Crimson Eclipse

Chapter Three

“We could have someone see if they know the language enough to translate.” Wolfram suggested calmly as he eyed the book.

“It’s Zach. He wasn’t willing to let anybody know anything that he didn’t want them to know about.” Conrart reminded his youngest brother. “Hence why it’s written this way.”

Yuri listened to the three men discuss what they were going to do about the book that Gunter had found in the library. Gunter and Conrart both agreed that it would be pointless to see if anybody could understand the writing while Wolfram was trying to figure out if there was anyway that they could discover the book’s contents without Anissina finding out.

The young Maoh picked up the book and opened it, recognition showing in his eyes. “Sister, Sister, what do you see with crimson eyes that stare at me?” Yuri questioned softly as he turned the pages.

The three men looked at the young Moah, watching as he looked through the book with some interest and displeasure at whatever it was he was reading. “What did you say, Yuri?” Wolfram questioned with a confused look.

Yuri grinned sheepishly before answering, “Ah, it’s just part of a game that someone that I used to know and I played when we were little. The writing in this book looks like the one she taught me to read when we were kids and it also reminds me of the stupid game that we played.”

“What game was it, Heika?” Conrart questioned.

“Well, we’d stand about five feet apart and look at each other with our arms folded across our backs as we made up the rules for our fight. Then I’d say, ‘Sister, Sister, what do you see with crimson eyes that stare at me?’ or she’d simply start the game off by saying, ‘Brother, Brother, what do you want to know that my crimson eyes should show?’ Then we’d run into each other before she told me whatever it was that she saw. Whoever knocked the other down onto the ground won the ‘battle’ until the next round.”

“How barbaric.” Wolfram said with a frown. “I can’t believe that you played such a cruel game with a girl.”

Yuri raised an eyebrow before answering, “If she ever shows up, feel free to tell me that after she shoves you down a flight of stairs for the seventh time. Then you can try to tell me that our game was barbaric.”

Conrart looked slightly amused before looking glancing over at Gunter when he cleared his throat. “You mean that you know someone who wrote in that same language and that you were taught?” Gunter questioned with a surprised look.

“Yeah.”

Wolfram frowned as Gunter started going on about how they had such an amazing Moah before shaking his head. “So what’s it say?” Wolfram questioned.

Yuri was silent for a few seconds before reading aloud, “‘My hope is fading fast as this foolish war of Stoffel’s goes on. I don’t dare leave my room in fear of being attacked by the guards again due to their mistrust of half-Muzaku beings like myself but I can’t let them and their idiotic prejudices win. In an attempt to make them see that I’m not afraid of them, I’m sitting in the garden and actually writing in my journal and keeping track of my surroundings as I try to soothe the anger that I feel.

“‘I told Lady Celi and the others about a vision that I had after being summoned to reveal my vision, but I only told them part of it in my own attempt to protect the ones that my vision centered around. I told them that two children will be born as summer dies, but I failed to tell them that there is also a third. The one that I told them about will be the Sun and will be Maoh. The other boy will be the Moon. The third, a girl, will be their eclipse.

“‘The first, the Sun, will have double-black coloring. Quite suitable for the next Maoh, I think, since he’ll be taking the throne when he’s fifteen although I know he‘ll be hesitant about the whole subject. He’ll actually remind many of Julia so I take great comfort in knowing that her traits will not be lost and pray that those affected by her death will take comfort in seeing that her dream of peace and kindness will continue. The Sun will be greater than Shinou which people actually believe is impossible.

“‘The second, the Moon, will actually have the same coloring as the Sun. The Moon is actually an ancient spirit so it’ll be rather interesting to see how people respond to him daily.’”

“What about the girl?” Wolfram questioned.

Yuri frowned slightly before answering, “All it says is ‘As she is the Sun, I am the eclipse. We have returned home to you.’ Whatever that means.”

Conrart looked at Yuri for a moment before answering, “The owner of that journal died during the war, shortly before Julia did. He was actually a very talented demon seer that could see decades ahead.”

“Talented? Conrad, half of his visions have somebody dying. Seriously, he even wrote down Julia’s death.” Yuri turned to a page and pointed to a paragraph. “See, it’s written right here.”

“His visions became damaged and the only thing he was allowed to see was death. Some outside force allowed him to see your arrival, Your Majesty.” Gunter explained. “He was clearly pleased by the knowledge that you’d be arriving.”

Before Yuri could say anything, there was a knock on the door before Murata entered the room with Gwendal and Josak. Behind them, a cloaked figure walked with their head bowed as if trying to conceal their face. “Who’s that?” Yuri questioned with a confused look when he saw the looks on his friends’ faces. Why did they look so anxious? Who was it that was trying so hard to keep their face hidden?

“I’m surprised, Yu-nii-chan, that you’ve forgotten me.” The cloaked figure said with a soft voice as they raised their head and lowered the hood, revealing a pair of bright crimson eyes and soft looking pink lips. “We were so close that we knew what the other was thinking even before we acted upon it.”

His heart stopped for a moment before Yuri found the strength to stand up and step in front of his desk. His eyes searched the woman’s face before landing on a small scar near the corner of her right eye. Upon reminding himself how to breathe, Yuri whispered one simple word.

“Sister.”