Fragile Existence outtake: Xavier and Ryleigh

 Xavier was in his room at the fortress, busy patching a hole in his shirt. He had just finished when someone knocked on the door. Setting down the repaired shirt and his sewing kit on the bed, the mercenary got up and opened the door.

“Blossom, to what do I owe this pleasure?” He asked, receiving a glare from his fellow mercenary.

“The boss sent me to fetch you. You better not keep him waiting, or he might double whatever punishment he has in store for you.” Blossom smiled viciously, then turned and left.

Xavier watched her go, a grim smile slowly appearing on his face.

Blossom had always treated him more like an enemy then a fellow mercenary. The only time she had treated him with even an drop acceptance was on the day they met.

He had just been exiled from his home by his father, with only his sword and the clothes on his back.

Blossom had been traveling with a small band of mercenaries, having just completed a job. At a crossroad, their paths intersected. As Xavier passed her, Blossom had paused. After studying him for a moment, she had asked whether he could actually use his sword or if it was just for show.

After a demonstration of his skills, Blossom had asked him to come with them; with the promise that he would be able to put his sword to good use.

And for a few years, Xavier had put it to good use.

Until now.

Xavier walked down the halls of headquarters, nodding to his fellow mercenaries. He had been accepted by some of them after his first job, but others hadn't accepted him until much later. Some, like Blossom, seemed to barely tolerate him because of his bloodline.

Despite that, they were his comrades. A second family, like the Knights of Zodiac had once been.

When he reached Apollo's study, Xavier barely moved his hand to knock when a voice told him to enter. Xavier opened the door and walked into the room, closing the door behind him. Ryleigh sat behind Apollo's desk; his face hidden by the hood of his cloak and the dim lighting of the room. Xavier moved until he stood in front of the desk, then waited.

With Apollo, he would have sat in one of the other chairs, or looked at one of the maps on the north wall while they discussed his next job.

But Ryleigh was an unknown, and therefore dangerous.

Xavier waited while Ryleigh studied him. “Xavier Fay of Atalo Bedros, a disgraced knight who was exiled from his home by his own father.” Ryleigh's voice was curious, like so many others had been when they learned he had once been a knight.

Xavier kept silent, waiting until Ryleigh got to whatever the reason for summoning him was. Ryleigh leaned back in his chair, and Xavier felt a slight trickle of pain at the back of his mind. “What are your reasons for being a mercenary, Xavier Fay?” The question was one Xavier had been asked before, by many different people.

So he answered smoothly, not allowing his emotions to show. “I joined Apollo's Mercenaries because they offered me a way to use my skills. As a mercenary, I do what I can for the people who come to us according to the assignments I am given by my leader.” The trickle was beginning to spread, but Xavier did his best to ignore it. Ryleigh pondered his words for a moment, then spoke.

“And now that Apollo is no longer the leader of these mercenaries, what will you do?”

The question was one that Xavier hadn't allowed himself to think of, because of his mixed feelings toward his new leader and this particular job. But now that the question had been asked, he had to give an answer. The girl, Lilly Vale, flashed in his mind, and he knew what his answer had to be.

“I will follow this mission to its end, and then make my final choice.” Ryleigh gave a nod, then motioned for Xavier to sit. Xavier sat in the closest chair, briefly wondering what would come next. Ryleigh studied him for a moment, then seemed to come to a decision.

“What do you know about your family genealogy, Lord Fay? Can you trace it back to the reign of King Zodiah, the seventh king of the Zodiac Realm?” Xavier was surprised by this question, but thought back to his study of his lineage.

Finally, he shook his head.

“No. Our records begin sometime during the reign of King Stephen, the ninth king of the Zodiac Realm.” The trickle of pain had spread throughout his entire body now, and was steadily increasing in strength. Ryleigh seemed pleased with this answer, and stood. He motioned for Xavier to stay seated as he walked around the desk.

“What if I could tell you the missing pieces of your genealogy from King Zodiah? What would you say to that?” Xavier fought back a frown, not quite sure where this conversation was headed.

How could he know that information? And what exactly was Ryleigh?

Xavier knew that the pain he was feeling came from Ryleigh; having seen the power used on Lilly before.

What point was Ryleigh taking to get across? That he could easily torture people into doing what he wanted? That caring about the well-being of Seth's sister was unacceptable?

Anger began to rise from deep within Xavier, but he quickly pushed it back down.

He couldn't afford to get angry.

“How could you know this information?” Xavier asked, taking whatever bait had been laid.

Ryleigh had stopped walking and now leaned against the desk. As he spoke, his hand reached up to the hood of his cloak.

“It's very simple, Xavier Fay,” His hand pulled back the hood of his cloak, revealing a face paused within a grotesque transformation. “I am your ancestor.”

Xavier stood, then crumpled to the floor as the cloak of pain Ryleigh had slowly been forming within him ignited into a hungry blaze.

Then through the pain came memories. Memories from Ryleigh of his life, the accident which had led to the betrayal that ended with him imprisoned by his own brother.

Xavier was forced to endure his ancestor's memories, and the thoughts which now ran through both their minds.

“Join me, and you too can have revenge against those who have wronged you. That, and much more can be yours.” Ryleigh's offer sounded in his mind, along with what he would have to do to earn the privileges being offered.

Xavier's eyes closed, and the Power of Ahriman within him screamed for blood.