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Memories	By : Asirainis Category: +A through F > Dragon Quest/ Dragon Warrior Views: 1614 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Quest VIII, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Memories
Prologue: The Nightmares
Darkness… Heat… Blinding pain, more searing than any burn she could have imagined surrounded her like an inferno… Her eyes opened wide as she stifled a scream of agony. She looked around wildly, seeing the calming stone walls of her Abbey, her home… Airlia examined her arms, her legs, and her abdomen seeing nothing indicating the source of such pain as she sighed softly. "It had to be a horrible nightmare… I wonder though, is it of something to come, of something that had passed, or could it be the hand of the Goddess trying to keep me from harm?" She got out of bed, making it to the dresser where her basin of water was and splashed some on her face. Looking at her face, she didn't see the twenty year old face staring back at her… it was someone much older. Purple circles were forming under her eyes, making her seem far more haggard. She ran her brush through her wild hair to tame it, before donning her plain dark blue dress and wimple.
She slipped on her loafers while listening outside to the sounds around her. It was just past dawn, and her arm – where her birthmark was – burned strangely, as if in warning. She had an odd birthmark – sort of like that of a dragon on her upper right arm, and as such kept it covered at all times. Her father – the Abbot Francisco, had tried everything within his power, and within the power of the church, by asking his best friend, the Lord High Priest Calchas, to see if he can find the young woman's parents. The Church had turned up nothing on her family, leaving him with but a babe just under a year old. They had even turned to Melampus for help with no luck… Thankfully, he had a nun within the church at that time to feed the babe from her bosom. He decided to call her Airlia, for the chocolate eyes had captured his own, and truly, he was a father to the young girl in every aspect, save that of blood. The one thing he could do though was to officially adopt her, a rarity, but one so young deserved to have a father.
He always trusted her thoughts as she grew, showing a wisdom far beyond her years. She pocketed the key to her room so that she could lock it when she left it. In a church, you were expected to have nothing beyond mere necessities, which was true for her, however – her father was concerned for her safety upon seeing the changing dynamics between her and two others that he had taken in. One of the two was Marcello, with his dark hair and blue eyes. He was always warm with her, kind even. Marcello had been taken in as one of the Templars, his own group of protective warriors of the church. She thought about how she had met Marcello and smiled fondly at the memory…

She had been out on a walk to Simpleton to gather supplies with her father. They enjoyed their walks together when that day held a danger neither had seen coming. He had gone inside, gotten his supplies, and left with his daughter in tow. However, they had just left Simpleton when a man grabbed the girl from behind, startling the pair. He glared at the priest as he demanded gruffly, "Give me all of your gold or the girl here will pay for you!" She struggled, tears down her cheeks when suddenly a rock hit the guy on the back of the head. Surprised that someone would dare to attack him, he released her in surprise as she fled to her father.
He turned around to see a young boy, a couple of years older than her, but a fair bit taller than her as he held a stick in his hands. "Leave her and the priest alone!"
The dark haired boy demanded of the man. "Well you caused me to lose my money for the day, so I will take my loss out of you!"
Airlia had been frightened as she called out to the boy, "Please be careful!"
Francisco put her behind him as he told her, "Run, and don't stop until you reach the Abbey. Seek the other Templars; tell them what's going on! Hurry!" She nodded as she ran, hurrying back to the Abbey to seek help to protect her father.
Tear tracks stained her cheeks as she was stopped by one of the local priests there. "Get the Templars! Hurry! Father is in danger!" He nodded as he called for Anthony, a long blonde haired man, his armor glistening in the light.
He had been staying over that night in the Abbey and when he saw the distress in the girl, he couldn't help but worry for her father. "Show me the way child." She nodded as he picked her up and ran, following her directions.
Moments later, he saw them, as he tucked her into a bush, "Stay here, and be quiet. We'll be back in a moment." She nodded as he quickly dealt with the attacker, as he found the boy unconscious, and Francisco was trying desperately to get to the boy, to spirit them both to safety. Anthony picked up the boy as he went to Abbot Francisco, "Your daughter is right over here. I had her lead me to this place so I could help you. I kept her out of range of this man's attacks and sights."
Francisco nodded as he went and found her in the bushes, shaking like a leaf. She could only think of the brave older boy as she asked, "Is he okay?"
Francisco nodded, "With rest, he will be Airlia, with rest he will be."
The group arrived back at the Abbey as she led them to her room, so the boy could rest until he decided if he wanted to join the Templars when he awoke. She pulled up her chair as she waited for him while her father went about his duties. Even though she was only four years old, she was versed in the arts of basic wound dressings. His wounds were thankfully light, or they would have had one of the older nuns with her while she mended the injuries to be sure nothing would go wrong.
A few hours later, she heard him wake as she smiled happily. She had bandages ready to change his head wound as she saw his frightened look. "You're safe… You're at Maella Abbey. I'm Airlia. I wanted to quickly change your bandages, but saw you waking up. If you don't mind that is…"
He looked at her warily, but saw the bandages that she had set on the bed as he nodded. She smiled as she undid the old bandages first. Standing, she placed them down where she had been sitting before applying the new bandages with herbs to ease the pain from the wound and expedite the healing. He watched her work intently, and his bandages were changed before he knew it. When it was done she whispered softly, "Thank you, for saving me…"
He couldn't help the blush because he was unused to attention since his mother passed. "You're welcome…"
She was about to go get her father when a knock came to the door. She went to open it to allow entrance to the knocker, knowing exactly who it was. "Hello father. He's just woken up."
Her father nodded as he turned to the boy, "What is the name of the young man who has saved you my daughter?"
She blushed as she responded, "He's only just woken up. So I've asked him if I could kindly change his bandages. I only just finished as you arrived."
He nodded as he turned to the young man. "So young man, what is your name so I may thank you properly?"
He looked proudly at Francisco as he said, "My name is Marcello… Marcello Adon."
Francisco nodded as he asked, "Where is your family child?" He looked down as he sniffled; the girl grabbed a handkerchief and handed it to him.
He smiled at her as he shifted his gaze to Francisco before his eyes filled with tears, "My mother is… dead. She died only recently. My father threw the pair of us out when his wife birthed his child."
Francisco felt his heart reach out to the boy, "Would you like to stay here and become a Templar? I unfortunately can't adopt legally another child since I have adopted Airlia when she was an infant."
Marcello looked up at the Abbot as he said, "Templars? You mean I could be a warrior and protect you both properly?"
Francisco nodded as he said, "Yes. You would be given proper training, both in the matters of the church as well as in weapons training as to be able to protect those within its sacred walls should the need arise…"

Those memories made her smile fondly… Then there was the second child her father had taken in to be in the Templars… Angelo. Everything had started to change from then on, as Marcello showed a different side to him, one that had frightened her. Things had changed even further as they aged into their teens. Marcello seemed to become almost possessive of her – screaming at his half-brother – Angelo if he even as much as look at her cross-eyed to try and make her laugh. She recalled that day dismally as she paused to listen – to see if anyone was lurking beyond her door to ambush her.

It was about a year ago… She had just turned nineteen, but had been developing well for a female of her age. At her petit height of five foot two, she had a flat abdomen and a gracious endowment for her chest. She had seen the looks change, but not know how it would truly affect her until that day. She was meeting up with Angelo to go to town for supplies for the Abbey. Maella had needed a stock of herbs and antidotes to give travelers on their way for the increase of monster activity had been frightening many into thinking they wouldn't even make it as far as Simpleton, just a twenty minute walk down the road. Due to the Abbey being a religious place, there was an abundance of holy water present for people to take with them, should they simply wish to do so.
Angelo was her age, though she had only known him since he was four, the age he had come to the Abbey, the pair quickly became thick as thieves, much to Marcello's displeasure. She had never known why he resented him, but the resentment and yes, hatred had followed him. As she saw Angelo, she took in his uniform, different from the other Templars, which had been Marcello's doing. She smiled into his sapphire blue eyes, with his platinum blonde hair falling into those eyes; he had become a true heartbreaker – even though he had never captured her heart. They had both known this but it was amusing to make Marcello think otherwise – for even a short time once he had started looking at her differently.
Angelo's outfit was a red uniform, which had white trim down the front and along the edges of the jacket, even the tail. Gold buttons held his cape to him, and kept his jacket closed. His rapier was silver and bronze, held within a green and gold sheath. The back of his cloak was red with a black lining. His shoes had a white guard that went up to his knees with his platinum blonde hair held back by a black ribbon length. He was taller than her by about a foot, truly giving him the feel of the older brother, even though they were the same age.
He held the door open for her as she emerged, and he smiled, knowing that while she hid her appearance behind the common nun's form, it was merely for her protection. Her room was just across from his in the abbey, and he merely wanted his sister to be safe. He grinned when she emerged, looking simply beautiful to him, merely because she held no pretenses, was not lofty with him in any aspect. They went around the side of her room, to the stairs, they were about to descend when his half-brother approached them, from the bottom of the stairs with a strange look in his eye at the pair.
She groaned inwardly as she tried to get around him, but his tall, lithe form, where she only came up to his shoulders. However, on the stairs, she came up to his chin sadly, as she wished that she were a tad taller. She took in his appearance with apprehension. Unlike his brother, his midnight black hair was sculpted close to his head, only going to his shoulders in length. He wore a blue uniform, like that of the other Templars, but unlike Angelo. The common trait they shared was the sapphire blue eye color. His hair came down along the sides of his face, ending just before his jaw. His uniform was blue – much like the midday skies, with white trim along the whole uniform. His shoulder cover went down to below where his rib cage would be. His shirt had longer tails than Angelo did, and were rectangular in shape. White trim lined that as well. Instead of the leg guards that Angelo had, Marcello had knee high leather boots. He held a pendant around his neck that symbolized being head of the Templar Guards. His pendant and the buttons on his jacket were gold in color. His rapier had a particular wound around design with a shield to protect his hand, and a backer to keep the rapier in his hand during combat. His holster, unlike Angelo, was red and bronze.
His gaze was strange to her, but it had become more and more increasingly familiar to the brunette. It meant nothing but trouble for the man she felt was a brother to her. She instantly felt sympathy for Angelo, knowing it was going to be another railing to belittle him. She was amazed that he could shrug it off as well as he did. Soon as Marcello's voice rang through the empty hall, she cringed. "And where are you off to Angelo? Are you trying to turn dear Airlia into a whore?" Airlia closed her eyes, unsure of where these attacks that he launched had come from, or why they now included her.
Angelo flashed his half-brother a dangerous glare as he said, "No, she came to me, because she needs to get supplies from Simpleton and she simply didn't want to disturb you from your duties." He supplied smoothly, trying to keep her safe from him. He knew that she was afraid of who Marcello was slowly becoming, but didn't understand why until just then. He had known there were problems, but he had never really seen them because Marcello had been savvy enough to keep it close quarters, away from other eyes.
Marcello's hand shot out and gripped her wrist painfully as he said, "You didn't want to bother me my dear? Why not? I'm more than happy to arrange supplies to come to the Abbey rather than you going out for them." It had taken all she had to not scream in pain that he put her in with his painful grasp on her wrist. As soon as Angelo saw the pain there, he gripped Marcello's wrist quickly, forcing him to let go of his friend, no more like his sister.
She quickly put her hands behind her back before focusing on her task, she said, "I know you're quite busy Marcello, Angelo had a little free time, so we were just going to make a quick run to Simpleton and back. We won't be long. My father's already aware and has given me permission." So the pair darted down the stairs and ran for the entrance of the Abbey to be free of his clutches.
Soon as they left the outer doors and were on the path to town, their pace slowed down enough for both of them to be able to relax and enjoy the morning sky. Soon as they rounded the hills surrounding the Abbey, he stopped her to look at her wrist closer. He could see the ugly bruise already forming as he groaned. "That stupid fool… What does he think he's doing, putting his hands on you, let alone leaving a mark on you?"
Her eyes were downcast as she mumbled, "He's been trying to force his presence more and more on me. I know that he hates you, but he needs to get over whatever his problems are and leave me be. With each passing day, I grow more and more frightened of his presence." He nodded as they hurried their pace once more before the man could send people to follow them and force them both back to the Abbey.

She then remembered another memory of that day, after they returned and had dropped the supplies off at the front of the Abbey, where the local priest took care of the passersby that came past there for a night of rest. The pair walked up to her room before he nodded to Airlia, allowing her to go inside on her own. Oh if only he had come with her – then there wouldn't be such a problem as there is now. However, she went outside, locking the door after her, and quickly went around the corner, and down the stairs silently. She had hoped that he would be in his room, sleeping as she went out to visit her father, her thoughts drifting to that frightening memory as she hurried on her path to visit her father.

Soon as the door was closed, she heard a throat clear and looked to her right – trying to hide the fear from her eyes. Marcello was in her room, sitting on her bed, a dangerous glare glittering there in his eyes. Her hand remained on the handle as her mind debated on what was faster, screaming for help or just running. But if she ran, where would she run to? Angelo? What if he wasn't in his room? She would be trapped. Could she make it down the stairs to her father across the bridge to the isle where Marcello's men were stationed, guarding him? What could she do? What did he want with her though?
As if sensing her uneasy thoughts, he spoke, "I just want to keep you safe Air… You're a very beautiful young woman who doesn't understand the wants of peasant men. If someone were to try and take advantage of you, then you'd be forced to marry them, or if they didn't want you – then no one would." She tried to hide the panic in her eyes as he got up and traced his fingers along her jaw. He removed his finger from her jaw as he spoke softly, "I will be someone in the church. And while you aren't truly a nun, but because you live here you must dress as one. I think that you don't quite realize the physical appeal you give to many, including me. Truly, a beautiful woman like you would make someone a wonderful wife… I can't help but dream to be that lucky man one day. So please… Do be careful, especially around Angelo – especially since he is a known womanizer." With that he bid her goodnight, leaving her alone in her room.

It had been the very next day a lock was placed on her door by her father – acting as if he was approving of Marcello's words, but he had given Marcello a false key to keep his daughter safe when Marcello suggested that a separate key be kept in hiding in case she was ever without it. He also began collecting items for his daughter for her to venture into the world with a protector that he had foreseen in a vision. A man dressed in a yellow covering with a blue and grey outfit, with a pure heart, traveling with others would be the one to protect her during her time of need. He got her some armor, a traveling dress that she could hide her protection under until she found more suitable armor to protect her. He still had the blade that was with her when she was first found. It had a strange carving in the handle that was a dragon, seemed to glow when it was near her, as if destined to be wielded by her. He had a stock of needed supplies for her to keep in a bag, of herbs, antidotes, and wyvern wings that would allow her to return to any town she thought about that she had visited, to keep her safe from harm. She would have to go, he knew, into the world without him and the thought scared him. However, he knew when he was gone, as it was destined, Marcello would make his move to try and force her to be with him. He had to protect his daughter at any cost…
However, his thoughts were startled when he heard the door below open and close quickly behind it. He knew it was Airlia, he had suspected for a time that she was having nightmares, but he never said anything, knowing that when she was ready – she would tell him. His lips set in a thin line as he looked about his study. The room was spacious enough for him; he had his books, his dresser, and his bed. He had a small chest under his bed, always locked for it contained items that rightfully belonged to his daughter, but he wanted to keep them safe for her until the time came that he had to let her go out on her own into the world. He watched for her as she came up the stairs, as he knew she would, tears there and the circles darker than they ever had been. Words would never describe how concerned he was when he saw the pure fright in her eyes as she rushed up to him. The nightmare had to have been truly horrible. He refused to let it lay any longer, because her health and safety were paramount to him. If she wasn't going to talk about it, then he was surely going to bring the matter up to her. He sat at his table and indicated the other chair, a simple but comfortable chair across from him.
As she sat down, she saw her father studying her face intently and knew she had to tell him about the dreams… "Father, the dreams and nightmares are haunting me nightly now, almost like a series of events, and I've lost sight on what feels like the past, what could come and if they are to be changed…" He nodded as he indicated her to proceed without a word. Her lips were set in a thin line as she nodded. She began to speak of the dreams, starting with the first one she had ever had, one of a man who died at the outreach of a village, unable to make it there for healing herbs. His face, she couldn't see, but felt strangely familiar to her. His hair was soaked in blood – as was his clothing, a green coat, stained with crimson. He had a forlorn look on his face, etched in death, of what could only be described as a lost love. He had been going there to find someone and was ruthlessly attacked on the way to the village. She saw the face of a young woman who sobbed by his side when they found him dead, mere minutes later. She couldn't see much about the young woman, except she obviously loved him, and was suffering greatly with her babies on the way.
She admitted that something clicked within her for that scene, that there was an unspoken pain there that laid within her heart for reasons unknown to either, though her father had a few guesses of his own. Then her eyes took on a frightened gleam as she spoke of the next dream… "There was a castle… so beautiful… its people so happy. Suddenly it turned dark; there were thorns that broke from the ground, spreading with it, a dreadful curse. Its people turned to living plants, but were unable to move or speak. Within the castle, at the source of the curse, is a terribly frightening jester, with a staff that reeked of evil. He had caused the curse, and the king and princess of this castle were turned into other beings, no longer human, though the humans reside within the cursed forms. I was unable to see what they became, but I can tell from the shadows, they aren't what they were. The scene then changes to where they are traveling… There is another traveling with them, who was either completely unaffected by the curse or wasn't there when it was unleashed. He wears a red bandanna, wrapped around his head, with tufts of dark chocolate hair and eyes, like my own. He has a yellow coat draping over his blue uniform. He seems to be the leader of the band, trying to find this man to break the curse." He nodded at her description, because the man matched the vision he had of the group she would be traveling with.
Her eyes then turned fearful, showing the next vision was going to be worse. "Next, there's a town, not far from the castle, where a dreadful fire was started, killing a man. The burning disfiguring him beyond all recognition – to hide the fact he was actually murdered. This dream, like that of the castle and the one before it had a feeling of finality… Like I can't change it because it would mean changing the past… The next one was definitely from the future… This one terrifies me more than words can express. Something came over Marcello and he was trying to force me to be his bride, but when it failed, a purple demon came out of the ground – out of this giant statue and tried to grab at me as well. I don't know what to make of it. I'm scared deeply by this vision father." He nodded and knew then and there that she had to get out of the Abbey, and to the ones who could protect his child.
"My daughter… I have feared this day would come – but sadly it has come all too soon. I must have you run into the night, away from everyone, far from here. There is a town to the north, but to get to it, you must cross by boat. Everything you will need for your journey is in this chest. Please take it, and change from the nun clothing into the silk dress inside, and then you must flee from here. Find the man in the dreams, because he will be a protector. Help him however you can and I promise you will find your family. Don't think of this as my pushing you away, it's about protecting you from dangers around us, even from within the Abbey. Whatever you do, you must not return here, I beg of you." He indicated the chest that had been locked for as long as she could remember. He gave her the key as she walked to it, while he went downstairs to lock the doors, preventing entry from outside while she changed into her clothing.
She unlocked the chest and threw the lid open to find the beautiful silk garment. Upon further inspection, it was a silk dress, deep red in color. Removing her wimple, and then her gown, she left the cross – her link to the Goddess, her father and his friend Calchas, under her gown to keep her safe during her journey. Upon tossing the dress on her, she saw it covered the dragon birthmark on her right upper arm since the sleeves went just past her elbows. She tied the sash around her waist to give her a place to hold her bag during her journey. Once she was dressed, she called for her father to look at her appearance, since she still had her leather slippers on, knowing they would be the most comfortable during her journey. Eying her critically, he nodded in relief, knowing it would be far harder for her to be recognized dressed as she was now. He indicated that there was more in the chest for her to take with her on her trip. Nodding once more, she looked inside and saw a strange sword, it had the symbol of a dragon, similar to her shoulder birthmark, and the handle was silver, with a guard to protect her hand.
"Father?" She asked while holding the sword, making him smile.
"I found that next to you that day. I figured something must be very important about that sword, since the marks were so similar." She nodded as she tied it about her sash, wanting to keep her seemingly birthright sword near her. Digging further, she discovered a plain, wooden shield to try and protect her from harm. "A passerby had offered it to us because his comrade had fallen in battle. He didn't want us to fall in battle should we be out gathering supplies. To refuse him would have been to do more harm than good. I want you to stay safe my daughter." She nodded as she slipped the shield around so it sat against her back, and continued to look within the chest.
She gasped as she found an armband in there that was gold trimmed bracer that had four blue gems that sparkled like the stars in the night sky. It had a silver lining with an emerald green background, and each gem had gold trimming on both sides, one sharp point and two rounded on either side going in the opposite direction of the other. She slipped it on, over her birthmark to ensure it would stay covered since it seemed to be the point of all of the trouble in the future. She neared the bottom of the chest, seeing a bag of herbs, antidotes and other traveling necessities. "Use these wisely, they are there to ensure that you stay alive – and I'm sure your friends will be able to keep you safe from harm once you meet them. I've included not only fare for the boat and a few inns, but for further supplies and to upgrade your protective gear. Please, be careful and travel safe." She looked in his dark brown eyes and saw the tears glistening there. Knowing that this was hurting him as much as it was her, she got up and tied the bag of items to her sash as well and hid the money within the folds of her skirt.
Father and daughter came together in a gentle hug of farewell before she was to leave the Abbey forever. She ran down the steps, trying to hide the tears from her eyes as she reached the door to unlock it. She listened first, a habit she had developed over her years there and upon hearing nothing, she opened it and rushed back into the Abbey to head to her room for any last items she may need from there. She quietly ran up the stairs and to her room, unlocking it, slipping in and relocking it. Turning around, she saw her room and looked about for supplies. She took nothing that couldn't be replaced on the road.
She slipped an extra pair of shoes into her supply bag, knowing that it may be a while before she can get new shoes, so that was deemed necessary. She took her other hidden herbs and tucked it safely within her bag. Once she had everything, she wrote a note to Angelo, explaining what little she could – slipping it into her bag, and left the room. She slipped into his room quietly and saw him lightly dozing in bed and smiled. Truly, the man was like her brother, always understanding what she had to do, and why without her even saying as much as she slipped the note into his clothing that he always wore. With it done, she turned to leave and hadn't checked to see if people were outside.
Truly this was the worst mistake she could have made in that night. Marcello was outside, tapping his foot on the ground, his eyes narrowed as he looked at her angrily. "And what do you think youwere doing in there at this time of night?! Why are you dressed like that Airlia?!" He had only just noticed she was in a silk dress and he found her… quite enticing.
Putting that thought away for a moment he waited for her answer to his question as she spoke, "I'm leaving the Abbey and I wanted to leave Angelo a note. I was coming to visit you next, so you didn't think he had kidnapped me."
Marcello felt like he had been punched in the gut as he stared at the dark haired beauty. He came up closer to her as he said, "And why do you think you're leaving the Abbey? Did he do something to you?"
She closed her eyes to briefly ask for patience to be given to her as she said softly, calmly. "It was nothing he had done. I've been having troubling nightmares that lead me to believe if I remain in the Abbey, all I know or care about would be in terrible danger." She broke away from him, rushing down the stairs, and past the others from the Templars before Marcello could finish processing what she said. As soon as he heard the outer doors, he bellowed for the guards to stop her, waking Angelo from his perturbed sleep. He knew she had come to see him, had left something in his uniform, but didn't want to disturb her.
Angelo quickly got up, got dressed and hid what she left him before Marcello could burst in the room in a livid rage as he usually did. Angelo could only surmise she was gone before anyone could reach her by the shouts outside from the other Templars…

So that's it for the prologue... Will Airlia get away? What do these dreams all mean?
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Memories