Two Men Talking

> “I fell in love with Frill at first sight. Don’t tell her that.” ~Xiv Arcturus

Frein struggled at the prospect of interrogating someone. The thought of torturing for information wasn’t exactly something he particularly enjoyed. Torturing for pleasure was a different story, but Katherine had yet to agree for them to dabble in this interest.

Still, that was for another time. And much to Frein’s relief, the Princess didn’t seem fond of the torture method either.

Xiv stopped a few steps before the two of them. The slight breeze swaying the barely maintained grass added an ominous atmosphere in the air. The Vyndivalian’s expression had changed from suspicious to unwilling and secretive.

“Frill left his weapons here, didn’t she?” she asked the guard who immediately gave a nod. “Can you bring me those?” The guard made a stiff salute and left. The Princess might be a little on the short side, but her fame and titles—a Royal Knight in addition to Princess, Frein recalled—could easily make anybody nervous.

“Do you have a last name, Xiv?” Kristel asked.

Silence.

“Look, I don’t have the Monarch’s Law so I can’t force you to talk. I don’t do torture, but there are things I want to know about Vyndival. Whatever happened—or is happening there—may or may not eventually come here. We need to be prepared just in case. I can even help your country...despite your king.”

“Arcturus. Xiv Arcturus,” he finally replied. His face showed a subtle sign of disappointment at Kristel’s last words. It was just a moment, but Frein saw it as clear as day.

The name struck Frein. Somehow it sounded familiar but he couldn’t fully remember. It was a name of a star, for sure. The number of trivia he had learned about this particular star streamed at the forefront of his mind, blocking out any relevant information he knew he should have. It was mildly frustrating.

“Good. My name is Kristel Irista.”

“I know. You’re famous even in Vyndival.” Xiv had a look of one trying to hide his indecisiveness. His eyes would glare and recoil at awkward moments.

Arcturus…Arcturus…

“My advisers told me you surrendered without a fight and that you wanted to see me,” Kristel said. “I’ve been very busy, obviously. Sorry I couldn’t find an earlier time.”

Silence.

“So, I’m here. What do you want to tell me? Can you tell me about what’s happening to Vyndival; why they forced a war they couldn’t win?”

Silence.

Kristel sighed and turned to Frein for some assistance. She was clearly considering the option for torture, but they both knew it wouldn’t yield to anything. The Visitor instantly went defensive.

“Don’t look at me. The guards said even Kento or Verdim can’t make him talk. Apparently, he’s been like that ever since Frill captured her. Maybe we can ask Bennie.”

“No,” Kristel retorted. “I already asked.”

Xiv met his gaze by the end of his sentence and instantly looked away. Curious. Frein stepped forward and looked closely at his face, never minding Kristel when she called out.

“Bennie,” he said. No response.

“Kento.” Nothing.

“Verdim?” Still nothing.

“Frill.”

Xiv still looked away, not reacting, but he swallowed hard enough for Frein to hear it.

“You need to get her in here,” he said to Kristel. Frein pretended to turn before quickly snapping back to Xiv in an instant, catching the man’s shocked face. “You like her, don’t you?” he asked in a whisper but cared little whether the Princess heard him or not.

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There was nothing but silence. Frein smiled and nodded.

Things that men do when they fall in love…Frein read the prisoner as easily as recalling his own situation.

“You mean Frill?” Kristel asked, moving in between them. “What for?”

Xiv’s eyes turned to icy knives as if he would stab the Visitor at any moment. Frein stood his ground, struggling to hide his sinister smile from the Princess as evil schemes formed in his head.

“She might be the only one who he’s willing to talk to—being his captor and all that,” he replied vaguely and flashed a shadowy grin towards Xiv.

“Why don’t you ask Enza to do it?” the Princess suggested, oblivious to the plot boiling between the two men. “She knows Frill’s scent. She helped Liona during Fittey’s delivery. It’ll be a good first errand for her.”

“Can’t you just use your M.O.B.I.L.E.?”

“I can, but…” Kristel trailed off, altering her gaze as she tried to dodge the question. Frein understood her hesitation. Even if the Aria wouldn’t blame her, the Princess still blamed herself.

“Just this once, okay? You guys can’t stay like this.”

“Thank you, Frein.”

“Alright, so where’s Enza anyway?” Frein could sense his yuma lurking around the area, but he couldn’t see her.

“Right here,” said the pup, calling her master’s attention by pouncing on him with two huge clawed paws. Frein almost tumbled forward, if not for her prior warning.

“Where did you come from?” he almost yelled. He stopped himself and looked at his yuma properly. Enza had grown larger since this morning. His head tried to figure out if he was just seeing things. Yes, she was definitely larger.

“I can blend well with my surroundings.” Enza’s skin melded and she vanished from view. “See?”

“No, I can’t see. But that’s amazing!” Frein thought it was honestly uncharacteristic for a dog-like creature. “Can all yumas do this?” he asked both to her and to Kristel.

“Beats me.” Enza revealed herself and turned to the Princess, looking for an answer.

“They don’t,” Kristel said. “Sometimes even yumas or vorks are bestowed with one of the Ten Blessings when they bond with their masters. That’s Nature’s Favor, very rare. But it takes a significant amount of meiyal so it doesn’t last long. Be wise on how you use it.”

“You understand?” Frein clarified with Enza.

“Yup!” She snatched a quick lick on his face, which induced the wrath of his knuckles on her head. “Stop it!”

“Anyway, Enza,” Frein began, stroking his yuma’s fur gently now. “I need you to call Frill and tell her to come here. Can you do that?”

“Sure,” she replied.

“Out and back in, no distractions, clear?”

“Yeah, yeah. You don’t have to be too strict about it. I expect a reward upon my return.”

“Good girl.” He gave her a nice pat on the head before sending her off.

“Have a look at this, Frein,” Kristel called out, not wasting a moment. She held two sets of weapons that took his attention in a heartbeat.

Both sets were identical and made with three parts: a sledgehammer, a sword, and a set of chains each. The chains linked a hammer and a sword, and the hammers double-purposed as scabbards.

The intricacies of each of these parts were of supreme quality. Frein Drew an observation Meiyal Art and found the refined channels for meiyal to flow into as well as the entire composition itself flowing with high-level meiyal not found naturally in the environment. These were meiyal-charged materials that were Forged into these weapons.

“Are these his?” Frein asked the Princess. Before she could reply, he had already turned his attention to the owner. “These are awesome! How do you use them?”

“Were you just talking with your yuma?” Xiv asked his own question with his forehead curled in confusion instead.

“Yes, I was.” Frein answered without hesitation. “We can understand each other for some reason. The weapons, please?” He felt like a kid getting excited over a new toy and found the comparison almost refreshing. This was how going into a new world should feel like.

“Most Vyndivalian weapons follow the Signature Principle,” he said rather straightforwardly.

“Signature Principle?” Frein repeated. Xiv raised an eyebrow as if not knowing the principle was reserved for the illiterate; not people who accompanied a royalty.

“Anyone who has a meiyal core develops their own meiyal signature,” Kristel began, analyzing one of the sword sets. “The Signature Principle utilizes this fact and applies it in various studies such as identifying traces in Meiyal Arts, or taking ownership of certain objects, or personalizing Styles of Meiyal Arts, among other things.”

“So, you really are the Visitor, huh,” Xiv said, implying the question towards Frein.

“Did someone mention something about me?” Frein raised an eyebrow. So did Kristel.

“I just heard rumors.”

“In your house arrest, isolated from the main town?” Kristel stepped forward.

“From Bennie,” Xiv replied. “I just didn’t believe it at first, alright? She told me how the war ended.”

Frein suspected the Vyndivalian was not telling the entire truth, but that barely mattered for now.

He extended a hand. “I’m Frein Nivan. Yes, everyone calls the Visitor.” Frein saw the struggle in Xiv’s eyes as he tried to decipher the gesture.

“It’s a gesture of goodwill,” he explained. “You shake hands as a sign of peaceful acquaintance.”

“That…explains a lot.” Xiv submitted his hand for a firm shake.

“Are you sure it’s fine telling people you’re the Visitor?” Kristel asked.

“A bit too late for that, right? Besides, he had an inkling already, and we can’t really stop the news from spreading now.” Frein simply smiled. “So, what’s with the Signature Principle and Vyndivalian weapons?”

Kristel sighed. “Xiv’s meiyal signature is imprinted into these weapons,” she explained, “making him the sole person who can use its full potential.”

“Full potential? Like those transforming weapons from Hal?”

“You’ve met Hal?” Xiv asked.

“Another story for another time, Xiv,” Kristel interrupted. “You are still in no position to ask questions.”

They looked at each other as the awkward silence filled the courtyard once again.

“Hal’s alive, don’t worry about him and his brother.” Frein broke it like it was no big deal. He took the set Kristel was analyzing and lifted them together. “So, how can I use these?”

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