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 Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:12 am
-----::: "Secret of the LetterMaker" :::-----
FF.net Link
by: Majah
-----::: Genre ::: -----
Fantasy/Romance/Drama
-----::: Summary :::-----
An old story…
…long forgotten.
An existence…
…completely erased from the journals of time.
A boy…
…whose life was unfairly judged.
And the girl…
…who will believe despite of the uncertain odds.
In this realm where magic once existed…where everything used to be governed by magnificent enchantments yet through time had, unfortunately, ceased to exist. Mechanical inventions dominated everyday living and people became accustomed to these conveniences that made every single chore…every single task…every single duty became equipped, or, for some huge routines…monitored by a machine fit to perform every functions to near perfection.
But only one stood out from the rest…the invention in the heart of the postal service; their only means of communication which passed through intricate webs of pipelines from one city to another.
It was the letter maker; which has the ability to create the appropriate type of mail for any person…for any mood…for any purpose…and you need not formulate the right set of words and phrases…it will do it for you. It seemed to have an in earth ability to know ones feelings and make the right kind of message for the recipient.
The letter maker…a device which has been a part of everyone’s lives yet had always been taken for granted.
Will it remain hidden and unnoticed?
Will it remain buried amongst the endless pipes which crawled from one home to another?
Will it continue every task for eternity?
Will it? When a certain girl shall grow fond of it?
Will it? When she starts sending letters addressed to it directly?
Will it? Especially when her heart became determined in finding a way in discovering its true nature?
Will it…
…reply to her?
Quote: ---::: Disclaimer :::---I don't own Card Captor Sakura but I do own the story in this fic and things that are non-CCS related. All the name of places, historical events and other things mentioned which you don't seem to know IRL, are products of my imagination. Any similarities with the actual thing are purely coincidental.
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Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:23 am
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Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:35 am
Chapter One: “Admiration”
---From the Distant Past---
A man in his fifties stood on a podium that looked like it had been there for quite a long time. He wore a white wig on top of his head. It curled just above his shoulders which depicted him as someone with aristocracy and rank. The navy blue coat and white tights adorned with golden buttons and straps accented his prominent stature. Around him, men of different ages wore the same thing. All of them were whispering to one another, but they toned down as the man on the podium raised a hand.
“I shall now deliver the decision of this parliament.” He announced in a hoarse yet clear voice.
Everyone became silent. All their eyes were fixed on someone who knelt down at the center of the room; a person isolated from everyone else. He was a boy no more than twelve years of age. His chestnut head was bent down as he stared at his small hands which rested on top of his lap. He looked too young to be facing such an intimidating group of people that it was evident that he was trying hard to fight the fear which was building up inside him.
The old man darted his cold gaze towards the boy and spoke in an indifferent tone.
“For the accusations thrown against you, this court finds you guilty of all charges.” He said directly to the boy.
Half of the people inside the vast room gasped with disbelief. Half of them, though, merely nodded their heads in approval.
“Silence!” The man’s voice boomed. Behind him, a man who looked like he was in his thirties rubbed his forehead with his fingers. He was seated in the highest perch in the wooden rostrum. He has long hair tied in a pony tail and gold-rimmed glasses adorned his eyes. He was wearing the longest cloak amongst the other men in the room. On his head, a crown engraved with multi-colored jewels rested in place.
The old man in the podium continued to speak. “For this reason, you are forbidden to use your magical abilities here on and shall be sent to exile in the Far Regions.” He signaled for two guards to come forward. They walked up to the boy and each took an arm. The boy looked up with scared amber eyes. The guards then, revealed golden cuffs and placed each around the boy’s wrists.
The boy yelped in pain as the cuffs started glowing and pushed half of his body on the floor. It became heavier and chains sprouted from each end of the cuffs and found its way to the opposite wrist. After that, it started forming longer chains which quickly snapped the ankles of the little boy before finally locking itself in a circular emblem at center, midway the boy’s shaking body.
“That is the sacred Chains of Isengard.” The man said coldly. “It shall restrain your ‘abilities’ and sap down your magic power to its minimal form. And with it we pray that you shall never be able to use them any longer in full power.”
“No!” Someone from the seated audience cried out.
Everyone was startled but not surprised that someone finally contested.
“Silence! The royal court has decided and this cannot be altered!”
“I shall not remain silent!” The voice came from a woman. She ran down from her seat with her long layered cream dress fluttering about. She has straight black hair held up by ivory pins. Her face was strong and elegant, yet tears threatened to escape her eyes.
She pushed her way towards the guards and hugged the agonizing boy near her chest. “He is just a boy!” She exclaimed in desperation. “How can you use such a forbidden artifact on him! Even the most abominable criminals before weren’t even subjected to this kind of treatment!”
“The most abominable criminals don’t have strong magical capabilities like that boy!” The man in the podium shouted in anger.
“Still! This is too much!” The woman continued stubbornly. “And to exile him to the Far Regions? That is…that is…inhuman! A full grown man with normal magic will have difficulty surviving in that area, much less a child wearing the Chains of Isengard! He will surely die!”
“This is no discussing matter, Countess!” The man once again boomed in an authoritative voice. “This judicial body has decided and the sentence has been declared. Go back to your seat at once or else you will be charged with intervention and resistance to the Royal Court which is also considered treason against the King!”
A buzz broke around the circular room as people started whispering.
“Then, I shall call on to the Decree of Encarta.” Another person spoke from the stands.
Every eye turned towards the origin of the words. A young man in his twenties stepped out and walked towards the boy and the Countess. He wore the same sleek coat which accented his dark-blue hair. His eyes sparkled with intelligence behind black-rimmed glasses.
The man on the podium raised a brow. “Are you actually serious?”
“Yes.” The young man said calmly. “The Decree of Encarta states that any sentence or punishment given to an individual of this society maybe lessened if people of rank shall speak in behalf of the accused's well-being.”
“I know what the Decree of Encarta is.” The old man gritted his teeth.
The young man smiled. “Then, I…as Earl shall speak in behalf of this boy’s well-being. He is, after all, my cousin and the only living relative I have left.” Then, he looked at the woman hugging the chained boy. “I assume that the Countess shall do the same?” He said questioningly at the woman.
“Of course.” The woman glanced at him gratefully. “I shall also speak in behalf of this boy’s well-being…as Countess.”
The man on the podium shook his head. “You need at least three people of rank to make use of the decree. Is there anyone else who would like to speak in behalf of this boy?”
The boy’s two supporters looked around them hopefully, but the other lords and ladies merely bent their head and remained silent.
“No…” The countess murmured and tightened her arms around the boy.
Just when all of their hopes seemed lost. Someone spoke.
“I shall also speak in behalf of the boy.” A smooth deep voice sliced through the silence.
The old man’s eyes bulged in disbelief. “Your…your Majesty!”
The man seated behind him stood up and walked towards the podium. Everyone’s mouth dropped open in the unexpected event.
“I am the King.” He remarked with a smile but his eyes were sad. “Am I not someone who also belonged to the ranks of this society?”
“But…but…any crime committed was considered as treason against you, your Majesty.”
“I am aware of that, but…” The King glanced at the amber-eyed boy who was now breathing heavily due to the forbidden chains. “…like what the Countess said…he is just a boy. But he is no ordinary individual either. He is the son of one of the greatest Lords of this court who had given his life for the sake of everyone.” He closed his eyes. “We mustn’t forget this and respect his memory.”
The man in the podium bent his head. He was silent for a moment. It was against his will but he had no choice but to honor the three people. “This court shall now recognize the Decree of Encarta pleaded for this boy.” He finally said.
There were breathe of relief for some of the people inside the room, but the majority snottily looked in disdain.
The old man continued. “As per the rules of the Decree of Encarta, the King…may now revise the sentence handed down to the accused.”
The Countess held back her breath as she glanced at their King. The Earl, on the other hand, didn’t change his facial expression and stood calmly.
“This boy had been found guilty and there is nothing we can change about it but considering that he is just a child and he belongs to a prestigious family…a bloodline near to mine in fact…” The King started to say. “…such extreme punishment of being exiled to the Far Regions shall be disregarded.”
“Thank God.” The woman holding the boy cried in relief.
“But...” The King raised a finger. “…the Chains of Isengard shall remain clasped to him until his very last breath on this earth.”
Murmurs rose throughout the Royal Court.
“This entire thing started with his magic powers in the first place; hence, the artifact shall perform the major role in his punishment. But I would like to recognize the fact that you have a certain ability that can be beneficial to everyone; an ability that even the Chains of Isengard won’t find harmful for it to bother restraining. Therefore, I am assigning you to that certain ‘place’. You are free to roam within its boundaries as long as the chains are intact around you.” The King explained. “Nevertheless, you are…here forth, stripped of the rank and privilege which you are born into. You cannot…” He looked at the boy with sadder eyes.
The chestnut-haired boy bent his head as his shoulders drooped down as he anticipated the King’s next words.
“…you shall…never…be able to inherit your father’s title.” The King finished his sentence.
The Countess bit her lips and tried reducing the tears that had been flowing from her eyes.
“What’s more…” The King continued. “…this kind of overriding of punishment from a serious crime is really unthinkable. I understand the reason if people of this parliament may have ill will against me now. So I would like to admit that I had been subjective in my involvement to the decree. There is a great chance that people might disrespect our laws and even abuse the use of the decree once they found out that their very own King involved himself with it. So, I am forced to add yet another sentence.”
He paused then opened his eyes; this time with a serious commanding look. “Your name shall be erased in our history.”
Everyone gasped.
“This event never happened and every single written record, which pertains to you and this trial, shall be destroyed.”
The boy stared at the royal man before him; wide-eyed.
“You will only be known to those who were actually involved in this incident and no any other soul…for I… do not have the heart to take your memories away from those that had loved you.”
The King raised an arm and on his hand, a long staff, with a moon and sun carved on the tip, appeared. It started glowing and not a second sooner, every scribe’s parchment inside the room evaporated into thin air.
“I…King Reed…formally close the Decree of Encarta initiated by Eriol, Earl of Manchester and supported by Yelan, Countess of Denise.” The royalty declared and shot another final sad glance to the boy.
“I am sorry…Syaoran. Just be thankful that you are still alive.”
And with that the room was filled with a blinding light which eventually crept outside the court and into the vast grounds beyond.
----------------------------------------------------------- (continued to the next post)
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Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:40 am
----------------------------------------------
--- Present Time ---
“Yamazaki, are you absolutely sure that thing will work?” A lady wearing a light orange layered gown asked with her hands on her hips.
The young Lord laughed as he crouched in front of the vehicle and started rotating the lever in front. “Of course it will! This is one of the newest inventions of our city, Chiharu.”
“Newest inventions…” Chiharu muttered. “…I don’t believe you.” She was standing not far from him.
“Weh? How can you not believe me?” Yamazaki sounded hurt but he kept on turning the lever to start the engine.
“Because you always exaggerate things, that’s why!” Chiharu exclaimed.
“You’re so harsh.” He made a teary face.
In the background, giggles rose. They were from a small group of girls who all seem to be around their late teens. All of them were sitting on a fancy-looking swing which dangled from one marble post to another. Vines with lilac blossoms crept from its pedestal to its curvaceous roof; enhancing the beauty of the ladies sitting on it in their long elegant clothes.
Yamazaki riveted to smiling. “I am pleased to see that we never fail to entertain our spectators.”
“And you like it that way!” Chiharu’s voice boomed.
But the young Lord only laughed.
Finally, one of the ladies spoke. “We’re sorry, Chiharu. The two of you really look cute together…fighting like that.” An auburn-haired girl told them.
“Actually, they kind of remind me of my mother and father.” Another girl said. She has dark long hair which was tied in two buns.
“Lord Yamazaki really is kind to let Chiharu talk to him like that.” The raven-haired girl remarked with a smile.
“Indeed, whatever happened to those ‘Is there anything I can do for you, My Lord’ days, Chiharu?” Yamazaki asked while he chuckled.
Chiharu blushed. She tried hiding it, though, by glancing towards another direction. “Well…if you want me to be like that again…” She let her words trail off.
The young Lord’s chuckles never left him as he stood up and pulled the young lady towards him to give her a light kiss on the forehead. “You can shout at me all day, Chiharu…or even scold me to death. It doesn’t matter.”
“Really?” She pursed her lips and tugged on his navy blue jacket.
“Of course." The young Lord smiled at her.
Numerous sighs filled the air as the couple forgot that they were not alone.
“You’re so lucky, Chiharu.” The auburn-haired lady clasped her hands together as her emerald eyes twinkled.
“But this is somewhat…killing me, you know.” The black-haired girl remarked with a tinged of annoyance in her voice. The raven-haired one only smiled.
“You’ll get your chance next month, Lady Mei-ling.” Yamazaki said to her; still clasping his beloved’s waist.
“Yes! For today is Tomoyo’s coming out party!” The auburn-haired girl exclaimed with delight.
The raven-haired girl placed her hand on her cheeks; slightly embarrassed. “You don’t have to be so excited about it, Sakura.”
“And speaking of our dear Tomoyo’s coming out party…” Chiharu suddenly said as she narrowed her eyes towards the young Lord at her side. “…you are taking her away from her launch to this society! Time is precious in this kind of event.” She poked the young man with the back of her hand. “Precious, precious…precious!” She glared at him. “You are taking it away from her with this contraption of yours.” She pointed one slim finger towards the vehicle in front of them.
Yamazaki laughed and placed a hand behind his head. “My apologies to Lady Tomoyo. I was just so anxious to show this to everyone that I couldn’t wait till tomorrow.”
That day was Tomoyo, Lady of Bellport’s eighteenth birthday. And as tradition, any lady in court would had herself officially launched to the society for her eligibility in becoming a woman. All houses, from the rich to the blue-bloods had been sent an invitation. Her status shall be known to every bachelor from these houses and thus, all will bid her good luck in finding the one she could settle down with for the rest of her life.
Last year was Chiharu’s, Lady of Roosewood, launch. It was in this event where she met Yamazaki, Baron of Frail. The young lady was enticed by the young Lord’s friendliness and smart yet sharp retorts in giving his opinions about the issues of their society that she immediately fell for him. Like any other ladies brought up in the proper manner, she was formal. Always giving a low courtesy when introduced.
Well…that was last year.
Chiharu tapped her feet impatiently. “So, hurry up already and boast your newest acquired asset. We don’t have all day, you know.”
The young Lord scratched his head. “Yes…yes. Anything you say, Master.” He said as he once again crouched down and turned the lever that he was holding earlier.
The three ladies sitting near them smiled nervously at their friend’s unladylike demeanor towards the Baron.
Mei-ling leaned towards Sakura and whispered. “I really admire Lord Yamazaki’s patience.”
The auburn-haired lady giggled. “I think it’s a good balance.”
Then, Mei-ling turned her remarks to the raven-haired lady at the other end of the swing. “Make sure you find someone as patient. Maybe not that ‘vocal’…but someone as patient.”
The lady just nodded sweetly. “Certainly.”
“I don’t think Tomoyo needs to find someone that patient.” Sakura pointed out. “She is far too proper and has more finesse than Chiharu.”
Again, all three ladies glanced at the scene before them. Their friend was still tapping her feet and her arms crossed before her as she continued to give a sermon to the young man.
“You are right, Sakura." Mei-ling said. “How can I even think of such a thing?”
The emerald-eyed lady giggled.
“Still…” Tomoyo’s small voice filled their ears. “…I think it is so amusing to see a young lady scolding a full-grown man like that.”
Chiharu was nineteen at present; nineteen and a half to be exact. She was the oldest amongst the four friends. Yamazaki, on the other hand, was past his mid-twenties; around twenty-six. He was still young but older than the usual Lords in court who will vouch for a lady under twenty.
“I wish I have someone like that.” Sakura sighed.
“Join the club.” Mei-ling remarked bitterly.
“Isn’t it quite early to say such things?” Tomoyo started to say. “The two of you haven’t even been launched to the society yet.” Then, she smiled sweetly. “Like what Lord Yamazaki said. It will be your turn next month Mei-ling and Sakura’s will be six months from now.”
“Tomoyo’s right. We don’t need to hurry.” Sakura replied thoughtfully. “At least yours will be next month, Mei-ling. Not such a long wait compared to mine.”
Mei-ling bent her head and heaved another sigh. “You are right.”
“Honestly…is this every lady’s dream?” The raven-haired girl asked. “To find a husband to settle down with?”
The two other ladies blinked at what their friend just said. Chiharu and Yamazaki were still lost in the background in their little squabble about the vehicle.
Tomoyo continued. “I think there are other things in life that is more important than settling down and having children.”
“But Tomoyo,” The emerald-eyed girl spoke. “We are ladies in court. We belong to families with a specific bloodline to maintains. It is also our duty to give our Lords an heir to their lineage.” Mei-ling nodded in agreement.
“I don’t know.” Tomoyo shifted on her seat. “I feel like a ‘thing’ being launched in society this way. As if I am some kind of a breeder. If I am to settle down with someone…I would like the reason to be something deeper; like we truly feel that we are the other half of a soul which had been separated for a long time.”
“In short, you want to settle for love.” Mei-ling concluded. “Why? Don’t you think that these two in front of us don’t love each other?” She gestured at the young lady and lord.
“Love is such an overly used word these days, Mei-ling.” Tomoyo pointed out. “But don’t get me wrong. I think Chiharu and Lord Yamazaki truly have these feeling towards each other. But…” She glanced at the mansion beyond the gardens that was currently filled with guests, music and laughter. “…I couldn’t say for most.”
Sakura was silent. She knew very well what her friend was saying. Their polite society, as ravishing and exciting it may look, also held many dark plots and status quo manipulation. Many would pretend to be in love with someone just to attain title and rank in the society. Of course, the prestige and wealth came with it. She, herself, wasn’t fond of this social ways and structure. In fact, she would rather read a book or analyze silently than mingle with the polite world. Actually, she hardly paid attention to who was whom. For her, it was enough that she knew who the King was and which Lord their lands were under.
“Is this why you joined us when the Baron asked for an audience?” She asked; pertaining to Yamazaki’s invitation earlier.
Tomoyo smiled sweetly. “I wouldn’t miss another show from our famous couple.”
Mei-ling rolled her eyes. “Speaking of our couple…” She glanced at the two. “…not done yet over there?” She called out.
As Chiharu heard this, she jumped to the chance to torment the young lord once more. “See? Even Mei-ling is getting impatient!”
The Lord held up his hand while smiling. “Just a little bit more.” And as if on cue the engine started and the vehicle was brought to life. “There you go!” Yamazaki proudly stood up. “This, my dear ladies, is a means for us to go from one place to another. This is a vehicle which runs on steam.”
There were a series of “aahhs”.
“It runs on steam?” Chiharu looked at it closely. The vehicle in the spotlight had two big wheels at the back and two small ones in front. It has a glass panel which Yamazaki called a “wind shield”. It was like an open-carriage but without horses.
“It sure does. I’m not sure how steam makes the wheels move but I am glad to have it. It is a faster way to travel.” He said; nodding his head.
“Much faster than horses, my Lord?” Sakura asked with obvious curiosity.
“Yes.” He replied happily. “Much faster than horses.”
“I don’t believe you.” Chiharu remarked.
“What? Again?” The young Lord looked startled.
“If that thing is much faster than horses then it won’t take up this much time to get it started.” The lady pointed out. “Horses would have bolted on an instant in a flicker of a whip.”
“Mah…mah…it would have taken this long because I’m pretty new to it. Once I get the hang of it, I maybe able to start it much faster. But you know what…” The young Baron opened the vehicle’s door. “…why don’t you ladies try it out for yourselves? I’ll show all of you how fast we can go back to the main mansion on this new invention.”
The girls looked reluctant in climbing up the vehicle, except for Sakura whose emerald eyes glimmered with enthusiasm.
“Really?” She exclaimed. “We can really ride! You’re so nice, Baron!” She hurriedly stood up and hopped towards the vehicle which was currently making a huffing sound with its newly started engine.
“Here goes Sakura again….absolutely thrilled with these mechanical contraptions.” Mei-ling remarked while shaking her head.
“She is easy to please with things formed with complicated arrangement of nuts and bolts.” Tomoyo said with a smile as she slowly joined her emerald-eyed friend who was currently circling the vehicle.
Chiharu just raised her hands in defeat and was even the first one to climb inside despite her reluctance. “Just make sure we make it alive, Yamazaki or else I won’t marry you even if you beg me.”
The young Lord chuckled. “Yes. Yes. Anything you say, dear.”
And with that everyone followed and prayed that the vehicle wouldn’t throw them out.
---------------------------------------------------- (continued to the next post)
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Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:48 am
-------------------------------------------------------
The flames in the fireplace crackled as another piece of wood was engulfed. Its warmth extended throughout the vast velvet room. Thick drapes hung at the tall windows adorned with golden buttons and coils of ornamental ropes. The furniture matched the tapestries; making the light from the fire dance in contrast to its color.
Sakura watched the flames as she laid her head on top of her mother’s lap. She felt drowsy as the Viscountess of Yorke, Nadeshiko, combed her auburn hair with gentle motions.
“Mother…” She whispered softly.
“Hmmm…?” The woman replied.
“Did you love father?” She asked.
Her mother raised her brows. “Why the sudden question?”
But Sakura ignored her inquiry. Instead she pursued her own. “Did you?”
Nadeshiko took a deep breath before answering. “Perhaps…in time…I did learn to love him.”
“In time…” Sakura repeated.
Her mother looked thoughtful for a moment then smiled eventually. “There is nothing wrong with that. I think your father was a good man. It’s just that I didn’t see that when I first met him. But after a while I came to realize what kind of a person he truly was and eventually returned the feelings he bestowed upon me.”
“But…” The emerald-eyed girl queried once more. “…wouldn’t that mean…back then...” She purposely let her sentence dangle for she was unsure whether it was alright for her to say such things to her mother.
Fortunately, the Viscountess finished the sentence for her. “…back then…I married your father to gain a title.” She said.
Sakura closed her eyes. She really didn’t bother to ask before since she had always been carefree about this kind of thing, but after what Tomoyo said during her Coming Out party, it sort of dawned at her that in six months time, she would be joining the ladies in court much like her friend.
“Chiharu is not marrying Lord Yamazaki for his title.” She pointed out.
“Chiharu is fortunate to have found someone she truly likes.” Her mother remarked. “But…that isn’t always the case and you know that. I’ve been trying to tell you for years. Are you finally going to listen?” Despite the growing seriousness of the discussion, the beautiful woman kept her voice gentle and warm.
“Maybe.” Sakura replied in a small voice.
Nadeshiko sighed. “It is really rare, dear, that one will be able settle down with someone, one truly has feelings for.”
“Tomoyo promised herself that she wouldn’t marry someone just for the likes of his rank in our society.” She insisted.
Yet, her mother only smiled. “Then I pray that she would be able to keep that promise.”
Sakura was silent for a while as the crackling flames in the fireplace danced before her emerald eyes. Such a bothersome society they all lived in. Sometimes, she wished that she was just an ordinary subject instead of a well-bred lady. The people they called ‘commoners’ were not obliged to continue the lineage of blue bloods or inherit titles to raise ones status.
They are free. She thought.
Finally, she perched herself up and sat properly beside her mother, who only looked at her with questioning eyes.
She would like to say something. She would like to voice her opinion. But as she glanced at her mother’s equally brilliant eyes, she couldn’t bring herself to say it.
“Sakura dear?” The Viscountess remarked.
But, the young lady just looked away. “It’s…it’s nothing.” She lied.
Nadeshiko’s face reflected worry. She was about to say something when an elderly voice interrupted them.
“I apologize for my intrusion, my lady, but the mail just arrived.” An old man with balding hair bent down his head. He was holding a silver platter with a cream envelope inside. It bore the royal seal on its flap.
“From the King?” Sakura asked curiously.
“I doubt.” Nadeshiko answered. “That would probably from the magistrate.”
The beautiful Viscountess strode towards their head servant and took the letter. She quickly opened it and read through its contents. She frowned after some time.
“What’s wrong, mother?” The young lady asked with a worried tone. “Does it bear unfortunate news?”
The Viscountess folded the document and handed it back to the old servant. “Yes. It seems so.” She paced back to where her daughter was seated.
“From the magistrate?”
“Yes.” The woman sat and sighed. “The King is not doing well. It will be a matter of time now before he will leave us.”
Sakura’s eyes widened. “Leave us? Meaning?”
Nadeshiko placed a hand over her daughter’s. “He will die.”
“Hoe!” The young lady grew sad. “But…he is a good King. Probably one of the few noble bloods I know.”
“I know, dear. But you can’t expect him to live forever. He is very old. Actually, he already surpassed the lifespan of his kind.” Her mother explained.
Sakura sighed. Their King had been alive for centuries now. Quite unimaginable for an ordinary human being, but since the King belonged to an ancient blood line which has certain ‘natural abilities’, it enabled him to live this long. What were these so called ‘natural abilities’? It was the ability to use magic. It was said that the King was the last of his kind to walk the earth. From time, as their culture evolved and the era tried to adapt to the changes of their world, they had lost these special abilities. It had been troublesome since it was said that the old world depended on magic to do tasks in their everyday life. But when the earth started changing and magic itself became scarce, the elders had to think of a way to ensure their survival. Hence, inventions were made in replacement. They were not perfect, but the growing demands of their environment were handled pretty much the same as when the days when magic was still strong. They didn’t exactly know why magic deteriorated, but even so, people had grown accustomed to the mechanical conveniences that it seemed that they don’t mind losing magic.
Sakura was born in an era were mechanical inventions were in full-bloom. Actually, even her mother never experience the magical time of their world; nearly no one had.
Except for the King.
The elders, who probably belonged to the same era as their King, also so died one by one due to old age. So now, the last amongst these individuals who could use magic, was none other than the head of their Kingdom.
Unfortunately, it will be in a matter of time now before he, too, shall bid farewell.
“Mother…” Sakura placed her head on her mother’s shoulders. “…King Reed was never married, right?”
“No. He never married.” The woman answered.
“And he is supposed to be the last person on earth to be able to use magic?”
“Yes.” The Viscountess glanced at her daughter’s face. “Why the sudden expression?”
“Well, you see, mother…it would be…sort of sad…that he has no living kin. The bloodline of individuals who can use magic will be cut off…no one to continue.” Sakura remarked thoughtfully.
“Yes,” Her mother nodded. “That would be true but then again, people never use magic these days. It won’t be much of a loss.”
Sakura suddenly stood up. “Don’t say that!”
“Sakura…” Nadeshiko was startled at her daughter’s sudden action.
“If our ancestors used to have these abilities, I think it is a loss…one way or another…we no longer have the means to use them.” She exclaimed. She looked at her mother intensely but after a while realized that she was already glaring. She sighed and went to her seat with her head bent. “I am fond of inventions, mother. I find them remarkable, but the fact still remains…whenever I read history books…I also want to see it…”
“Sakura…”
“…I want to see our world with magic.” The young lady finished. “Mechanical contraptions are easy to explain. Logic and calculations govern them. But magic…” She gazed at her mother once more. Her emerald eyes shimmered. “…is something that is supposed to be unexplainable. Something…relatively mysterious and powerful. I want to see that. I want to differentiate and even try explaining it.”
“Oh my dear, daughter,” Her mother leaned and kissed her forehead. “Sometimes I wonder where you get this sense of determination and curiosity.” She smiled tenderly. “You might have a point, but reality remained stagnant against all adversity. King Reed is the last of his kind. He is too old to even attempt to continue the bloodline.”
Sakura pouted. “Why didn’t he marry anyway? As King, he should be thinking of placing an heir to the throne for the future of his Kingdom.”
“Many contested that in the past,” Nadeshiko started explaining. “But for some reason he refused and remained strong-willed about it. Even the elders sided with him.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It seemed that he had a personal reason. A secret which the elders promised to keep. Hence, no one brought up the subject again. I believe it was during the days of my grandfather.” Her mother said.
“Wow…grandpapa’s days…the King is really old.” Sakura remarked with a bewildered voice.
“Actually, if my memory serves me right… the King might have been many centuries old, but he looked no more than forty.”
“Hoe!”
The Viscountess laughed. “I might have had a little crush on him before.” She placed a hand on her face as she reminisced her younger days. Her equally beautiful emerald eyes twinkled at the thought.
“Oh mother...” Sakura rolled her eyes.
“Might have been wonderful…marrying a King.” Nadeshiko continued dreamily.
Her daughter made a face. “If you liked him so much, then you should have done something to make him notice you. You are not exactly ugly, mother.”
The woman chuckled. “In truth…many of us ladies in court back then tried. But no one succeeded. He was kind and polite to all of us, but that’s all there was to it. He kept going back in attending to his Kingdom; such a dedicated man.”
Sakura sighed as her mother went back to memory lane. In truth, it made her sadder that their Kingdom was going to lose such a wonderful man. She would have riveted back in observing the flames in their fireplace, if she didn’t catch a few of her mother’s words.
“…but people say that there are a few, who like the King, had the ability to use magic…”
“What!” Sakura darted her attention back to her mother.
“I know that will get your attention.” The Viscountess laughed.
“Seriously? There are others aside from the King?” The young lady pounced at the older woman excitedly.
“Eh? Calm down, child.” She smiled at her daughter. “They were only rumors.”
”Rumors?”
Nadeshiko nodded. “They say that there might be a few in hiding that belonged in the same era as his majesty. But like what I said, they are only rumors because if there are such individuals, they might have stepped out already since they could be next in line to the throne.”
“Hoe!”
“All who had magic abilities will be…one way or another…nobles related to the King or belonged to the same level of Lordship in the society. Hence, it would only be logical to say that one of them will be the next King.”
“But no one stepped out?” Sakura asked curiously.
Her mother shook her head. “None…considering that the deterioration of the King’s health had been widely known for quite some time now, they should have revealed themselves a long time ago when the magistrate was desperately trying to find the next person to be placed on the throne.”
“So the magistrate still hasn’t found the one that shall inherit the crown?”
“No, actually they already have candidates. Three, I believe.” The woman replied thoughtfully.
“Eh? But I thought they are having a hard time.”
“In terms of finding someone with magic requirements…but that doesn’t mean that we don’t have Lords that were ranked well.” Her mother pointed out.
“Oh…”
The Viscountess suddenly poked Sakura’s head.
“Ouch!” The young lady complained cutely. “What's that for?”
“You haven’t been paying attention to the news again, have you?” Her mother raised a brow. Sakura only bit her lip and her mother sighed again. “You little girl…you should be more alert regarding these things considering that you will be launched to the society in a matter of months.”
“Titles…bore me, mother. I mean…the only thing important to me is the King. So I may follow his wishes.” Sakura defended her side.
Another sigh escaped her mother’s lips. “Yet you have all the nerve to discuss things like who will be the next one to be placed on the throne.”
Sakura childishly grinned.
“Very well…very well…I shall give you a small recap.” Her mother sat up straight. “There are three Dukes being considered to be the next King.”
“Three dukes?”
“Yes. The first one is Touya, Duke of Windome.”
“Hoe!” Sakura’s eyes brightened. “The Duke of Windome! Isn’t his family the one responsible for all the mechanical inventions of our Kingdom!”
Nadeshiko laughed at her daughter’s enthusiasm. “I’m glad that you know who he is. There might still be hope for you after all.”
“Ah…it’s not what you think, mother. I only know the ‘Windome’ part. This is the first time I’ve heard his name. I mean all inventions got a Windome seal etched on them.”
“And here I was thinking that you might actually be rooting for him.” Her mother looked at her daughter unbelievingly. “He is still young, you know. I believe in his late twenties.” Then, her mother got the dreamer looked once more. “Not much of an age gap with you.”
“Hoe! Mother! How can you think like that! I don’t even know what he looks like.”
“Read the newspapers and you will see his face.”
Sakura crossed her arms on her chest and set her lips on a grim line. “I am not interested. All I care about are the inventions produced by Windome…that’s about it.”
“You are really hopeless do you know that?” Nadeshiko remarked. “But I shall carry on…” She cleared her throat. “The next one…is also in his late twenties. Almost the same age as Lord Touya. He is Yukito, Duke of Summers.” She glanced at her daughter to see any reaction.
But Sakura just stared at her blankly. “I don’t know him.”
The Viscountess heaved another sigh. “How could you not know him? He is probably the most kind Lord ever to be included in the Parliament. He was quite popular among the Ladies in Court. It was said that he is an important member of the inner council of advisors for the King.”
But the young lady kept the same expression. “I still don’t know him.”
“Fine…fine.” Nadeshiko made gestures with her hands. “I will just pray that someday you will know him.”
Suddenly, a frown crept on Sakura’s forehead. “Mother…you said that he was also in his late twenties, but how come he is already an advisor for the King?”
“Hmmm?”
The young lady’s eyes were filled with vigilance as she analyzed. “Think about it. The Duke of Windome’s age is quite normal considering that he could have just inherited everything about the inventions from his families’ nobles…but…the same cannot be said for this Duke of Summers. You can’t exactly inherit an advisor’s position. Isn’t he too young to be one?”
“Dear…you sometimes mesmerize me with this analytical thinking.” Her mother looked at her in awe. “You have a point that he is too young to be one, but the fact still remains that he is highly skilled for his age. One cannot decline him the opportunity just because he simply lacked years of age. That would be discrimination.”
“You are right, mother. I shouldn’t be thinking such a thing.” Sakura slumped back. “So…” She smiled at her mother. “…who is the last candidate?”
The Viscountess inclined her head. “This one, I do not know what he truly looks like.”
“Eh?”
Her mother nodded. “Even for someone like me who is always updated with such things, I find it hard to see or even catch a glimpse of this particular Lord. But I think you will be thrilled even greater than hearing the word, ‘Windome’. This, I am sure of.” She said with a mysterious smile.
“Hmmm? Who is he?” Curiosity started eating Sakura.
“He is Eriol, Duke of Manchester.” Nadeshiko laughed triumphantly as she saw her daughter’s facial expression.
“MANCHESTER!” Sakura squealed. Her voice echoed throughout the room.
“I know you will be delighted.” Her mother chuckled.
But Nadeshiko’s words got drowned as her daughter started running about; squealing with all her might. “HE IS THE INVENTOR OF THE LETTER MAKER!”
“Yes, yes…I know dear…I know. I purposely mentioned him last otherwise you might have not paid attention to the other candidates.”
Sakura dropped down against her mother with a huge hug. Her excitement overflowed like a bright light empowering the flames in the fireplace. “I didn’t know that he was a Duke!”
Nadeshiko laughed. “Well most just refer to him as Lord Eriol. He rarely comes out in his mansion nor took part in social gatherings. But some say that he visits the King often and even attend tribunal events. His circle of acquaintances composed of nobles amongst nobles. He isn’t your normal Lord. For this reason, only a few people had actually seen him. And most that do were never outspoken about it. So the rest of us, don’t exactly know what he looks like. But according to the rumors, he might be someone older.”
“How old?” Sakura’s eyes glistened. The issues she brought up earlier seemed to have faded away.
“Hmmm? You are actually interested in him. I favor the younger ones as your match you know.” Her mother winked.
“Hoe.” Sakura blushed. “I hope it isn’t a…twenty year age gap…”
The Viscountess was surprised at her daughter’s remark. “Heavens child! You really like Manchester that much? You don’t even know what he looks like.” She mimicked her daughter’s exact words earlier.
Sakura looked down; slightly embarrassed. “I know that, mother.” She sighed. “But he is the one who made the letter maker. The letter maker is probably the best invention there is.” This time, it was Sakura’s turn to gaze dreamily. “Even Windome inventions are not a match for it.” Then, she pounced back at the woman excitedly. “The letter maker is perfect and accurate in any angle that you would look at it!”
Sakura stood up and run towards her room. She quickly grabbed a rose-colored box and went back to where her mother was. She placed the box on a table and opened it to scramble at the contents.
“Look at this mother.” She said.
The Viscountess looked at her questioningly.
Sakura pulled out different sets of envelopes, parchments, seals and ribbons.
“Every single thing you see here was made possible by the letter maker.” She showed them one by one to her mother. “This is from Tomoyo. This is from Chiharu. This is from Mei-ling. This is from Uncle. From auntie…and this…” She held a lavender colored letter. “…this is from father.” She murmured sadly. “The very last one I received from him before he passed away.”
“Oh Sakura…”
The young lady looked up. “Don’t you see, mother? Manchester’s invention had made it possible for everyone to receive these letters even in the brink of danger or sorrow or hardship. The postal service had always been our only communication with one another. Its web of pipelines from one city to another is so complex yet it never managed to break down even once. Not even once! It never failed to assist people in composing trail of thoughts if you are the type that could not express yourself well in words. And all you need to do is to sit in front of your receiver and push that button for assistance and speak your purpose…for who and for what occasion…then it will show you a draft of the letter that you might want to send. How handy is that? It also chooses the type of stationery…what color…what scent…what pattern…which most of the time affects the feelings of the reader for you if you can’t think of something to use. I mean…” Sakura twirled. “…how is that possible for a machine to know these things? What kind of calculations did he used to invent something like this? It is truly unexplainable.”
“Thus, you truly admire Manchester.” The Viscountess smiled.
“Who wouldn’t?” Then, Sakura stopped twirling for a moment. “Oh yeah…” Her shoulder’s slumped down. “Almost everyone takes the letter maker for granted. It had been a part of our lives for so long that it seemed to be something ordinary nowadays.”
“I’m just glad.” Nadeshiko stood up and cupped Sakura’s face. “That my daughter knows how to give importance to things that had been forgotten.”
“Mother…”
“Even so, you are right. The letter maker had been a part of our lives for so long that its use had been taken for granted.” The Viscountess let her go. “Going back to those hard times, I remember it being a huge help in passing my last goodbye to your father who no longer had the strength to go home to us.”
Tears threatened to escape Sakura’s eyes as memories started to flood in. Nevertheless, she clasped the lavender letter near her heart. “That is why…” Her voice came out in almost a whisper. “…I treasure every letter. Every single one made by it. It may be silly to actually get attached to a non-living thing like the letter maker, but if you ask me…if the King is the power of our kingdom, his subjects are its strength, and the inventions are its helpers, then the letter maker is the heart which guides everyone in their everyday lives.”
The Viscountess looked at her daughter. The woman was proud of the young lady whose own heart was pure and unscathed.
“That is…such a lovely thing to say.” She remarked. “If the letter maker is a person…your words will make its heart flutter.”
Sakura smiled. “That is why…I truly admire him…Eriol of Manchester. For creating something so priceless. It was as if…” She gazed at the Viscountess. “…it was magic.” Then, she gave a small laugh. “Even though, I am not aware what magic is like.”
“So I guess it is safe to say that you are hoping that he would be the next King?” Nadeshiko asked.
“If he would be the next King then…” Sakura looked up. Her excited face returned to her. “He would be announced publicly! Hence, I would be able to see what he is like!”
“Yes…you would probably will.” Nadeshiko smiled.
“But then again…” The young lady looked sad once more. “…the chances of me, meeting him personally would also be slim. I mean…he will be a King after all. If he mingled only with the nobles with same rank as he is all these years, what more will he be once he is King.”
“King Reed is already unreachable, but he is not a snob. We could only hope that the next King will be like so. And if turns out to be Manchester, I’m going to repeat what you just said. Surely, someone who made something like the letter maker, which can touch everyone’s lives no matter want rank he or she is in our society…won’t be much high and mighty up there. It was said that a man’s creations often reflects his heart. The Duke won’t be any different.”
Sakura’s face brightened. “You are right, mother!” She smiled cheerfully. “That would be so!”
She placed her letters back inside the box. “But there is one thing I would like to wish for my upcoming birthday…I would like to see it.”
“See?”
Sakura looked at her mother with hopeful eyes. “I want to see the letter maker. I want to see this remarkable invention. I want to know how he did it.”
“But Dear…like the mysterious Duke, no one had seen what his invention looks like. It was said that it is situated underneath his vast mansion. Only very few privileged people had been inside his home, and none of them even saw the machine.”
“I know, mother. That is why it is only a dream of mine.” Sakura laughed. “Not my goal in life.”
“Your goal should be to find a suitable Lord to settle down with.” The Viscountess reminded her.
Sakura stuck her tongue out like a child. “I won’t.” Then, she picked up her box and stomped towards the entrance of the room. She stopped for a while. “Unless he will be someone I truly love like how Chiharu is with Lord Yamazaki.” She mischievously winked towards her mother. “…someone like Eriol of Manchester!” And with that she giggled and run off towards her room.
“Oh?” Nadeshiko blinked at the trail left by her daughter. “The young people these days.” She laughed and went back to take her seat. “I wonder…” She remarked as her hand crept inside her pocket to retrieve a silver pocket watch. She flipped it open and ran her slender fingers on the picture clipped beneath its cover.
There were two people in the picture. One appeared to be Nadeshiko’s younger self while the other was an older woman with an elegant posture. Graying hair could be found in contrast to her once striking long black hair.
“I wonder…” She said to herself again. “…which Sakura will prefer…Manchester…or…?” She smiled. “…the letter maker himself? After all…they are both dashing young men despite their true age.” Her finger lingered on the face of the older lady in the picture. “…neh?...Yelan.”
The Viscountess flipped the pocket watch close and gazed beyond the fireplace. Her smile never left her face.
---------------------------------------- (end of chapter one)
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Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:51 am
And that's chapter one. *scratches head* xp It took 3 posts. haha. I'll paste the rest of the chapters when I'm not procrastinating. blaugh
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:16 pm
Chapter Two: “An Idea”
That night, Sakura felt that sleep wouldn't be invading her room. She had long retired to her chambers yet her consciousness was still wide awake. She had been twisting and turning until finally, she finally opted to just stare up at the dark ceiling above. The translucent rose-colored drapes, which hung around her bedpost, remained still and slightly ghost-like.
She clutched the sheets near her chin and sighed. “This is mother’s fault for telling me such news.” She whispered against that black oblivion.
She couldn't help it. For the first time in her life, she was actually excited and interested in things that were about to happen to their Kingdom, both in their polite society and the parliament. Although her excitement may seemed not right, considering that the good King Reed may pass away any moment from thereon, her heart thumped faster every time she recalled the facts of the Dukes that were being considered to replace him in the throne.
“Windome…” She started to murmur.
“…Summers…”
“…and Manchester.”
She paused with her fingers grasping the thick quilted blanket. “Manchester,” She said once more, this time with a giggle. “Manchester, Manchester, Manchester!” She kept repeating over and over again as she dug underneath the sheets with her voice muffled from being covered from head to toe. “Eriol of Manchester, I shall curtsy the lowest in your coronation day even though you don’t know me!” She squealed. One could only thank the stone walls of their manor, if not for it; the young lady’s words might have been heard by the rest of the occupants which slept on the same floor.
Sakura continued to giggle. There was no trace of guilt of being in a happy mood found within her despite the health conditions of the current King. She just kept curled under the sheets, lost in her thoughts until her bubbly heart started to calm down.
“I don’t think I can sleep tonight.” She finally concluded and sat up briskly. Her eyes had become accustomed with the darkness by now that she need not trouble herself more in turning on her lamp as she slid off her bed. Her feet touched the rag which adorned the gray-stoned floor. Her long conservative nightgown looked like a speck of white marshmallow against the dark surroundings. She paddled across the room and opened the window near her desk. The cold night air touched her face. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. Strands of auburn hair fluttered about as she tasted the sweet peaceful world outside.
“I want to see you…” Sakura whispered. “…I want to see what you are like.” She once again opened her eyes and gazed lovingly at the full moon up in the sky like a pair of emerald stones glistening against the soft pale light. “I would like to meet the man behind the machine that can understand a person’s heart.”
For quite some time now, the young lady had kindled this innermost emotion within her. Ever since a child, she had grown amazed at the mysterious invention hidden inside the said Lord’s mansion. How she wished that someday she would be able to comprehend how a mechanical thing could produce such awareness.
Sakura sighed.
Had she…in time…had grown feelings towards a man she hasn’t seen personally? Could this be the reason why her young heart almost rejected the thought of settling down with just anyone? Had her fantasies became as powerful as to convince herself that it could someday be turned into a reality?
The emerald-eyed girl shook her head.
Of course it wouldn’t be a reality! She countered herself. I could only hope for an introduction and nothing more.
She took a deep breath and let her gaze settle at the vast land before her. Her father was a Viscount…her mother was a Viscountess, and one day she would be one as well since she would be inheriting the rank and title from her mother. Unless…
“…unless I marry someone of higher stature.” She finished out loud.
But for now, her mother was young. Though in their society, her father’s and mother’s rank were taken in account and her, being the young lady that she was, her own stature would be regarded as mid-level in the noble court until the day comes that she would finally inherit the title and the lands which go with it. Same could be said with Chiharu and Mei-ling. Ah well, maybe not for Chiharu, since she would be a baroness upon marriage to Lord Yamazaki which will increase her stature to a higher rank. As for Tomoyo, she was a high-ranked lady right from the start. Although she currently doesn’t have a title, she was still the sole daughter of a widowed Earl. Once she reached twenty-one, she will be considered as a countess. For Sakura and Mei-ling, unless their mothers die, their rank would remain as it was.
If there is someone who can safely wait and hope of marrying for love, that will be Tomoyo. She thought.
Sakura just hoped that the man her friend will fall in love with shall truly return her feelings because the whole peer pressure of social titles also worked the other way around. Men could also marry a lady of higher stature in order to gain her title. Though it rarely went that way due to men’s pride, it could still happen. Lovely Tomoyo must be careful.
Sakura ran her fingers on the cold windowsill. Why am I so bitter about it? It’s not like I care about titles. I am happy as I am. But inside she knew why. Eriol of Manchester, like what her mother had mentioned before, was a noble amongst nobles. It meant that the Duke’s social circle would mainly be composed of people in the elitist level. It was regarded as something higher than Tomoyo’s widowed father’s acquaintances. So how could someone like her dream of meeting this Lord? She wasn’t a commoner but still, divisions existed within the nobles and women of the polite society.
In the end, Sakura could only try to keep her mother’s words as her torch of hope. Surely, someone who could invent such a machine like the letter maker couldn’t be a snob and arrogant person. She deeply wished that it would be like so. A smile slowly crept back on her face.
“Yes…I must not lose faith.” She concluded cheerfully.
Sakura leaned against the window and propped her chin on one hand. She shot her wooden desk a side glance. The box, which she showed to her mother earlier, was still there. On an impulse, she slid on the chair in front of it and began skimming on the stored letters one by one. She marveled at the different stationeries used for the assortment of letters. Each particular paper matched the mood of the writer or even her mood during the time she was reading these letters. Once again, the same question echoed inside her mind.
How can the letter maker do that?
Another sigh escaped her lips. “There must be some way to answer these questions…” She murmured in a small voice. “…or else I will spend the rest of my life wondering.”
Almost absent-mindedly, Sakura stood up and walked softly towards the door. She stepped outside her room barefooted. It was something she found herself doing every now and then in order to glide quietly around their manor. She didn’t bother to open any lights or even carry a candle with her. She knew fairly well that her mother would scold her if she was caught sneaking around.
Before her, the dark manor began to unfold. Huge painting adorned the walls together with velvet curtains. At night, the images inside the art pieces seemed to haunt the hallways. Sakura swallowed. She had always been scared of ghosts and they say that every large old house has its own tale to tell. So how can she paddle about these scary paths?
The answer…?
Almost on an instant, the young lady’s hand shot out to touch two long pipes attached to the wall in the panel below the paintings. These particular pipes had been in their house for as long as she could remember.
They were the pipes of the letter maker.
The letter maker was a machine with three parts. The first part was the main controller or whatever it was that was installed and safely stored underneath Manchester’s mansion. It was said that it was buried at the heart of the postal service. According to rumors, Manchester’s land was huge. He was probably one of the wealthiest Lords of their Kingdom. The main house was something built at the center. His other assets stood around it. Hence, the post office was just a part of his estate and underneath it, intricate webs of pipelines extended from the letter maker to every house in the Kingdom. One thing Sakura liked about this invention was that status doesn’t matter. May you be a commoner or a noble; you would receive the same service. The same apparatus was installed in every household. The pipelines were the second part of this magnificent invention. It acted as a vacuum-like transport for the transparent cylindrical tubes which contained each letter envelope that had been carefully rolled as to not to crease the parchment.
This was what Sakura was touching at the moment. She ran her fingers on the bronze pipes and felt her fear evaporate. For some reason, she kept having a feeling that she wasn’t alone every time she was near the contraption. For a machine, it was warm and it was this warmth which comforted her many times. A doctor might declare her ill for being psychologically too attached to a non-living thing, therefore, it was something she had kept only to herself.
Sakura’s eyes grew gentle as she marched her way slowly in the hall with one hand gliding on top of the pipes’ bodice. The eerie atmosphere seemed to dissipate while her heart grew brave with the feeling of not being alone.
It was like walking hand in hand with someone whom you knew will protect you readily anytime.
As she trailed every step towards the room where the pipes ended, Sakura noticed that there was light in that particular room. The young lady tiptoed and took a peek behind the arched doorway.
Standing in front of a cupboard-like contraption was a teenage girl, a little younger than Sakura. She was one of their servants. Her name was Mimi. The said occupant carried a candle with her instead of using the lucid light bulbs attached to the walls and ceiling. It was evident that like her, Mimi was trying her best not to wake up anyone.
Sakura smiled. She knew very well as to why the girl was there.
The girl was giggling as she sat in front of a machine. Apparently, she was reading something. Sakura couldn’t help but to giggle inwardly herself.
She is reading another letter. She concluded then gazed down at the pipes beneath her fingers. You sent her another one from Aston. Sakura smiled gently as if the pipes can hear her.
The machine in front the young servant was the third part of the letter maker. It was where the pipes end in every house or building; a medium-sized box with several panels and buttons-the letter maker receiver. There were three small bulbs on top; one red, one green and one yellow. Each has a meaning which it represents. Green was for ‘ready’, yellow for ‘under process’ and red meant that the letter was being sent. At the bottom a semi-circular tray could be found. It was here where incoming mails would be received as well as the draft of the letter you were planning to send. At the lower right were two open pipes. They were both the other end of the two bronze pipes which crept around their house from the outside. The first pipe was for receiving the mail canisters. The second one was for sending.
Another giggle escaped their servant’s lips. “Oh…Aston…” Mimi whispered.
Sakura smiled. She was right. It was indeed from Aston.
For months now, the teenage girl had been sneaking around and sending letters to a young man named Aston. Aston was a horse caretaker in the palace. He was being trained on how to take care of thoroughbreds; the royal horses of the royal family. They had apparently met when Mimi attended to Nadeshiko when the Viscountess went to an annual meet for all ladies in court at the palace hosted by a prominent Duchess whom Sakura’s memory failed to remember. The emerald-eyed lady didn’t know the exact details but all she knew was that it all started there. And now…
“What to write back to Aston?” Mimi’s small voice chimed. She then pushed a button in the machine and almost automatically a small piece of cone-like apparatus popped out. From there on, the girl started talking softly. “To my dearest Anton…”
This time, Sakura’s smile both displayed gladness and pity. ‘Gladness’ because she was happy that the girl was communicating well with her beloved and ‘pity’ because she knew that Mimi barely knows how to write…literally. The girl came from a poor family; hence she wasn’t able to receive proper schooling and spent most of her childhood days working on a farm. It was only when she became a servant in the Viscountess’ household that she was able to learn a few things. Sakura’s mother taught her how to read. Unfortunately, the poor girl had difficulties in writing. She might be able to write her name and a few words, but often times they were crooked or jumbled.
But that is no problem for the letter maker. Sakura cheerfully nodded to herself. The letter maker will write it for her.
And almost an instant than it was said, the girl in front of the machine happily concluded what she wanted to say and pushed another button in the panel. The yellow bulb lit on and she patiently waited. A minute after the green bulb went on as well and the yellow one died down. A light sound of a bell filled the room as a transparent canister dropped from one of the pipes unto the tray. The girl excitedly opened it and in it, a purple parchment with a matching purple envelope were rolled neatly. She took them out and started skimming the contents. The words which she dictated earlier were all neatly written down in simple yet lovely hand stokes. Even the back of the envelope already had the ‘to and from’ scrawled on top of it.
From:
Mimi
Yorke Manor
To:
Aston
Stable Grounds, Royal Palace
The girl smiled lovingly and inserted the letter inside the envelope once again and sealed it. She slid it on top of the other pipe and in a split second, it got sucked swiftly inside and went on its merry way to the interconnected pipelines toward the palace. The red bulb lit on for a while then went back to green as it indicated the letter had been successfully delivered.
Just like that.
The young girl sighed and stood up. It seemed that she had finally finished and with one last smile at the machine in front of her, she disappeared in the shadows which lead to her quarters.
With the absence of the light from the candle, the room grew dark once more. Only the vague green light of the bulb on the postal machine became noticeable against the darkness. Sakura waited for a while until her eyes became more adjusted to the black blanket which once again covered the surroundings before stepping in. She walked towards the mechanical contraption and ran her fingers against its warm panels.
Up until now, she couldn’t figure why the machine was always warm despite the fact that she couldn’t hear any engine inside it, but nevertheless it was something she would let slide for her curiosity was more focused on something else.
With another sigh, she found herself starting to sit on the chair in front of it. She leaned over and rested her head on her crossed arms and stared at the bronze tray just in front of her face. She laid quietly until the time came when the lids of her eyes went heavy and started to fall; pulling her into a deep peaceful slumber.
---------------------- (continued to the next post)
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:22 pm
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“I heard Lady Nadeshiko earlier. She found you sleeping in front of the letter maker receiver again!” Mei-ling pointed a finger accusingly at Sakura.
“Hoe!”
It was the day after Tomoyo’s launch to the society and Mei-ling came to pick her up. Sakura agreed to accompany her as Mei-ling went for an errand for her father. It has something to do with picking up a book from the old library which Mei-ling’s father needed for research.
“Mah…mah, Sakura, you really are getting into a habit of doing that every night.” The dark-haired lady said as she stepped down their small open carriage with the long hem of her less elaborate navy gown fluttering about. Sakura followed as she carefully shaded her face from the sun with a peach-colored parasol which matched her equally long clothes. It was a common day and both ladies wore what one might call ‘everyday’ dresses; not as fancy as what they wore during events and splendid occasions but nevertheless distinguishable as ladies who belonged to the noble court.
“I couldn’t help it, Mei-ling. My nerves were uneasy. If only mother didn’t tell me about those that may potentially replace the King…” Her voice trailed off with a soft blush invading her face as Eriol of Manchester’s name seemed to fill her ears once again.
“It has been months now, Sakura, since that was announced in the newspapers!” Mei-ling pointed out with her hands on her hips. “Where have you been?”
“She was probably too busy daydreaming somewhere of what Lord Eriol might look like to even bother reading current events.” A cute small voice spoke from behind.
“Hoe! Tomoyo! You…you’re here!” Sakura stammered with her blush growing redder at what the newcomer just said, apparently indicating the statement to be true.
The Lady of Bellport giggled at the sight of Sakura’s face. “You are so cute, Sakura, especially when a heavy blush adorns your face.” Tomoyo remarked with a loving sigh and a hand on her cheeks.
“Hoe!” She swayed about as she tried to hide her face with her parasol.
Mei-ling’s brows twitched. “Okay enough already. If you keep teasing her about the Duke of Manchester, she would be like a beet for the rest of the day.” She said then turned towards Tomoyo. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be resting at the moment? It was quite a tiring day yesterday for you.” She remarked thoughtfully.
“Hoe…that’s right, Tomoyo. Don’t you want to relax for today?” Sakura supplemented. Her face seemed to be returning back to normal.
Tomoyo smiled sweetly. “I was planning on sleeping the whole day today.”
“Then what happened?” Mei-ling asked.
“Apparently, there was this young Lord calling upon me this morning which made father very happy.”
“Really!” Sakura clapped.
“Hold on…if there was some man visiting you, then why are you here?” Mei-ling vigilantly inquired.
“I sneaked out.” Tomoyo proudly answered which almost made the other two ladies lose their balance.
“You sneaked out!” – “Weh!” Mei-ling and Sakura exclaimed in unison.
“Why…why did you do that?” Mei-ling asked once more as if the other lady just lost her mind.
“He is not the one for me.” Tomoyo replied calmly. Sakura just blinked at her friend.
“How did you know that he is not the one? Oh for pete’s sake, Tomoyo…how can you tell if you won’t give him a chance? You could have at least spent some time with him.” Mei-ling pointed out.
“I already did spend some time with him. We had a dance last night.”
“Just one dance? That’s it?”
Tomoyo nodded. “I didn’t feel anything.”
After seeing how casual and peaceful Tomoyo’s face was with the entire thing, Mei-ling could only give another sigh. “What weird friends I have. One that is in love with someone whom she hasn’t seen yet, and the other who easily judges a potentially good man in snap of a finger.”
With this remark, Sakura’s face became red once more, but Tomoyo continued to smile sweetly.
“Hopeless cases…utterly hopeless cases.” Mei-ling turned around. “Let’s go. We don’t have all day.” She started pacing towards an antique-looking building at the end of the street with her head shaking in disbelief. The other two ladies slowly followed her.
Mei-ling was out of earshot when Sakura entwined her arms with Tomoyo’s and whispered on her ear. “Are you sure you won’t get in trouble with your father?” She asked.
“No.” Tomoyo replied gently. “He is used to it.”
Sakura sweat-dropped but eventually recovered. “Ne…Tomoyo…do you think I’m weird having this kind of attachment towards a machine and infatuation with someone I haven’t even met? Mother said that Manchester could be way older. What if he turns out to be someone around forty or worse…fifty?”
“I don’t think you are weird, Sakura. You just like things above the norm. Which makes you…’special’.” Her friend said with a reassuring smile. “We are different people hence we like different things. As for you, you like these inventions. I bet you are not the only one with such feelings.” Then, she leaned closer to the young lady. “I bet Manchester, himself, has the same fascination with mechanical contraptions, enough for him to invent something like the letter maker; two of a kind…I would say.”
Once again, Sakura blushed horridly at the last comment. “Hoe…” She twisted her parasol.
Tomoyo giggled. “You really are so cute when you blush, Sakura. I wish I have a means of capturing it and keep it always beside me.” She said dreamily.
“Oh…Tomoyo…” Sakura remarked in a weak voice.
A few more steps and they finally reached Mei-Ling. She was impatiently tapping her foot underneath the vast double doors of the library. “I bet the two of you are still talking about Manchester.” She predicted correctly. In return, she earned sweet smiles from the ladies who had just arrived. She sighed once again. “Honestly now, I think you are just dreaming too much about him.” Then, she shot a clever look at Sakura.
“What are you trying to say, Mei-ling?” The emerald-eyed girl blinked up at her.
The dark-haired lady gave a side smile. “Ho-humm…I’m going to give you a little puzzle, my fair lady Sakura.”
“Eh?”
“Eriol, Duke of Manchester invented the letter maker, right?” Mei-ling started.
Sakura nodded.
“Which will lead us to another question…what is his real age?” Mei-ling crossed her arms in front of her chest.
“Mother said he could be someone older, but we can’t be sure because no one had actually seen him…ummm…not in the common public, that is. He seems not social and reserved his whereabouts amongst certain Lords.” Sakura said thoughtfully.
“Well then…how about this…if he made the letter maker then we can estimate his age with it.”
Both Sakura and Tomoyo looked blankly at the other lady.
“I’m used in seeing things logically since my father is a researcher.” Mei-ling narrated. “I’ve been quiet all this time since I don’t want to ruin any fantasy you might have of the said Lord, but think about it. The letter maker is an old invention. It had been with us for as long as we can remember.”
Tomoyo suddenly raised a finger. “Which means that Eriol of Manchester’s age can be a little over his invention?”
“Correct.” Mei-ling agreed; pleased that there was someone catching up to her. Sakura, on the other hand, shifted from one foot to another.
“So it means that Manchester is older than us.” She said. “I am already aware of that possibility, Mei-ling.”
But Mei-ling shook her head. “You don’t get it, Sakura. He may be waaaaaay older than us, because according to father, the letter maker had been there even before he was born.”
“Ehhhhhhhhh!” Sakura exclaimed. She and Tomoyo were wide-eyed.
“I was kind of hoping he would be around our parents’ age.” The amethyst-eyed lady of Bellport remarked.
“Apparently…not.” Mei-ling stressed.
“That can’t be.” Sakura said dumbfounded. “I didn’t know that the letter maker had been there way before our parents’ were born.”
“Well, had anyone of you asked your parents about it? I have.” Mei-ling stated proudly as she flattered one hand on her chest. “I even asked my grandparents about it, and it seems the letter maker had been there even in their own generation.”
“That’s strange.” Tomoyo started with a finger under her chin. “Even though no one had actually seen Eriol of Manchester, he was always been viewed as someone younger that what you say, Mei-ling. But logically, you have to be correct. Funny…this was the first time I ever considered about that fact.”
But Mei-ling knew the answer to that. “It’s because the letter maker had been a part of everyone lives that it was easily taken for granted. Unlike those huge inventions by Windome which can do much larger things, Manchester’s invention had a simple function, which is…to deliver letters.”
“No, it is not simple!” Sakura suddenly shouted. People at the entrance of the library turned their heads towards her in surprise. Sakura gave them a gesture of apology before she returned to confront Mei-ling’s words. “There is nothing simple about what the letter maker does. Something like that is not supposed to be taken for granted.” Teary-eyed Sakura insisted.
“Sakura…” Tomoyo looked at her sadly. Then, her face brightened with a thought. “I know! Maybe Manchester is like Windome!”
The other two girls gave her a questioning look. Tomoyo raised a finger to make her point known. “Perhaps Lord Eriol is like Lord Touya. He could have just inherited the legacy of his family’s invention. It could be something passed down to him by his father and so on and so forth.”
“Hmmmm…that could be a possibility.” Mei-ling nodded her head. “But then again…how come it had always been stated everywhere that it was Lord Eriol, and not his forefathers, whom invented the letter maker? I mean, Lord Touya’s image had always been in connection to his family’s heritage that is why inventions were branded as Windome as a whole. When you think of the letter maker, it wasn’t just Manchester associated with its image; it particularly points to the aloof Duke’s name.”
Tomoyo sighed. “This is truly a mystery. If only Lord Eriol is more social, he could have straightened things out.” She paused for a while to give the auburn-haired lady a worried look.
Sakura was quiet. She didn’t know what to make of Mei-ling’s revelations and assumptions. Could the alleged Lord of Manchester be someone around eighty to ninety years old…or even….older? In an instant, an image of a very old man with flowing white beard and crouched back flashed on her mind. His cane protruding and his hands shook as he tried to get up from his seat. Sakura immediately shook her head to clear the image out.
“I-yaah! No! No! He couldn't possibly be a very old man!” She pouted.
“I don’t expect you to accept things well.” Mei-ling sighed. “But I have to pull the plug somewhere before your mind becomes set with something that isn’t real.”
“But…but…” Sakura’s lips quivered.
“Mei-ling…” Tomoyo started to say. “Your efforts are appreciated but currently, let us not lose hope. Maybe it would be better that we kindle the idea that Eriol of Manchester could have just inherited the legacy of the letter maker.” Then to Sakura she hopped and clasped her hand. “Right, Sakura?” She remarked with a gently smile.
“Tomoyo…” Sakura’s unsure yet stubborn self still dangled about.
Mei-ling gave her friend a look then finally raised her hands in defeat. “Fine. It is the most logical explanation we can think of at the moment.” She placed a hand inside her pockets to reveal a small watch. “Well then, it is getting late. I need to get that book before lunch. We better go.” And with that she entered the building and walked towards the librarian.
Still at the entrance, Sakura looked gloomy. Tomoyo, being the supportive friend, just squeezed her hand. “Don’t worry about it, Sakura.” In return, the auburn-haired lady gave her a weak smile.
“Mei-ling’s right, though. I was so amazed with the letter maker that I didn’t think of the facts.” Sakura said in a weak tone.
“You are not the only one.” Tomoyo gestured her hand around her. “I bet everyone around here hasn’t thought of it as well.”
The emerald-eyed lady frowned. “That’s because the letter maker was taken for granted. Even mother says so.”
“Yes…I hate to admit it but that would be probably right. I think you are the only one I know who had such perception of Manchester’s invention.”
“Still…” Sakura murmured. “…there are so many unanswered questions about it; both Manchester and his letter maker.”
“Their existence is indeed mysterious.” Tomoyo nodded in agreement.
Sakura tilted her head. “Then why is that…no one dared to answer it? How come no one took the initiative?”
Again, Tomoyo doesn’t know how to answer her friend. Sakura gave yet another sigh. “This is really weird.” Then suddenly, she thought of something. Her face brightened as she faced the other lady.
“I know!”
“What?”
“Last night, mother told me that there might be people like the King hiding somewhere.” Sakura excitedly said.
“People like the King?” Tomoyo blinked. Beyond them, Mei-ling was getting instructions on where to locate the book she was looking for.
“Yes! Like King Reed.” Then, she leaned closer to her friend. “People who have magic.” She whispered.
“Eh? But Sakura, wasn’t the King supposed to be the last one in line who has the ability to use magic?”
“I know, but mother said that there are rumors of those that might be in hiding.” Sakura’s emerald eyes glimmered. “Oh Tomoyo! That is the only possible answer to make things plausible. Like what Mei-ling said, the invention was attached to Lord Eriol’s name unlike Windome. If we are going to assess the tree and that he should be someone very very old, then how come he was depicted to be someone active and strong amongst the magistrate? He couldn’t possibly be a ragged old man.” Once again, Sakura fought the image of the bearded old man from creeping back into her head. “The only reason for this was that he had lived for this long and still remained young because he, like the King, has magic in his blood which gave him the ability to surpass the lifespan of a normal human being.” Sakura remarked excitedly.
“That is quite farfetched, Sakura.” Tomoyo said with uncertainty. “If the circle of elite nobles, magistrate and high council of the King knew about this, wouldn’t he be automatically placed on the throne and not regarded only as a candidate, considering that those capable of magic could be…one way or another…a kin of the King?”
Sakura’s lips became set on a grim line. It was something pointed out by her mother as well. That was why rumors were just rumors.
As Tomoyo saw Sakura’s spirits going down once again, she quickly stirred the conversation. “But, you know…we will never know for sure. It is not good to assume.” She hopefully said.
“Tomoyo…”
“How about we look for something related as to when exactly the letter maker was invented?”
“Hoe?”
“We are in a library, after all. There must be somewhere in here which points to the facts behind this remarkable machine and Manchester. Don’t you think so?”
Sakura’s face became joyful once more. “That’s a great idea, Tomoyo! Where else can we find information but here?” She jumped and hugged the other lady. “You are truly the best!”
The amethyst-eyed girl smiled. “Let’s go?”
Sakura nodded cheerfully and strode with Tomoyo towards where Mei-ling currently was.
------------------------------------------ (continued to the next post)
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:24 pm
It was almost noon as Sakura stretched her tired muscles. Around her, the crowd was getting thinner as most of them prepared to go take their lunch.
“Tomoyo…” Sakura murmured with a whimper. “…we’ve been raking these shelves for hours since Mei-ling left to give her father the book yet we still haven’t found anything about the letter maker.” She leaned forward on her seat to slump her head on the table.
“This is strange. The only thing we can find is its name under the list of inventions of our Kingdom but there was nothing else said about it.” Tomoyo referred to the huge book in front of her which carried the master list of all mechanical contraptions invented. “What’s more was that it only has its name and nothing more. Look.” Tomoyo raised the book for Sakura to see.
Indeed, there was a list of inventions, the year it was invented, the inventor and for what purpose. All of them had this same format except for one.
------------------------------------
L
Lantern Corale (1837) by Windome
- An interconnected lamppost to light the streets of the city.
Lab Mask (1701) by Lord Koujo of DueFort
- A mask worn during laboratory experimentations and chemical handling.
Letter Maker ( ) by
-
Loose Cabinet (1815) by Lord Alfred of Lexington
- An adjustable multi-purpose cabinet
Lump Remover (1820) by Duchess Maia of Rosanvell
- A cosmetic machine designed to remove any kind of lumps on the body.
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“Weh?” Sakura blinked at the page. “How come the year, inventor and description are blank?” She poked her nose closer to the entry.
Letter Maker ( ) by
-
Tomoyo set the book down. “Actually, this is the only entry I can find.”
The auburn-haired girl looked up in puzzlement. “How can something so elaborately used and known have such minimal record? Actually, this can’t be regarded as a record at all. It was more like it was here for the record of being mentioned.” She ran the tips of her fingers on top of the inked words. “I know that the letter maker is being taken for granted…but isn’t this too much?” Sakura’s eyes swiveled. “How can they regard such a magnificent thing so low?”
Tomoyo patted Sakura on the shoulder. “Don’t worry. Perhaps it isn’t enlisted here in the public section of the library.”
“What do you mean?”
Then, the raven-haired girl pointed at the circle of stairs towards the second floor. “There is another possibility that it could have been stored up there.”
Sakura followed her friend’s gaze. “In the ‘out of limits’ section?” She whispered. “But Tomoyo, we are not allowed to go in there. Only the magistrate and the parliament's council have access to it.”
“That section has the oldest and most important documents of our Kingdom. Even going back to the time when magic was still in full bloom. I believe it also contained historical background of each prominent family of our Kingdom.”
“Prominent family?” Sakura’s eyes twinkled in realization. “Eriol of Manchester’s records!” She said sharply yet in a low voice as she kept in mind where they were. “But…” She was suddenly unsure of herself. “…we might get in deep trouble if we were caught snooping around there. And besides, there are guards at the bottom of the stairs.”
True enough, two guards dressed in red and gold uniform stood sturdily at the foot of the stone steps.
“Not to worry.” Tomoyo’s eyes glistened with mischief. “I’ll distract them and you can slip through. This is a good time as well since there aren’t much people around. The ones left are too busy thinking about lunch than paying attention to that old staircase.”
“Wai!” Sakura exclaimed. “You really are going to such extents to help me ease my mind, Tomoyo?”
“Of course.” Her friend lovingly reassured. “I would do anything for you, my cute Sakura.” Her eyes became starry-eyed.
“Hoe…” Sakura didn’t know whether to be glad or not nevertheless if not now then when?
“There is a small window at the second floor. Flash your handkerchief once you are ready to go down and I will distract them again.” It seemed the raven-haired lady had things all planned out.
Sakura exhaled. “Alright.” Now with a much determined look. “Some things are worth the risk.”
Sakura really liked Manchester this much. Tomoyo thought with a supportive smile.
“Good luck to you.” With one final hand squeeze, the raven-haired lady paddled her way towards the guards.
Sakura wasn’t sure what Tomoyo was telling the guards, but it seemed to be working. Both uniformed men gazed down at the lovely lady before them with light blushes on their faces. The other one was even scratching the back of his head with an embarrassed expression.
You’re so good, Tomoyo. Sakura admired from afar.
Seconds after…miraculously…the two guards actually left their post and followed Tomoyo. She displayed a troubled face as if showing to the guards what have been bothering her outside the library. This signaled Sakura for her chance to slip up the stairs to the ‘out of limits’ section.
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Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:36 pm
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Moments later, Sakura felt dizzy. She wasn’t ready on what met her after she emerged from the circle of stairs at the far end of the second floor. The said ‘out of limits’ section was even larger than the public access one in the first floor. She knew that this building was quite old and that branches of trees mostly covered its view at the front, but this was unreal. Sakura’s mouth dropped open once she started exploring the musty aisles of the place. The ceiling was very high and spacious. It was made of glass. Yes, the roof was made of glass and Sakura stood in awe as needles of light passed through it and adorned the vast room like luminous threads touching the floor. The sun did not invade the whole room. In fact, despite of the full glass ceiling, the place was not hot. The large trees outside the library sheltered the roof with its cool shades. Shadows of leaves and branches reflected on the red stone floor. It was like walking inside a greenhouse but finding tall array of shelves instead of plants and flowers. It would have been such a relaxing setting if not for the crowded shelves and mountain of books sprawled all around. The smell of wood and musty air filled her nostrils as she tried to maneuver herself about. She coughed every now and then from the dust that would occasionally fly out of the cover of a book which she could have pulled or returned.
“It will take me a lifetime to search this place! It is like finding a needle in a haystack.” Sakura said to herself gloomily as she tried her best to pace from one shelf to another. “Why do I have to get myself influenced by Tomoyo all of a sudden? What was I thinking doing this spontaneously?” Even so, she was lucky because it seemed the place was deserted.
Sakura tried clearing her mind. She was not being efficient. She needed to concentrate and look for labels or sign boards which might indicate something about inventions or Manchester himself. She sincerely hoped that Tomoyo was alright, though. She walked faster yet kept in mind not to make the heels of her shoes echo on the vast floor. She visited aisle after aisle and following every instruction that may pertain to inventions. She seemed to have unearthed much information about mechanical devices which may have been interesting for someone like her, but these were not her goal at the moment.
I am losing time. Why is that I can't find anything about the letter maker? Or Manchester? She shook her head in disbelief.
After some time of simultaneously pulling out of one book to another, Sakura slightly snapped. “Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai! I can’t seem to find anything about the letter maker!” She exclaimed.
“The letter maker?” A solemn voice spoke from behind.
Sakura gasped and turned around to confront the origin of the voice. And there, seated casually with one leg propped up on the white window sill at the end of the aisle, was a man who appeared to be in his late twenties. He has dusty gray hair that matched his eyes which was adorned with spectacles. He wore a white coat and equally white tights. His shirt inside had sky blue raffles which matched the color of his boots. He looked elegant and it was obvious that he might be a Lord of high stature.
A Lord of high stature…inside the off-limits section… Sakura panicked. She was going to be in deep trouble.
“Hoe! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” She was so nervous that her hand flew about and knocked down the pile of books beside her. One by one, hard-covered stacks dangerously rained on her. Sakura covered her face and closed her eyes to wait for the impact.
But it never came.
Instead, she felt herself being pulled to safety. Around her, she heard thuds of heavy objects touching the floor. Dust filled the air which made her and her rescuer cough simultaneously.
Her rescuer… Sakura’s eyes flew open and found herself gazing up at a pair of warm eyes. She was dazed for a moment, and then finally realized that she was being held in an embrace.
“Hoe!” Wide-eyed Sakura jumped back almost in an instant which released her from the stranger’s grasp. She felt her heart thumped faster inside her chest as she tried to catch her breath.
The dusty-eyed man chuckled. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to pull you drastically, my Lady.”
Sakura clutched the wooden panel of one of the shelves near her for support as she stared at the man before her. It was the first time a man held her close. Who could blame her? She was a lady in court. She wasn’t supposed to be touched by man just like that, especially when she hasn’t been launched to the society yet.
But then again she wasn’t in her place to throw an accusing finger towards the man. She was the one violating the rules at the moment. So, right there and there, Sakura bowed immediately.
“I’m sorry!” She said once more. “I…I didn’t mean to intrude this place. I …I …” She stammered hastily; unsure of what to tell.
“It’s alright.” The man cut her with a gentle smile.
“Hoe?”
Then, he winked and bent forward with a finger on his lips. “I won’t tell anyone.”
“R-really?” Sakura couldn’t believe what she just heard.
“Yes. Really.” The gray-haired man placed the book he was reading earlier back to the shelf. “But in return...you have to tell me about this thing I heard you say about the ‘letter maker’.”
“Hoe!” Sakura clasped her hands together in front of her, unsure whether to actually tell the stranger her objectives.
Sensing an unsure aura from the young lady, the man smiled once more. “Don’t worry. I promise I won’t get you in trouble. I can even escort you back downstairs and instruct the guards to let you through.”
“You can…do that?” Sakura asked meekly. “Are you…a ranked official? You look young.”
The gray-haired man chuckled. “Do I? I often get the same comment from people.”
The auburn-haired lady looked down on her feet. She wasn’t really sure on what she should do next. The stranger seemed kind enough. “A-no…”
“Yes?” He gave her a smile of encouragement.
“I was…” Her voice came out in almost a whisper. “…”
“You were…?” The man patiently waited with much gentleness in his tone. It somewhat eased Sakura’s unsure nerves.
She finally exhaled and gaze back in a more determined tone. “I was looking for records that may pertain to the letter maker.”
The stranger blinked behind his glasses. “Records of the letter maker? Ah, the invention in the postal service.”
Sakura nodded. “I know I shouldn’t be here because of such trivial thing, but I’ve always admired Lord Eriol of Manchester’s invention for quite some time now and uh…well…I just want to found out how a machine is capable of such things. Like how can it seem to be ‘knowing’? Although, what it mostly do is deliver and send letters, it is also capable of writing them for you.”
“Hmmm…but as far as I can tell,” The gray-haired man started to say thoughtfully. “…that machine could very well just capture the words you dictate to it. Such algorithm is not that unusual. Windome also has inventions which run by voice command.”
Sakura frowned. “No…no!” Then, she realized that she was almost shouting so she toned her voice down. “It is capable of capturing words, but what about those times when a person is lost for words and he didn’t know what to say, thus, was only capable of making fragment sentences…yet somehow…it would only take for him to sit in front of the lettermaker, pour out his grievances and there you have it! It will provide you a letter containing a coherent flow of words which will be the gist of what you are trying to say. It will even provide you with the corresponding type of stationery which may even help in easing the feelings of the reader. That is something above normal and I don’t see why people keep taking it for granted!” The young lady glared up at the other man.
He was startled for a minute. He wasn’t expecting to hear such strong sense of defense which illuminated from the lady’s voice. He looked at her unfaltering emerald eyes.
Finally, he started to chuckle. “I’m sorry. Have I downgraded something special to you?”
“Hoe!” Sakura bent her head with a slightly embarrassed face. “I didn’t mean to talk like that. Please excuse my impudent words.”
“No. Please excuse mine.” Gentleness doesn’t seem leave his face. “But aside from that…would you like to know a secret?” He said mysteriously.
“A secret?”
“It is…one of the many secrets of our Kingdom.”
“Hoe?”
The gray-haired man leaned closer to Sakura and whispered. “It was also the letter maker who writes diplomatic documents being used to forge alliances with nearby countries.”
“HOE!” Sakura exclaimed wide-eyed. “How…how did you know that?”
He once again gave her a smile. “I just know.”
The auburn-haired lady stared up at him. “Who are you, exactly?” Her voice was full of innocence and curiosity.
But instead of answering her question, the gray-haired man gazed towards the endless aisle of books. He seemed to be in deep thought before he spoke again. “You are not going to find any written record of the letter maker anywhere. Much less anything which may pertain to its details.”
“Hoe?” Sakura tilted her head questioningly. “Why?”
The man didn’t response immediately. A trace of sadness danced inside his solemn eyes. “Because…” Sakura looked up at him with much intense anticipation which made the man chuckle.
“Oh look at me. Almost blurting out…” He glanced at her with a smile. “…another secret.”
“Hoe!” Sakura pouted childishly and grabbed the man’s coat. “You can’t stop like that! Tell me! Tell me!”
But this only made the other man laugh some more. “You are so cute like that.” He remarked as he placed his hand on top of her head.
Sakura blushed when she realized that she was almost hurling herself towards the man. She once again jumped back and avoided the other man’s eyes. She was starting to get uncomfortable with their situation.
The man chuckled and apologetically bowed his head. “My apologies again. I was out of the line speaking boldly to a lady like yourself.”
But Sakura remained quiet with her face starting to get red once more.
“Even so…” He continued. “…it was quite obvious that you seem to have deep admiration towards the letter maker. Would this perhaps extend to its so-called…’inventor’?”
The young lady’s beet-like face answered his question which earned another smile from him.
“I hate to say this to you, but you won’t be able to find any information about the letter maker and its inventor here.”
“Hoe?”
The man nodded.
“But…why?”
“It is…quite complicated to explain. Even so, I feel guilty in seeing you off empty handed.” He said.
“No, you don’t have to feel that way!” Sakura waved her hands in front of her. “I’m the one that isn’t supposed to be here.”
With another gentle smile, he reached inside his coat. He revealed a lovely looking pen. He extended his hand and dropped the pen on Sakura’s palm.
“Eh?” She blinked.
“Here, this is for you.” He said.
“Hoe! But...” She looked up at him with confused emerald eyes.
“Being interested in the letter maker like this, I think it is safe to assume that you love to write, am I correct?” He asked.
“Yes.” She nodded.
“Then, why don’t you try writing your questions down?”
“Excuse me?” Sakura wasn’t sure she heard him right. “Write it down?”
“Yes, like a journal. It may ease your mind. That is quite a nice pen. I’ve had it for quite a while now and it helped me a lot in gathering my thoughts.” He remarked.
“But will I get answers by merely doing that?” Sakura doesn’t look convinced.
“Maybe…who knows? Just try it. I guarantee it would be…” He paused as if raking his thoughts for the proper word. “…interesting.” He said cheerfully.
“Eehhh?” She stared at the silver pen on her hand. He seemed to be a kind man. And he hadn’t called the authorities to drag her out of the ‘off limits’ section. “Thank you.” She finally said. “You have been kind and patiently listened to me and even deal with my nonsense.”
Still, the same gentleness showered from his face. “I don’t consider it as nonsense. I think it is a gift that you saw things most people had overlooked.”
This time, it was Sakura who smiled warmly at the other man. “Thank you. If you would be so kind as to say who you are…”
But she wasn’t able to continue her sentence. A group of people suddenly came barging in. Their long coats suggested that they were library officials; angry-looking old officials.
“You! What are you doing here?” One of them pointed towards Sakura. “This is the ‘off-limits’ section! You are not authorized to browse this area!”
“Hoe!” She looked at them wide-eyed. Panic started to overcame her once more.
“We heard things falling and was worried as to what it was.” They were probably referring to the books which Sakura knocked out before. “We should have arrived here earlier if the archway on top of the stairs didn’t collapse.”
“Hoe!” Sakura exclaimed with a shock at the news.
“Eh?” The gray-haired man suddenly appeared behind her with his neck stretched towards the origin of the commotion. “It really did collapse?”
The group of officials jumped back, startled. “My Lord! You’re here!”
The gray-haired man gave all of them one of his gentle smiles. “Oh hello. My apologies for surprising all of you.”
So, he is someone important, after all. Sakura observed.
“Not to worry, My Lord. We are here to take the lady. We sincerely hoped that she didn’t bother you.” The oldest one said as he glared at Sakura.
“In contrary…I think this is entirely my fault.” He said. The auburn-haired lady could only stare up to him. “You see…” He started to say. “…this sweet lady over here lost her pen a while ago. It seemed to have rolled under my feet and I picked it up without any hesitation.” He pointed at the pen Sakura was holding. “I needed one so I just took it since I needed to write something. I guess, she was scared to approach me at first but nevertheless followed me up here with hope of retrieving what she had lost.”
Sakura’s mouth dropped open. He lied just like that…for me.
“So, please don’t punish her. She is a little bit naïve but she didn’t do anything wrong. I was the little thief.” He pointed finger on himself then chuckled.
“My Lord…” Everyone sweat-dropped at the casual expression of the gray-haired man.
“I see.” The oldest official said with his brows twitching.
“So please, without any further a due, would you all be so kind as to escort my lady back downstairs? That is quite a debris over there.” He pointed out.
The officials bowed. “Immediately, my Lord.”
“A-no…there is no need for an escort, I can find my way.” Sakura said.
“Are you sure?” The man remarked with a worried face.
“Yes.” Then, she bowed down once more. “Thank you, My Lord…for everything.” And with that Sakura scurried her way towards the staircase. The dusty-haired man waved at her cheerfully in goodbye.
There was a small path where she could pass through, probably were the officials dug to get in. She was tightly grasping the pen given to her when she suddenly bumped at someone before reaching her destination.
Oh no…not again… Sakura looked up and saw herself staring at a pair of scrutinizing eyes from another man with short black hair, who seemed to be around the same age as the gray-haired one she met earlier. He wore a black coat, black tights, and boots.
“Hoe!”
But the man just kept staring at her.
The officials at the back suddenly went chaotic. “My Lord!” They all said in unison.
WAI! Don’t tell me...another high-ranked noble? Sakura became nervous once again. She must be really jinxed that day.
“You.” The black-haired man spoke in a deep voice. She was motionless as she sensed that this man was probably someone strict. She waited for the worse as she glanced up at him. “You…” He repeated. “…are stepping on my foot.”
“Eh!” She glanced down and blushed. “I’m so sorry!” She quickly moved away; almost out of breath at how intensely, the newcomer was staring at her. He was taller than the gray-haired man and would have passed for someone considered to be handsome, if not for the death glare his eyes seemed to flash. “I must go now. I apologize once again.” There was no point lingering at that situation.
But the black-haired man called out to her even before she reached the stairs. “Oi…”
With a scared face, she glanced back at him. “Yes?”
“You dropped your handkerchief.” He said with a hand extended as he held the piece of cloth towards her.
“Hoe!” She briskly walked back and bowed without even looking, before finally taking her handkerchief and scurried away towards the safety of the first floor; out of breath.
Soon after she left, the oldest of the officials spoke once more. “What a great day this is for two of the most important people of our Kingdom to be visiting our old library.”
“With an archway collapsing dangerously, you still consider it a great day?” The black-haired man said sarcastically.
The old man seemed taken aback, but nevertheless, the tension in the atmosphere dissipated the moment the gray-haired man spoke as well.
“You are scary as usual, Touya.” He chuckled.
Touya smirked. “I apologize if I can’t be as friendly as you are, Yukito.” He said to the man.
“My high Lords, Duke of Summers and Duke of Windome…” One of the officials started to say. “We are greatly disturbed with this situation. Perhaps, both of you would like to stay somewhere else while we fix the collapsed structure.”
“It’s alright.” Touya replied. “We can stay at the far end. Right, my dear friend?”
“Yes.” Was the only thing the other said.
With that, the officials bowed and left the two Lords. Both started to walk towards the other end of the vast room.
“You wanted to talk to me, Touya?” The gentle Duke asked. “Suggesting for us to go to this part of the ‘off-limits’ section…most of the time implies that there is something we need to seriously talk about in private, considering that the far end shelves are sound proofed.”
“I wasn’t really planning to talk to you in private but that incident earlier aroused my curiosity.” Touya replied.
“With the young lady?”
“Well…that included.” Touya gave him a side glance.
“What do you mean?” Yukito asked innocently.
“I mean the archway…” The taller man started to say.
“The collapsed archway?”
“It was your guardian’s doing.” Touya finished with an arched brow.
“Eeeeeeeh?” The gray-haired man blinked.
“You looked so surprised. That was unexpected. I thought you ordered him to do so to extend your quality time with that girl.” Touya retorted.
“But I didn’t order anything.” Yukito replied defensively. “Are you sure it was Yue?”
“My family may no longer have the ability to use magic, Yukito, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t see materialized being caused by magic. Guardians has the ability to manifest like a complete living thing.”
“Does this mean that you saw Yue do it?”
The black-haired Duke nodded in affirmation. “I’m surprised once more. Didn’t you feel the aura of your own guardian earlier? Did that young lady captured your attention enough for you to completely lose touch of your surroundings? I might say, she is rather lovely with those unique emerald eyes.”
But Yukito held up his hand. “No, Touya. You are mistaken. I must admit that she was rather pretty, but it wasn’t really my intention.”
“Hmmmm? Then, what was it exactly? You even gave her your lucky pen.”
The gentle Duke glanced away for a moment, but eventually smiled. “Now, that’s a secret.”
Touya raised his brow. “A secret?” He smirked. “Trying to keep your years in this earth more exciting, eh? Well, I can’t blame you. Being alive for centuries could be monotonous.”
Yukito chuckled. “You’ll eventually find out, Touya.”
“Apparently.” The taller man replied with a trace of disdain in his voice. "And regretfully."
“Even so…” Yukito frowned while rubbing his chin. He titled his head as if darting his voice towards something. “Yue.”
On an instant, a white light filled the shadowy shelves. Feathers flew around as what appeared to be a set of wings materializing from thin air. It opened to reveal a man with long hair tied loosely in a ponytail at the bottom. The color of his hair was lighter than the Duke’s with it being strikingly silver, but in contrast to the Lord’s gentle face, this man’s face was emotionless.
“You called for me?” It said to him.
“I’m sure you’ve heard what Touya conveyed, Yue.” Yukito remarked.
“Yes. It was me.” Yue replied.
“Eh?” The gentle Duke blinked. “Why?”
“I was trying to do you a favor…so you can prolong your conversation with the lady. She was the first amongst all to ask about the letter make with such determination.” The winged being explained.
“The letter maker…?” Touya frowned at the mention of the invention. “…Manchester.” He gritted his teeth. “Don’t tell me that that girl is related to Manchester.”
“Now…now Touya.” Yukito tried to calm down the growing rage inside the other Duke. “Don’t jump to conclusions. She was more of…a fan.”
“A fan?” Touya snorted. “Manchester actually has a fan?”
“You’d be surprised.” Yukito smiled.
“I don’t get it how you can get along well with that man and me at the same time, considering that he and I have completely different perspectives and principles.” Touya remarked with obvious hate in his voice. “Exact opposites, one might say.”
“Touya believes in the power of machines as the future of our Kingdom. Eriol, on the other hand, still believes in the power of the old world.” Yukito started to say.
“Magic.” Touya cut him. “He still believes that magic is still the future of this Kingdom, when it was obvious that the two of you are probably the only ones left aside from the King who has the ability to use it.”
As usual, Yukito just smiled. “Touya is my friend. Eriol is my friend. That is why I am neutral.”
Touya smirked. “Is that where you are going to side? What if you become the next King? You are after all, like Manchester and I, another candidate to the throne.”
The dusty-haired man’s face grew serious. “I don’t want to be the King. I might as well forfeit if they ever decide on me.”
“I find it amusing, though.” Touya began to say. “For someone who also has great magic in him…” He shot a look at the winged man beside the gentle Duke. “…you refuse to side with magic.”
Yukito bent his head. “Don’t get me wrong, Touya. I have nothing against magic, but all these centuries that I have been alive, I don’t see people surviving with magic alone, but then again…I don’t think we can depend purely on machines, either. So there is no particular right side at the moment.”
“Hmph…I have tons of debate materials stored inside my head to defend my side, but knowing you…I would probably tire myself out trying to get my point across.” The taller Duke said as he straightened himself. “I guess, you helped that young lady because she was a fangirl of your long-time friend. Your kindness are endless, Yukito.”
The gentle Duke smiled cheerfully.
“Tsk…” With that, Touya shook his head. “…I don’t see what’s so special with his invention anyway.” He gave the other Duke a light pat before finally taking his leave.
Once the Duke of Windome was out of ear shot, the winged being suddenly spoke. “You didn’t correct him.”
“Hmmmm?” Yukito glanced at his guardian.
“You didn’t correct him when he said that you and Eriol of Manchester are probably the only two people left, aside from the King, who has the ability to use magic.” Yue remarked.
The gentle Duke grinned happily. “That is right. I didn’t correct him that there are three of us left who can use magic aside from the King.”
“The person whom your ideals and principles connived with.” Yue’s tone dangled a bit.
“My belief…is the same as his…” Yukito started to say with his eyes sinking to the depths of his memories. “…that we need both magic and machine to survive.”
“You said you were neutral.”
“I am neutral if I am going to choose between Touya and Eriol.” The gentle Duke replied.
“But if we include that certain someone in the choice of candidates?” Yue greatly anticipated his master’s answer.
Yukito suddenly look at the other with a mysterious yet peaceful expression. “If he is included…then there is no need for us to look for candidates…at all, since…even after what happened centuries ago…even after that horrid day…despite all accusations thrown at him…in my book…by blood and by heart…he is still the rightful heir to the throne.”
This time, it was the winged guardian’s turn to smile. “Then, I surely hope that the young lady will use your pen as you suggested her to.”
The gentle Duke chuckled. “I hope so to…because, it will give her the answers she had been seeking.”
-------------------------------------(end of Chapter Two)
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Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 4:39 pm
It's an interesting and long story. X.x I read it in one go which took awhile though it would be nice if the font wasn't so small. I had to practically put my face to the screen.
I liked how the characters have interacted with each other and how you've incorporated the old traditions with magic as well as the progress of technology alongside the decline of magic.
I'm curious as how to this story will turn out.
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