I created an F2R/GF/DC extras book on my profile, for all things related to it. Go check it out, i posted the finished Character References there, and more stuff will be posted as time goes on!

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Grasping Fate

Chapter 8

"Every act of creation is all an act of destruction."

Seto hasn't moved from Tyler's side since he and Alesa were allowed to visit him. He nodded whenever anyone spoke to him but he wasn't listening.

What kind of cruel joke was this... After finally regaining his magic because he faced the emotion that caused him to lose it, he finds that very emotion threatening hims once more.

Fear.

Fear of losing once again, someone close to him.

Seto wished he knew what had happened and why, but he was to grief stricken to listen to the villagers explanations. Tyler's usually goofy smile was tightened into a pained expression. He was sweating and never resting ash he constantly twisted and turned and groaned. Every now and then Seto's thoughts would be interrupted by Tyler's sudden throat-rattling coughs and someone within the building rushing immediately over to Tyler's side as he wheezed and hacked.

Why did this happen? He was fine, all he did was fall. Had the unfamiliar climate given Tyler some nasty bug?

It didn't seem very likely that all of a sudden Tyler would be rendered to this ill shape so quickly, there had to be some other unnatural explanation.

"Seto, may I speak to you?" Seto looked up from his daze, his purple eyes bloodshot and puffy. It was the Kulnak, it seemed news had reached him and he returned to the village after Seto had left him.

Seto simply stood up and walked over to the Kulnak, he moved almost like a ghost. His feet hardly left the ground, and he hardly moved any other body part as he left the room Tyler was in.

"It seems our sorcerers have determined the problem, if you care to know what it is," Seto made the faintest of nods, the thin, old man nodded, "Your friend has what is known as Dragon Sickness."

Seto felt like he's heard of that somewhere, "He is a second generation, at least one parent had the sickness before him before passing it down at birth to him also...However, it seems his case is unusual..., it's developing faster than it should, which is impossible. Your friend is dying long before he even should."

Seto trembled, he felt his heart drop and a foul taste fill his mouth. He didn't want to hear anymore, without another word he walked passed the Kulnak, out into the open snow. He hugged his hood and cloak tightly around him. Alesa had given it back to him after buying herself a Vragan cloak.

The sky was growing darker, night was fast approaching, if he wasn't careful he'd wind up surrounded by mobs. Vragan was a small kingdom, not very rich either, they didn't have the money for Spawn Regulators.

"Seto," Seto didn't look up as he heard Retro's voice, "Look, I know you are upset, and everyone else has just about given up on your friend, but that is because no one is willing to risk a cure on a stranger."

"A cure? There is a cure and no one is doing anything about it!" Seto hissed.

"Yes...but in order to get the cure, a sacrifice must be made..., I'm telling you this because you're the closest to him, you're probably the only one who is willing to make a sacrifice.

Seto looked up to Retro, "What do I have to do, please tell me!" He begged, he was losing it. He was losing Tyler as each moment passed.

Retro sighed, "The price will probably be big, I'm not sure what you'll have to pay. The Nyx will take was he deems equal. As to where to go, head north to the mountain's base. If you pray to the Nyx, perhaps he may answer your call, this is all the advice I can offer you. I know nothing more."

"Thank you," Seto mumbled as Retro nodded and left. The moon was shining darkly over the ground, dark clouds were making their way over the village. Seto felt a chill and huddled close to himself. He saw one small white fluff fall from the sky.

It was snowing.

Seto looked back at the small village, the only lit home was the one with Tyler in it... He didn't have time to tell Alesa what he planned to do, he had to go now, before he feared it was too late.

Tyler had who knows how much time left.

~~~~~

Mitch could hear quiet chatter inside the throne room. Yes, he was very anxious. He never planned to become king so soon, he always figured it would come much later, however then his father grew ill. And it was only a matter of time before he passed away, just he felt like it was too soon.

Oh! What was he worrying about! He was raised for this very moment, raised to eventually become the king. There was no other heir than him, so he was the only one fit for the job. No matter how much his father looked down on him he was more than ready, and he knew it!

Inside the throne room the ceremony would commence, people from all over the realm had come. Rich and wealthy people, royals of other kingdoms. A new king of Duhita, meant new relationships for them.

Mitch gripped his arm and breathed. He let out a long and tense breath before calmly placing his arms to his sides. It was nearly noon, and soon he would enter. Everything needed to go right, everything had to go right. And as soon as he was in the clear, he needed to sneak back to Adam and the others. The longer he was here the more at risk they were at.

D*mmit! He needed to stop, all these thoughts that were running through his head were going to drive him mad. He was working up doubts about himself and everything right before the coronation. His clothing was starting to feel constricting, and his head reeled with unease. Left and right his brain tossed out ideas that this wasn't going to work. It was too soon for him to be a king. He'd never be able to lead his kingdom, his friends needed him. And war...A war was biting at his heels threatening to topple him at any minute.

Mitch heard the sound of the doors in front of him. He tensed and realized, it was time. Could he really do this? Could he?

Mitch smiled warmly at the turned heads and curious gazes. He took calm and even steps forward into the room, letting himself walk tall with little waves of his hand as the people sat in cushioned chairs. In Duhita, a coronation was a private celebration only able to be attended by invite only, but the people of the kingdom would not be left out of the celebration. Eventually other celebrations needed to be planned for the kingdom alone.

Mitch stood beside his mother who stood confident near his father's throne, soon to be his, she spoke to the crowd and welcomed him to the people, "My son, Mitchell, has returned from his short and unexpected journey through this realm and in his return his father has passed on and left the crown for him. Today, is a day of celebration as our kingdom continues its proud lineage and moves forward through time with my son as the new king of Duhita." Mitch smiled. His mother always had a way with words.

"Thank you," Mitch took a small bow, "I am overjoyed with all of you for coming today to witness this event. As the soon to be king of my beloved home, I proud to be in the presence of so many familiar and new faces. Great friends of my father, new friends of this new era for Duhita, please accept my gratitude and my welcomes to our humble home and enjoy today after the ceremonies." Mitch held out his arms and smiled at the welcoming cheers. He scanned the ground, everything was moving smoothly. He spent all day yesterday practicing what he would say, he had it memorized it by heart.

Mitch felt his fingers twitch as his eyes caught a glimpse of a face he did not expect to see in the crowd. He maintained a calm composure and did his best to listen to his mother as she continued.

"In just a few short moments, Mitch will be crowned and in light of this I'd like to welcome a special guest. A man who's been a friend of the family and like a father to Mitch. Your highness," Mitch's mother curtsied, and from the crowd a man stood. A man with a very rigid expression, the crowd clapped as enthusiastic rich, mannered people could, but Mitch..., Mitch was shocked. Shocked to see him, and that was when he noticed Jerome's fur covered head peeking from that of a window.

Sh*t.

Dressed in a green colored chestplate with a golden amulet with an emerald jewel placed in its center. He walked calmly through the crowd, a cape as black as night flapped behind him. Mitch forced himself to stop staring before moving to the side and allowing the man to stand beside him.

"Your highness, what a pleasant surprise." Mitch bowed and shook his hand. His grip uncomfortably tight to Mitch.

"Mitchell, I am glad to see you are well, when we last met you showed marvelous growth in your training against several of my guards. I am glad to see your travels have treated you well."

"Yes, they have, thank you." The King of Emedo. Mitch did not expect to see him here of all places, not at his coronation. But of course his mother would invited him, and the sneaky b*stard seems to have kept quiet about the situation in the courthouse.

"I do have to apologize for my son's absence, it was impossible for me to pull him away from his duties, he sends his condolences and asks to visit you when he can."

"Hardly a problem, it is a shame he could not make it, but leading an entire army is no small matter."

"Yes, yes, very true." Their conversation was brief, the King's face never once changing in expression. Mitch could not figure out what his game was, they both knew Adam was not in Emedo, nor was he currently leading an army. He could flat out say it, mention his involvement in the whole ordeal. He could convince everyone here, so why didn't he?

"Your highness, thank you once again for join us on this day."

"It is my pleasure, Mitchell has been a dear friend and trusted companion for my son, and I am honored to finally repay him for his kindness." Mitch wanted to laugh at the smile that appeared on his face and the slight bow the king did towards his mother, but he held back his actions. This was an important ceremony, and he had to remain level-headed.

"Normally, it is the king that does this, but since he died unexpectedly, I'd like to bestow you the honor of crowning our new king, if you'd please, your highness," Mitch's mother waved her hand, an attendant was at her side in moments holding out a red cushion. On this cushions was a crown laid out very delicately. A crown made from golden threads that which a beautiful assortment of jewels hung from it.

"Thank you for the honor," he bowed. Mitch saw his mother gesture to Mitch and he nodded before kneeling on the ground, his head only slightly tilted to the ground. Mitch heard the sound of jewels clinging together and felt the weight of the string-like crown as it was placed over his head. The feeling felt a lot like the crown he wore before having to leave it behind to travel with Adam and Seto.

Mitch exhaled a breath he didn't know he was holding before he felt the hands that placed the crown over his head move away. Mitch stood slowly before he faced the crowd, he heard clapping all around him before he bowed and moved back to the king's throne. He took a seat and from there, the people stoof up from theirs. The doors to the throne room opened. Servants pushing carts and carrying trays of food and dishes moved forward to serve the hugry guests while Mitch sat observing the festivities. He was pleased and happy things had gone so smoothly--

Mitch's eyes quickly darted to the window he saw Jerome's fur covered head peek from. Jerome was still there it seemed, he was worried Jerome would try something, and thankfully it seemed he wasn't that stupid.

The King of Emedo grabbed at Mitch's attention as he stood beside Mitch and spoke to him very quietly, "I hope you have not forgotten what happened."

"If you're referring to what took place in Emedo when I was present, if hasn't slipped my mind," Mitch kept a very calm expression on his face, so as not to reveal any emotions. And though he did not turn to look at the king as he spoke to him, he knew there would be no point. The many was more than twice his age, he had far more experience with concealing his motives and emotions.

"Well it is a shame what happened. Duhita was very close to possibly attaining an alliance with Emedo."

"Thank you for--"

"Your father so very much wanted it to happen. He set you up to become friends with my son to do so."

"I know that very well, thank you."

"Even with the actions of my foolish son, you could've still gained the very alliance that your father always wanted. I'm sure we both know your father never held you very highly, his son with the sickly heart."

Mitch's grip on the armrests of his throne tightened ever so slightly, hardly noticeable to anyone but the King.

"That was in the past, hardly relevant now."

"Even so, I'm sure it would make your father very happy if you told me the whereabouts of my son. With that information I could grant you that alliance. It's for the good of your kingdom."

For his kingdom. Everything Mitch did was for his kingdom, that is what his father, no matter how many time he never looked at Mitch with kind eyes, always told him. Everything was for the kingdom. Think nothing of selfish desires, and only for the good of the kingdom, only them will you be the strong king the kingdom needs.

It was true.

An alliance with Emedo would be highly beneficial. Keuta's large economy and control over trade, Emedo's powerful army, and Duhita's unparalleled tactics would make the three kingdoms unstoppable. Duhita would never have to worry, all their problems could be fixed. They'd have the strength and power his father always wanted. He could rid the kingdom of all the morvics--

He could get rid of all of them... Two powerful armies would be no match for the morvic population, it was be easy as counting to 3. But he didn't really like the idea.

Mitch's grip on the throne tightened, his eyes flickered over to the window Jerome was at. He was not there, as far as he could see.

Would it really be ok? Morvics were simply tools, that is what his father always told him. But were they really? Morvics have lived in Duhita for so long, he didn't know their full history. Who came first, the morvic or the human?

When he thought about it, it did seem like the better idea, less crime in all likelihood. But that would mean getting rid of...so many...lives. He was a fighter, not a killer, he couldn't simply call for a massacre like that, not even on the morvics.

And he'd hate to say it, but that would mean getting rid of the annoying pain in his side, Jerome.

"No," Mitch loosened his hold on his throne, "I'm sorry, I haven't seen Adam since leaving Eflido. I split ways with him, and the sorcerer, I'm sorry I could not be of any help, but do please enjoy the festivities, you are the guest of honor afterall."

The King nodded and his lips tightened and stretched into a grim frown, "A shame, do take care, your highness, you and I said on equal ground now, Anything and everything can cause even the slightest of disasters. Should anything happen, even small, a war could erupt, and it'll be on your head."

Mitch nodded solemnly, "Noted."

Well stream chat, for those who were there that one day, I mentioned small hints. I did say Mitch would have a special visitor, :D IT WAS THE KING. Muh ha ha ha!

Yes, the King of Emedo was there at Mitch's coronation! :D

And then there is Seto D: Seto you small adorable child noooooo.

Don't forget to check out the F2R/GF/DC extras book, fun stuff will go there. :D Also, completed character ref is in there now, here is a sneak peek: