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James shut the door to the dungeon, letting Gideon know that he was nearby. James could hear the Sage get up from his cot and approach the cell bars. James strolled down the damp brick floor as he passed by several jail cells, each infused with an energy that Bastion had yet to figure out the consistency of. Now that Bastion would be living in Delilah, James would have to pass on the mystery to another student. Another Sage.
He would have to trust someone that he didn’t know, and the notion was as interesting as it was terrifying. He had a lot to learn from Gideon.
“Hello,” James said, stopping in front of Gideon’s cell. Gideon sighed and stood there like a he was nothing but a weary soul—his shoulders were slouched, his clothing was damp with sweat. It was apparent he had been trying to break out for a while.
“What are these bars made of?” he asked.
“Not sure,” James said, squinting at one of them. “If I had to guess, it’s probably made out of one of the hardest materials in Paragon. But I don’t really know. We’ve been trying to figure it out.”
“Why is there a dungeon at a Sage Academy?” he asked. From the rise and fall of his chest, James could tell he was angry. If only he knew how furious he was going to get in a second.
“We didn’t design it. It was designed by the former owner, and we have no clue where he is.”
“It’s nice to see it’s getting some use now.”
“I don’t want you to be bitter,” James said. “In all honesty, I’m hoping that we’ll be able to put aside our differences one day and work together.”
“Don’t hold your breath.”
“We can tweak our ideals and find a marriage between the two that’s beneficial for everyone.”
“Easy to say when you’re on the other side of the cell.”
“I know,” James said, nodding his head. “I understand that it will take time, but you’ll see eventually. We’re not the enemy. Every day I’ll show you that fact.”
“And every day you may see more and more of what you are,” Gideon said happily. “So come as much as you like.”
“We’ll need each other if we’re going to bring the Sages and Solons together someday. Being at war with each other...it doesn’t help anyone. Cimmerian will take advantage.”
“Cimmerian might be at war with itself too.”
“Not likely. One thing I’ve noticed about bad guys—they’re great at working together when they have a mutual goal to achieve. It’s not until afterwards, when it’s time to divide up the spoils that they fall apart and turn on each other. Paragon’s the one in denial, thinking that everything is okay while the world falls apart around them.”
“Doesn’t matter what I say or do,” Gideon seethed. “The Solons are pretty much dead.”
“Not at all actually,” James sighed. “All that back there? It was a lie.”
“What was?” Gideon scowled.
“Bastion’s in Delilah, and that’s where he’s stayed. I have no clue who is part of the Solons and who is not.”
Gideon tried to spit in James’ face but James was able to duck out of the way.
“I can’t believe you of all people would stoop so low.”
“To deceive?” James asked. “No, it didn’t feel good, but it got the outcome that we needed. We tried to be reasonable but you left us no choice. If it makes you feel any better, the others didn’t know I was going to lie.”
“No, they just went along with it...so the Solons are still alive? Not one is in your custody?”
“No,” James said. “And I don’t want them to be. I want to work together.”
“No,” Gideon laughed, turning around and heading to his cot. “No, that won’t be happening. I must thank you though,” he said, sitting down upon it. “You’ve given me hope.”
“They no longer have you as their leader.”
“I’m no leader,” Gideon replied. “I’m the sacrificial lamb. I am the scapegoat. I am the symbol of their cause. They will thrive without me.”
“Maybe before you tried to kill us,” James said. “That was the whole point of the lie. By abandoning your ambitions and giving in to the rage, you’ve also shown anyone that was watching—that you’re human too. That you have emotions just like the Sages you hate so much. With the right persuasion, some of your Solons will leave your cause. Heck, some might even come back to the Academy.”
“You’ve wounded my reputation,” Gideon said, staring at the wall. “Impressive.” He thought about that for a moment, and then he turned to look at James. “But what beliefs are you willing to abandon to achieve your peace? What makes you any different than the villains you have faced in the past if you employ the same tactics?”
“If there is peace all around, and the people are genuinely happy, then I’ve done my job.”
“So you’re diving deeper into the mud. You’ll look like Kyran before it’s all done.”
“I’ve learned from Kyran one very important thing: there is a difference between acting out of want, and acting out of necessity. The trick is to never confuse the two.”
James walked away from the cell and began heading toward the dungeon exit as Gideon leapt from his cot.
“Then what makes me the enemy!” he shouted. “I didn’t want to kill all of you! I didn’t want it to come to this! What makes me any different than you!”
James stopped and took a deep breath.
“I think we’re both justified in our causes, and that we will both contribute to the future of this world.”
“How do you know?” Gideon yelled.
“Because,” James said. “Out of all of the destruction and bloodshed, we’re both still alive. All that we love and cherish is still standing, and our people still believe in us. That’s got to be worth something.”
“You’re a murderer!” Gideon screamed.
“And so are you,” James said, closing the dungeon door behind him.
***
THE RIDE DOWN TO THE meadow gave him an uneasy feeling. And it wasn’t because he thought one of the students might stumble upon the dungeon containing Gideon on the way down. No, Arimus would ensure that everyone left the Academy via the other tower.
As he stood on the descending brick platform, he couldn’t take his eyes off of the people. There had to be thousands of them in all. All Sages from different ages and times. And it saddened him that he didn’t get to know them more. That he didn’t hear their stories or learn what they had gone through.
There were Sages standing there that had seen the beginning of Allay. There were Sages that had techniques that he probably had no idea existed. And it was just depressing. They had probably all demanded his attention at one time or another. And he had turned them down because he had concentrated only on the war with Cimmerian.
He had never thought that there could be so much internal conflict, or that his negligence could lead to their division. Now they weren’t just Sages. Unbeknownst to him, they were two factions now.
Sages and Solons.
Those that had chosen what side they belonged to, and some still on the fence.
And now, he would have to address them all. For Paragon’s survival, for their lives, for their beliefs, for the future of the three worlds...he had to become a worthy leader, with or without Catherine at his side.
He willed the platform to stop in the air, just above the crowd so that he could see everyone during his address and all of them could see him. The meadow was so majestic. The flowers swayed and lapped up against the students’ Sage robes. The smell of grass was in the air, and the sun only served to illuminate them all in his eyes. James sighed and tried to crush the anxiety within him. He had never been one for speeches, but that would have to change if he was going to lead properly.
“Hello everyone,” he said, gaining their undivided attention. He scanned the crowd and was surprised by how many faces he recognized.
“I have been a horrible leader,” James stated. Several eyebrows raised while many jaws dropped. That was certainly unexpected. “I...uh, I tried to lead like Catherine but that’s not really me. And...after I figured that out, I wasn’t sure what kind of a leader I should be. There was even a moment in which I didn’t think I wanted the job. I nearly gave up my leadership to another...but, I decided to stay in this position because I’ve realized some important things over the past couple of weeks.
“We’ve never had a leader,” James declared. “If you think about it, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Even when Allay was first built, the Sages were led by the King—someone that couldn’t know what a Sage has to deal with on a daily basis. How could he? By unsheathing our eidolons we can sense the sorrow of others. We can feel what our fallen feel when they’re on the edge of death. We’ve had to go against family and friends. We’ve had to slay innocents and destroy villages, all for someone else. We sacrificed our souls so that others may preserve theirs.”
James found Kyran and Chloe in the crowd and looked to them for a moment before he averted his gaze to the others.
“Even when Catherine was in charge, and we finally had a Sage in a leadership position, she followed her heart and led to the best of her ability, but she was still a young ruler. Though she was incredible when dealing with the people, she didn’t know what terrible acts had to be done to combat a relentless and cold enemy. In a sense, we needed the Sages of Old in that instance, but they were no longer around. We were nearly destroyed because we were unprepared.”
He saw Lily in the crowd, looked to her for a moment, and then glanced elsewhere.
“And because we were naïve, and unsure of the proper course of action, we made mistakes. Horrible mistakes. And in order to make sure those mistakes were never made again, we ignored the world around us. I ignored almost all of you. I no longer unsheathed my eidolon and sensed your anguish, your fears, your turmoil. I focused on me, and for that, I was wrong. Because at the end of the day, we’re in this together.
“I’m not saying that it won’t be easy—becoming united. Even now there is great division within us. We are all Sages, but there is also a faction growing from within called Solons. They work in the background, hoping for change. They believe that no one should be ignored. That we are all valuable—each and every Sage, and all voices are valid and important. They are right. That is why I’m going to try to change who I am, so that I can better adopt their principles and give all of you the care and attention that you need.
“We should not be at war with each other. Cimmerian will provide enough of that. And even now, Paragon is wary of us. Let us not give them a reason. Let us come together and redefine what it means to be a Sage. I can’t do this alone. I will fail without all of you.”
James scanned the crowd but there were few reactions. James rubbed a hand across his forehead. He was never sure when it was a good time to end a speech.
“What I’m really trying to say is this: I’m here for you. And I’ll prove that through my actions in the upcoming months. Though Cimmerian has attacked Paragon, this doesn’t mean the war has officially begun. And even if it has, it will mean nothing if we’re still at war with each other. We need unity. And so...elections for a new leader will begin in a week’s time.”
That brought a series of murmurs throughout the crowd.
“Anyone that wants to be a possible candidate may do so,” James continued. “We will have debates and discuss our points of view. And then, there will be a vote. The winner will be the leader of the Sage Academy and make all decisions from then on. We need someone we can all get behind if we’re going to defeat Cimmerian successfully. Thank you.”
James willed the platform to descend down to the meadow below as the people began talking among themselves, already speculating on the future and who might be nominated for the leadership position. Arimus ran up to him.
“I thought you were going to stay as leader,” he said, keeping his voice low.
“I decided not to...it all kind of happened in the moment.”
“I can tell.”
“Speech was that bad?”
“The beginning and end needed some work,” Arimus admitted.
James winced. “Well, I think it’s a good way of finding out what all of us need. There’s going to be some heated discussions.”
“It’s also a good way to figure out who may be Solon and who may not. But I’m sure you’ve already thought of that.”
James smiled. “I have.”
“No matter what happens though, I think it will help keep the Sages together. Even the Solons have to be wondering if we will head toward a better tomorrow. They will surely want to be involved.”
“I’m certain,” James said. “And when Paragon hears of it, they might want to contribute to the elections as well. It might even improve our relationships with them. It’s about time all of us begin communicating.”
“It couldn’t come at a better time. Altostratus is the closest major city to the Sage Academy and it’s been placed into quarantine. Paragon officials are saying it’s because repairs need to be made, but I think it’s because they trust us even less now. Cirrus is still alive and thriving.”
“Cirrus is a lot bigger than Altostratus.”
“True, but shutting down an entire city is still suspect.”
“We’ll have to keep our eyes open,” James replied. He noticed Kyran and Chloe making their way through the crowd, heading straight for him. “Arimus, if you don’t mind...”
“Not at all,” Arimus said, after noticing who was approaching. “We’ll talk later.”
Arimus left and Kyran and Chloe stopped at James’ side.
“Horrible speech,” Kyran said. “I’m glad I’m leaving.”
“Thanks,” James laughed as he averted his attention to Chloe. “How are you doing?”
“Good,” she said through a false smile. “All things considered.
James didn’t bother prying into it. “So the two of you are leaving today?”
“We are,” Kyran said. “Everything’s already been taken there. We’ve seen our new home as well. That’s why we weren’t around.”
“Oh,” James said ashamedly. “I thought it was because of—”
“I’m a big girl, James,” Chloe said, reaching out and giving him a big hug. “By the way, I rather enjoyed your speech.”
“I heard that,” Kyran grunted as she giggled. James couldn’t help but smile. Though he was sure Chloe was struggling a bit internally, the ordeal didn’t break her. And that gave him hope.
“You’re welcome here whenever you like,” James replied.
“Of course we are,” Kyran said flatly. “Of course, that may not always be true, right? What if the new leader has a view similar to that of Gideon?”
“Then I’ll adapt,” James said happily.
Kyran shook his head. “As naïve and hopeful as ever.” He suddenly gave James a tight hug. For a second, James thought that he was about to get stabbed. But instead, Kyran whispered into his ear, “Don’t change that about yourself.”
Kyran let go and James didn’t say a word. Kyran nodded toward Chloe and she responded in kind. Hand in hand, they headed out, and when they were a few yards away, Chloe turned back to wave to him. James chuckled to himself and waved back, wondering when all of them would see each other again.
“I didn’t even get to say good-bye,” Lily said from behind him.
“They’re probably sick of seeing your face,” James replied as he faced her.
Lily frowned and placed her hands on her hips. “I certainly hope not.”
“I’m joking,” he said, “but seriously though, it’s going to take a long time before Kyran cares about you. I wouldn’t rely on him too much for support.”
“It’s okay. I have Bastion.”
“About that...would you mind if I offered you a piece of advice?”
“Not at all. Go ahead.”
“Bastion, he...he loves you very much, but he doesn’t really know how to show it. And I know he’s very protective of you, but...honestly, I’ve never seen the two of you work together more than when you’re in battle. I don’t know what it is, but I’ve seen it. It’s there. So what I’m trying to say is...if trouble arises, don’t shy away from it. You two are a power couple.”
“Thank you,” she said. “I’ll be sure to pass along the message to Bastion.”
“Please do, and give him my regards. I’ll visit soon.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” a sweet voice said from his right. James glanced up and felt his heart flutter.
It couldn’t be real.
It had been so long that it felt like he had been living in a dream of someone else’s life.
But no. There she was. In the flesh.
Catherine.
Her curly locks, her freckled cheeks, her mesmerizing eyes. She had aged, but with grace. She hadn’t lost any of her outer beauty, and her smile revealed that none had dissipated from within either. She walked forward as he stood dumbstruck. Lily chuckled and made a silent exit, waving to Catherine as she disappeared into the crowd.
“I’m just saying,” Catherine continued, after giving a wink to Lily. “You say you’re going to visit a girl and the next thing you know, twenty years have gone by.”
“In my defense,” James said, trying to keep his smile from widening. “I never said I would visit. I was dead, remember?”
“You’re going to let a little thing like death stop you?” she gasped, placing a hand on her chest. “I guess we know where the line is when it comes to how much you love me.”
“No, never,” James replied, taking a step forward. “I never stopped loving you. I never will.”
“You say that, but how could I know for sure?” she teased. Her shirt and pants were caked in mud. Her hair was a bit matted and covered in grime. Her skin was two shades darker than normal, and she smelled as if she hadn’t taken a bath in weeks, but James ran forward and embraced her like it was love at first sight. He picked her up and spun her around in his arms as she laughed. That heavenly laugh. That wonderful, beautiful laugh.
James let her down and she hugged him tight. He hugged his back, nuzzling her face into the dirt and muck on her shoulder. They both wept and laughed, not knowing what to do with each other. A flood of emotions rendered them immobile and neither one allowing the moment to end.
Long after the crowd had gone their separate ways—to discuss the future and what was to come—Catherine and James remained in each other’s arms.
Past, Present and Future.
All three had once again been reunited in each others’ arms.
