Brazil is who we're looking for, at any rate."

 

The group fell into silence, thinking about what Milphey'd said.

 

Carrot sighed, "I wish we weren't so helpless, though! Thinkin' about Marron being held captive by those Sorcerer dudes... damn, it makes me sick! I wish we could just bust in there and get him back!"

 

Milphey nodded, "I know, I know... just be happy that he's alive, though. Earlier today, you still thought he was dead, right? As they say, where there's life, there's hope. The Sorcerers haven't killed Marron yet, so I suppose that's a good sign. I just want to know what they want with him, that's all..."

 

An uneasy silence as the group mused on Milphey's point.

 

Tira piped up, "Maybe they want to use him as some kind of bait? Get us to them through Marron?"

 

Carrot glanced at Tira. "After that whole Qeran thing, d'ya think they even know we're alive? Besides, they've set up a big barrier around the place. If they wanted us, do you think they'd set about getting us by shutting us out?"

 

Milphey nodded, "And besides, we don't even know if they know of Big Mama's powers. If they had taken Marron as some kind of bait for us, how would they go about telling us that they had him? If they were holding him hostage, I have a feeling we'd know about it by now."

 

"What if they've..."

 

Gateau fell into an abrupt silence. Milphey looked at him, curious.

 

"What was that, Gateau-chan?"

 

He looked up, "N-nothing... it's nothing... just a bad feeling I had, why they'd want Marron... but.. n-no, it's nothing, don't worry about it. Just me being paranoid."

 

"Oh, okay then. Anyway... to Marata now, I guess! It should take a couple of days if we hurry, and I don't think you guys have any intention of slowing down, right? There and back will probably take a week or so, I think... is that okay?"

 

Carrot growled, "I'd rather Mama transported us, but nooo..."

 

"Hey, Mama has better things to do with her time than throw you from here to there and back again. Anyway, a couple of days, if we hurry. Let's go!"