The Iron Rose: Volume 1

Gudomlay found Britta in the gym wearing her boxing clothes. She was punching bare fisted at one of the bags. It was making its usual thumping sounds and swayed so its chain rattled. Gudomlaybit her lip and quietly went to her. The one natural talent she had was sneaking up on people. It wasn’t something she did intentionally. She just stepped so light and was so quiet. It took an expert to notice her coming when she wasn’t trying to hideherself.

Britta was one of those people. WhenGudomlaywas nearer, she stopped swinging at the bag hanging in front of her and grabbed it to keep it still. With her head drooped, she turned to faceGudomlaywho stared at her with sad eyes.

“I did something wrong and you got attacked for it... Britta. I. I can’t express how sorry I am. If I hadn’t been so stubborn during class--”

“Stop it,Gudomlay,” Britta said, her face hard and her tone icy.Gudomlaywinced and held herself. Britta lifted her gaze to glare at her. “I knew you were stupid,” she said bitterly. “I knew you were holding back. I knew you were being weak forshow.” She tilted her head and snarled at her. “And you have the entire school under your thumb so they think your incompetence ismybad!” She shouted, punching her fist into her own chest. “Shall we see how you do in a real combat setting? When there are no teachers and no students to have your back?” She was advancing on her now, butGudomlaydidn’t step back. She wassadnot scared.

Britta, with hot angry tears in her eyes, threw a punch. But as soon as her fist came within an inch ofGudomlay’sface, something happened. Something that made Britta stare in awe. A white light shone fromGudomlay’seyes. Around her was a man, standing where she was but not solid so she was standing as ifinsideof him.

It was his hand that stopped Britta’s fist from making contact withGudomlay’sface. Britta blinked at him and trembled. He was devastatingly handsome, with sad yellow eyes and long flowing white hair. He was without apparel. But his form was too ambiguous for her to see anything she would consider embarrassing.

“G-Gudomlay?” She stuttered, looking past him to find that her friend seemed to now be possessed or in some kind of trance. She swallowed and looked back at him. “Wha--”

“Please, do not harm my flower. She is precious to me.” His voice was so soft and kind it warmed her heart and brought tears of wonder to her eyes.

“I--I’m sorry,” she whispered, gawking at him with admiration.

He smiled tenderly and let loose her hand, but she couldn’t move. “Do not hate her,” he pled. “She is full of fear, for she senses what the eel has tried all this time to hide.” He looked down at Britta still, his head tilted to the side as he implored her with a soft expression. “Take care of her for me until I come? There will be a day when you are parted and may not see each other again, and she loves you.”

Britta, now trembling, brought her hands together. In a fist, she pressed it against her heart. “What do you mean? Where is she going?” She asked. Never see Gudomlay again? She was mad at her, but she didn’t want that. Maybe she’d started hanging around her because the school had assigned her to. But they were real friends now. She cared about Gudomlay. She just. She wanted her to realize that she could be better than she was currently acting. That she was strong. She wanted Gudomlay to find her strength, not be separated from her!

The spirit’s kind face was taken over by resolved sorrow. And then he faded away, clenching his teeth and looking as if in great pain.

Britta blinked, her mouth gaped. And then she heard a shuffling thud and realized thatGudomlayhad fallen. She gasped and hurried to her. Followingprocedure, she checked her pulse and breath and other vitals to make sure she didn’t need to go to the nurse. When she knew she was all right, she let out a sob and gathered her in her arms.

“I’m sorry,Gudomlay,” she cried, now rocking her. “I didn’t mean to be so mad. Please don’t leave...please don’t go away. I’m sorry!” She cried, her face contorting in an uglywail.

At that moment, the doors to the gym flew open with a loud clatter. “My lord!” Kunagi bolted into the training room and glanced around, but it was too late. Breathing heavily, his eyes darted about until he registered a couple of lumps on the floor. Pausing, his heart stopped and his eyes went wide when he saw Britta crying overGudomlay.

“It seems we have only just missed him.” Kunagi stiffened and looked beside him across the room at the man who’d appeared also. The very sight of him brought Kunagi on a level of alert that couldn’t be registered. Hegrithis teeth and moved to stand between him and the girls, a threatening aura spiking around him so it seemed as if he’d grown needles.

“Mr. Kunagi!” Britta cried when she saw him.

“Britta,” he called back in a warning voice. “Stay there withGudomlay!”

“I knew there was a reason you were stuck on land with a little girl. So. She is important to my brother, is she?” He asked, advancing a step.

Britta, watching from behind,cowardat the tension which rumbled through the room. This handsome looking man with draping blonde hair and spectacular blue eyes. He had all the appearance of a wondrous person, angelic in every way. To see himsmilehowever, sent a cold shiver throughout her senses. Kunagi on the other hand--a scrawny, lanky, messy looking professor--seemed a mere ant before this stranger.

But...

“If you think I will let you lay a finger on my charge--” his odd voice suddenly sounded beautiful. It was masculine and commanding as he straightened and took the round glasses off from his face. His hair had gone all black and his eyes had lost their insanity. “You are mistaken,” he stated coolly.

“Ha!” The handsome stranger’s head fell back. He looked truly amused. “You are going to stop me, are you? A little familiar whose power comes from a spirit lesser than I?” He lifted his hand and a bolt of light shot out at him. Kunagi, his stance an insulting shift so he faced him sideways, lifted his own hand. The light hit against something invisible andrippledoff it. The stranger grit his teeth and Kunagi lowered his arm.

“Still an arrogantjingoist,” he drawled, sliding his foot forward against the smooth and shining wooden floor.

“Always using those words,” the stranger said with the roll of his eyes. “Sometimes I think the only person that can understand you is yourself.”

“Or maybe you’re just stupid,”Kunagiretorted.

“M-Mr. Kunagi?” Britta whimpered. What was she seeing? What was this? It couldn’t be magic. Magic didn’t exist! Magic didn’t exist and they were bantering.

The stranger smirked and with a turn, whipped his right arm in a downward slicing motion. Another beam of light, this time in a sharp arch like asabre, came whirling at Britta andGudomlay. Britta screamed and ducked, but the attack never reached her.

She blinked and looked up to find a third man standing before her. He was dressed in strange clothes like what she’d seen in one ofGudomlay’sbooks. A yukata? A summer time robe-like garment worn by Jyukai people. Looking at him, his appearance matched that of those inGudomlay’spictures. It was the same way Kunagi did, though this man’s dress made it even more definite.

His long hair was in a high ponytail. His dark eyes were almond shaped. And he had thick short brows that were pointed and moved sharply downwards at the ends. Some of his hair fell over his face and there was a dark and mysterious look about him that reminded her of a wild horse. His body was long and lean. And the way he wore his yukata suggested that he’d been relaxing before making an appearance.

“Kuro-Uma.” The stranger grimaced to see him there. The man turned his head from looking over his shoulder at Britta andGudomlayto him and Kunagi.

“The girl is off limits, my lord,Hakune,” he said in a low voice. “As decreed by your father and his lady your mother,” he said, his eyes bearing into him. “My master, Senshi, has sent me to remind you of that.” Though he stood as if relaxed, Britta could tell. He was only that way so that he might move in anyway needed in order to act swiftly. This situation was too tense for someone to be so care free as he seemed to be.

“Senshi is meant to protect me,” the stranger drawled.“Whysend you to guard her?”

“My lord is protecting you from yourself,” Kuro replied. “Do you not remember the consequences of breaking this law?” He asked, unsheathing a sword from his belt and twirling it impressively at his side. It gave off a watery sheen and then rested with its point breathing just above the ground.

“They think you can kill me?”Hakunescoffed, looking rather confident.

“You forget,”Kunagisaid, makingHakunetwist around to glare at him. “We draw our power from our masters who are as powerful as you until the end of this game when its winner is decided. There are two of us and one of you, and believe me. The hatred my lady has for you is the same hatred I bear. I would take delight in ripping you to pieces using my second set of teeth,” he snapped.

Hakunelooked from him to Kuro, whose face gave very little away save that he was serious.Hakunechuckled and then walked out the room without a glance back at them. When he’d gone, the two men came together.

“The flower is in danger,” Kuro said with a glance back atGudomlaywith Britta.

“She has always been in danger,”Kunagisighed. “PrinceHakunehas known about her from the beginning but was never certain about her part in this. That the God King’s presence washerethough...” He shook his head and then glanced at his companion. “What is your lord’s side on all this? Odessa has always hatedHakune. WhatdoesSenshi and his wife say?”

“They are officially neutral, however.” Kuro shut his eyes. “They would ratherHakunerule neither world whatever his attempts to regain that chance. They have seen what he has done to this place in his brother’s absence and fear for the rest of it and our own.” He gazed atKunagiand frowned. “PrinceHakune, I do not think, has any official support from any of our masters,” he said.

Kunagi, pleased to hear it, looked down at Britta. “What happened?” He asked, his voice stern. “What did you see?” WhetherHakunehad followers among the servants of his father didn’t matter. Not so long as they couldn’t help the one son they did support.

Britta swallowed and watched as he squatted down to stare at her. She wondered at him and the total change that had overcome him. She’d seen the professor several times. But it wasn’t until this moment that she thought him admirable and handsome.

“Britta,” he called, poking her in the forehead.

She blinked back to life and took a breath. “There was a man!” She said. “A man who...” She looked the way the stranger had gone and lowered her brow. “Looked very much like that one you chased away. But. He asked me to protectGudomlay. He said she was scared and that...” Tears came to her eyes again and emotion had her voice shaking. “He said that she would have to leave!”

Kunagi thinned his lips and put a hand on her arm. “What did he look like, Britta. His eyes, his face. Give me a description as detailed as you can manage.”

She nodded, knowing that this must be important ifKunagiwas asking. He didn’t directly deal with stars usually. She heldGudomlaytight and shut her eyes to recall it all. “He looked like a ghost,” she said softly. “He surroundedGudomlaylike air. And I could see through him at her, but she looked as if she’d gone somewhere else. Spaced out...his hand was large and warm.” She remembered her fist in his palm and rolled her hand as if to recall its gentle strength.

“You felt him?” Kuro asked, sounding surprised.

“He stopped me from hittingGudomlay,” she said, her voice breaking as she looked up at him guiltily. “I was angry and wanted to make her fight for real. I wanted her to prove to me that she could take care of herself so I could stop worrying about her. I didn’t mean to get so angry--”

“It’s all right, Britta. Tell me more about this man,”Kunagisaid, catching her before she could start crying again.

She licked her lips nervously and nodded. “He had an elegant face with a straight nose. He was pretty, not rugged, but masculine also. His eyebrows were straight but also subtly curved. His eyes were soft and almond shaped. They were yellow like sunlight. His hair was long and flowing, but he had bangs that fell in wispy strands over his face. It was white as snow. His neck was long and his shoulders broad but his body was lean. I--I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone more beautiful than him,” she whispered. She opened her eyesthento look at Kunagi. “But it wasn’t just his appearance that was beautiful. It was the very feeling he gave off. I could tell he was a good and kind person and that made him even more wonderful.”

“It is him,” Kuro said on a breath. “Does that mean--” he looked down atGudomlay, frowning with his brow.

“The flower is matured.Gudomlaywill be the one to wake him up...” Kunagi replied, staring at her.

“And restore him to his rightful place among the gods,” Kuro said with a nod.

“If he can win,”Kunagiagreed. He looked at Britta again. “Britta.” His expression was soft as he addressed her. “Do as the ghost has asked of you? ProtectGudomlayfor as long as you can. Her survival is important to his, and without him, this world will fall into terrible ruin. We need him to rule notHakune. IfHakunewins, the rest of the world will become like this awful city. Freedom will be something no one will ever remember existed...”

“Mr. Kunagi,” Britta whispered, staring at him terrified. “Why her? Why does it have to beGudomlay?”

“I wish it wasn’t her either, Britta.” He held out his arms, and she let him takeGudomlayinto them. She was glad Gudomlay hadn’t been awake. Not only for that battle but because Britta knew she stunk for sweating so hard. And Gudomlay hated bad smells. Even with all of that going on. She would have probably complained about it for having been in her arms.

“Is she going to be all right?” She asked, coming to her feet as he liftedGudomlay.

“Yes, my lord’s power only drained her so she is tired. It must have worn him out also,” he commented worriedly. He glanced at Britta. “Was there a look of paininhis face?” He asked.

Britta frowned and nodded. “At the end. He looked sick.”

Kunagi gave a weary look at Kuro who thinned his lips and let a breath out through his nose. He bowed then, his fingers still clutching his sword.

“I must report back to Senshi and then return to my own charge,” he said as he straightened.

Kunagi nodded. “Thank you,” he said.

Kuro bowed his head and left, waiting until he was out of their sight before fading away.

“Senshi,” Britta whispered, recalling the name. “He doesn’t mean the spirit, does he? The one that taught people war and hates himself for it?” She asked, looking atKunagiand walking beside him as he carriedGudomlayout.

He thinned his lips and nodded. “Yes, Britta. I’m afraid he does. Your mythos class is not mythology at all, but real. Those spirits--they exist, and Kuro and I serve them.”

“And that battle,” she went on, her mind turning. “That was magic?”

“Magic isn’t real, Britta,”Kunagitold her, his voice low as they stepped outside.

“Mr. Kunagi,” she said, her voice soft to match the cold night.

“Yes, Britta?” He asked, his arms on Gudomlay tightening the way his chest felt.

“I think you’re lying.”

He smirked and nodded. “Yes, and so is everyone else that says magic and spirits are make believe.”