Chapter IX: Innocence
Kent's gaze followed Selena as she moved through the water, village youths trailing playfully behind her. A smile touched his lips, relaxed by their antics. He moved down the hillside, closer to the first small dock.
The young Knight paused, noticing the young woman's jaw was clenched. Set against the apparent pain in her side, though her expression was otherwise invitingly friendly.
Her long, pale blonde locks clung to the sides of her face, fanning out in the water as she swam. Selena's hand raised occasionally, catching a leather sphere and in turn tossing it to another. One of the older youths; Beth, giggled as she fumbled with the item. Despite the cool water, the children seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the unusual game.
His eyes continued to follow the small group, leaning against the shadow cloaked wall of the village ‘market'. Lost in thought. Preoccupied by the young woman's unusual abilities.
Selena's innocence prevent her from using them to purposefully pry, though she appeared to have the option to do so. Childlike kindness seemed to exude from her gentle personality, touching those whom surrounded her. Much like a lit candle in darkness, providing a small light. Her influence proved to be rather soothing, for the most part.
With the exception of Kain.
Kent's emerald gaze was growing hardened, much like the stone that it's color resembled. The sound of splashing water broke his absentminded observation, bringing the young Knight's gaze to the short dock below him.
Selena sat at the edge of it, dangling her bare feet above the village's small lake. Shimmering, green-scaled schools of fish were faintly visible to his eye, moving along aimlessly. He pushed himself away from the wall, quietly walking towards her.
"… Something is troubling you, Kent?" she inquired softly, her back still turned to him. His brow arched, pausing.
"You knew that I was here?"
The young woman half turned, pulling both legs onto the dock's weathered wood. "Your essence," she returned, a slight smile playing about her lips. Kent nodded after a moment, moving to join her. Selena combed her fingers through her dripping hair, brushing the soaked locks off her face in doing so. Her soft cobalt gaze remained on the young Knight as he lowered himself to the planks, mildly intrigued.
Kent met her gaze after a moment, thoughtful. "… You have mentioned essences several times, I believe. Are there restrictions to sensing them?" he inquired quietly, his eyes now moving towards the water. Watching the youths continue their game, although listening intently.
"… Yes, and no," Selena offered, deciding how best to explain it.
"Pardon?"
"An essence is very much the core of one's being - It shapes who you are, in sense," she began, slightly preoccupied. Selena hesitantly extended a hand, touching her fingertips to his heart. Kent's gaze immediately moved to the young woman, noting the flush that was tainting her cheeks. The still moist bracelet glistened in the afternoon sunlight, reflecting the dappled silver-blue beads onto his sleeveless tan shirt.
"One's essence is like the inner magic that we all hold: Equally capable of being harnessed, or unleashed. Both essence and magic, no matter the affinity, flow from one's heart," Selena added, dropping her hand. "Once I am … familiar with an essence, it's bearer is simpler to locate. Unless I am focused, however, an unfamiliar one could nearly pass unnoticed."
The young Knight nodded, absorbing her words. "Can you sense your own essence?" She shook her head, negative. "Alright … Are they capable of change?" he inquired, his calm and collected tone revealing measured, though genuine curiosity.
Selena paused, cocking her head slightly. "I believe so, at least marginally … The full power, however, may be partially based on one's current emotions."
"You have put much thought into the subject, it seems," Kent commented, holding her cobalt gaze. A smile touched Selena's lips as she fingered one of the crystalline beads on her bracelet, rolling it between her thumb and index finger.
"Yes," she finally admitted, flushing slightly. "… You are perspective, Kent. It seems that you miss little, if anything," Selena observed, thoughtful.
The onyx haired Knight shrugged, nonchalant. "It was something that I picked up, with time," Kent said quietly, his tone faintly distant, though his eyes remained on her. "Selena? May I ask something without seeming horribly rude?"
Her brow arched, before nodding. "Of course," she agreed, wariness barely touching her tone.
Kent hesitated, startled by her swift and affirmative response. Wondering if she was so trusting with all whom she encountered. "… How old are you?"
"If I recall correctly, less than half a moonspan from my sixteenth year," Selena murmured, her gaze remaining on him. "… Why do you ask?"
"Your swordsmanship, although inoffensive, holds a certain refinement. I was curious as to how and when you had obtained such training, thus, also your age … My apologies, if I am being to familiar," Kent added, once again withdrawn. Silently pondering - She was roughly two years younger, and it seemed that her very core remained untarnished. Even after encountering his half-brother.
Selena's voice cut through his thoughts, causing his straying gaze to move back to her. Seeing that he had been distracted, she spoke again. "Papa taught me, so I could at least defend myself … Although what little knowledge of swordplay I possess seems in adequate, as of late," the young woman mused, her gaze locked on his.
Kent stiffened, knowing what she was subtly voicing. "No," he said flatly, the bluntness of his tone startling her. Unwilling to mar her innocence by teaching a warrior's necessary, yet bloody art.
"Kent, please. I … want to learn," Selena pressed, though hesitation touched her tone. The Knight chuckled shortly, shaking his head. "Yes?" she inquired, slightly bemused.
"You are a poor liar, Milady. I can see that you do not truly want to learn - It is in your eyes, Selena," he added gently, realizing that his tone had become brusque.
The young woman flushed, before nodding. "You do have a point - But I need to learn. What I know of swordsmanship is not enough; You saw as much."
Kent sighed, looking away. Knowing it was true. "If I agree, know that I expect you not to give up. You must hold to your decisions," the young Knight said softly, calmly. He picked up a small, smooth stone that rested near the dock, rolling it between his palms. He tossed it between his palms. He tossed it in the water, watching the surface. Ripples, small and large, spread along the once still area. "Each decision creates a ripple, one that can grow large. Changing them also does so … Are you positive?" he inquired, preoccupied.
"Yes, I am," Selena affirmed, equally quiet. Resolute. Kent's gaze strayed back to the young woman's face, observing her. She seemed sincere, even if what she was requesting clashed with her disposition.
"Perhaps," Kent returned vaguely, allowing room for further consideration. His brow arched as a strong breeze swept across the water, noticing Selena shiver. He stood, extending a hand. "You may wish to move, as to prevent becoming too chilled," Kent said, offering a slight smile. Encouraging her to break at least a small barrier of her shyness, though expecting little.
She took if after a moment of hesitation, allowing Kent to pull her to her feet. "Thank you," she murmured as he released her hand, returning a timid smile. Acknowledging his attempt, though.
Kent nodded, pausing in mid-motion as she stepped back. Oddly puzzled. "Have you been through Hyrule before?" he inquired, meeting her gaze.
"No, this is my first time within it's realm of influence," the young woman responded, caught off guard by his sudden question.
"Alright … I was merely curious," he mused, unable to brush away his sudden sense of familiarity. Mildly confused, that he had only just caught the notion that he's seen her before Lyrako.
His emerald eyed gaze followed Selena as she walked past the market building, trailing behind her.
* * * * *
Link stopped next to Zelda, whom was leaning against the vine strewn tree trunk. Dappled sunlight filtered through the high treetop, dancing over the large roots below. His icy blue gaze followed Zelda's after a moment of silence, soon settling on their new acquaintances. "How much longer do we dare stay?" the blue-clad Princess inquired, glancing at the swordsman.
"No longer than two days," Link said, though reluctant about even that delay. "If we waited any longer, there would be less of a chance in finding Shadow."
The young woman nodded, a breath of wind toying with her long locks. As well as carrying bits of their companion's conversation. "Alright. What of Kent and Selena?"
Lin sighed, shaking his head. "I do not know," he murmured, squatting next to Zelda. Absent mindedly observing the other duo, following the gist of their conversation, though he was unfocused. The young man trailed his fingertips along the sprawling root, it's rough bark catching on his skin.
His brow arched, seeing Selena break into a run. The Knight immediately followed, calling after her. Both heading towards the nearest spring, Ordonna's.
Link straitened, glancing up. He stiffened. "Farore!" the swordsman gasped, eyes widening in astonishment. A billowing cloud of black-violet aura, hovering over the treetops. It suddenly vanished with one fell swoop, dipping out of sight.
He swung off the large root, Zelda landing beside him. They moved into a run, hearing a shrill whiny. His booted feet pounded on the dirt path, a loud squawk telling him that a cucco had gotten in the way.
Link stumbled to a halt as they reached his clearing, startled, The trio of equines were rearing up, mere sight of the aura setting them on edge. White and black hooves ruthlessly pawed the air, despite Kent's attempt to sooth them.
His icy gaze moved to Selena, whom was now holding the Knight's weapon. She handed it to him, before dashing towards the spring. "Selena!" Kent gasped, hesitating only a moment before leaving the horses.
The swordsman nodded to Zelda. They had little choice but to follow. He could feel the Light Spirit's pain, resonating. Coursing down the path.
Could Selena and Kent sense it? Or what they were about to encounter?
* * * * *
Kent unsheathed his sword as he ran, ducking under a low branch. The aura was still seeping out of the Spring's entrance, it's noxious swath swirling along the ground. He tensed as he straitened, lavender meeting his gaze.
A droid.
It lunged, extending it's dagger-like claws. Kent brought his sword up, stepping back. The creature suddenly hissed, rebounding off a shimmering blue barrier. Selena's magical shield cracked as it struck again. She visibly flinched, concentration broken. The barrier flickered, then vanished.
White-gold aura suddenly flared around the droid, roots bursting out of the turf. Curling around the creature, binding it. The pale aura turned aggressive - Forming a concentrated sphere over the glinting amethyst shard as Link paused next to the Knight. It shattered.
Crystal shards landed underneath the rolling aura, vanishing from sight as the ash fell. "Thank you," Kent murmured, his gaze momentarily shifting to Selena. She seemed to be alright, despite what had happened to her shield.
Link nodded in acknowledgment, he and the Princess immediately moving forward. Kent stepped over the tangled mass of roots, jogging after the duo. The Knight gasped as he reached the spring, startled by what met his gaze.
A massive, white-gold goat with a shimmering magical sphere hovering between it's curved horns. Ordonna, the Spirit of Light.
Crackling black energy was circling it and it's spring, causing the Spirit to wither in agony. Another sphere was forming, this one of the same dark energy. To destroy the Spirit's power.
He stiffened, his grip on his sword tightening.
"Company …" Selena whispered from beside him, her voice barely audible.
"Where?"
"Surrounding us," Selena returned, her petite form tensing as a large ring of droids appeared. At least nine, if not more.
The two on the east and west end seemed larger. Their crystals were smooth, oval. Giving the impression that they were a different type. And it seemed to mean that they were more intelligent, stronger.
Warm water splashed around their boots, slowly being backed into the spring. Like a wild beast's quarry, being herded to a simpler area.
Prey.
(Author's Note: Well, here's the belated update, XD. Now that this is up, there are only three other finished chapters left.
*Bashes writers block with wooden mallet. Pauses, and innocently smiles while holding mallet behind back* Sorry if there is a delay for Chapter XIII on ... I haven't been able to write a chapter-per-week recently, XD.)