mooglenet_backup | [action - airship to Lindblum.]

[The Immortal stands in the carriage of an airship, watching the sun set far behind them, amidst stained pink clouds. He's regained enough of himself, after the experience at the mire which seemingly tore his soul in two for a good number of hours, and lightly he holds a certain princesses' tiny hand in his.

...She's suffering, he knows it. Through all of the savage energies which consumed him at the mire; he heard her recieve the call to return. That something was sorely wrong. That Marlene had disappeared. She hadn't spoken a word since. Yet he had escorted her.

...Concern for other's well-being was always paramount to him. While he'd wanted nothing but to stay within the mire, stay with the body of the soulflayer and investigate the matter further, she needed him. That was enough. He lowers himself, and he takes the girl in his arms-- shifting her a bit to sit atop one of his shoulders. And he continues to stare out of the window.]

We are between the stars and the clouds now. This is where no man may rule. Do you know who lives here, Eiko?

[His words are soft. Considering, and almost mournful.]

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"Why have I flown to such a place?" While that sense of doubt flitted across her mind, all of the strength of her body left her. She was not only drained of her physical strength, but also her own willpower to continue on what she perceived to be a fruitless journey. She felt herself falling at terrifying speeds; even closing her eyes, she knew what was happening.

In the instant before her body smashed against the ocean, Garuda was about to give up everything. Suddenly, the smiling face of the prince who she adored so dearly flashed in her mind. It was in fact that same prince's smiling face that met Garuda's young eyes in the moment she hatched from her shell. It was the first smile she ever saw. What she remembered next was the happiness of the idyllic days she spent with the prince, followed by the startling image of his body plagued by the high fever caused by the venom's poison.

"I want to save the prince I love!"

With strength previously unknown to even herself, Garuda began to beat her wings again as hard as she could. Somehow, all of her strength had returned to her. She sensed strongly this change within herself. Without her noticing, her wings had grown much larger, and her form now strongly a human's. She had taken the form of the Queen of Birds.

After descending to the room where the young prince slept, Garuda flapped her wings slowly and awakened the wind of Vuychap, healing the child from the effects of the deadly poison. Garuda had saved the prince.

However, she felt something within her heart. In her current form, she could never return to her place on his shoulder. In the moment that the prince opened his eyes, Garuda nodded sadly and flew into the dawn sky. As her wings beat slowly, guiding her to the kingdom's outer limits, tears filled Garuda's eyes. Coupled with the subtle pain of a life of loneliness before her was the strong feeling of relief that the prince she cherished was safe once more. Garuda peered down towards the vast expanse of the ocean, and while she lost her focus, images of the boy's smiling face and of the happiness he would bring to many others filled her mind with sweet and silent warmth. Garuda then resolved to remember this very powerful happiness despite her loss of the prince's company.

Several years later, the prince, who from that time had become a robust and muscular youth, was unable to forget the figure of the mysterious woman that had healed him; for a great deal of time, he tirelessly searched the world for her. One day, he met once again with Garuda in a moment of fate. It is said that he then took her as his wife. For many years, they lived happily together, treasuring each other's company like a precious gift given at every coming dawn.

Garuda was called to the heavens after her death and bestowed her with the position of the Queen of Birds. Ancient legends state that it is Garuda herself who guides every bird on their flights.

[Eiko lets out a soft sigh and leans against Rishfee.]

It's soooooooo romantic!

[Really, she's just at the age where little girls start looking for romance in every little nook and cranny.]

You tell the best stories, Rishfee.

[action - airship to Lindblum.]

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