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“That’s a bold and disturbing statement,” Kyran replied, not moving from his position by the door. He examined Lily’s face, and she had no reaction to what her young husband had just said. “You feel the same way?” he asked.
“It’s not death in the way that people would generally see it,” she said wearily. “Bastion is talking about becoming the Emissary.”
“The Emissary,” Kyran repeated, trying to remember what that meant.
“It’s the man that charged the machine that kept the three worlds together,” she said. “Bastion is thinking about talking to the Delilah and seeing if he could repair the gates. He wants to separate the worlds again.”
“Why?” Kyran asked, turning to Bastion for answers.
“I’m tired of this life,” he said, bowing his head. “No matter where I go, I’m shunned. I’ll never fit in, and I can’t take it anymore. If I’m going to spend the rest of my life alone, I might as well do something good with it.”
“But you’re not alone. You have us. You have Lily.”
“I would be with Bastion,” Lily replied. “I would turn into a stone and merge with him. So in that sense, we would be together forever.”
“So you can revert back to your stone form...I thought you couldn’t.”
“That was a lie,” she admitted. “So that word wouldn’t get out about me. But then I found out that no one cared. Apparently my brothers and sisters are also out there between the three worlds, and no one is looking for them. Why is that? Are we not needed anymore?”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Kyran said. “It’s possible that everyone is too focused on the Sorcerer weapons in human form. Think about it. With the weapons, there are ways to find them. With the stones, there’s not.”
“That’s possible,” she muttered.
“So you’re trying to find out where you fit?” Kyran asked Bastion.
“I’ve been used ever since I was a child. Whether it was as an experiment or a warrior, I was valued, but now I’m a plague. No one wants to even get near me because I’m the one responsible for the Great Collision. I want to find out if there’s a way to make it right.”
“You don’t want this,” Kyran said. “If you were loved by all, you wouldn’t be considering this line of thought.”
“Maybe not. But that’s not the case.”
“Listen, young ones,” he said, walking away from the door and sitting on the couch across from them. “Change is difficult. There will always be growing pains, but you will find that if you allow yourself to...you can adapt and grow with the changes around you. You will get stronger because of it.”
“But what if it’s not the environment?” Lily asked. “What if it’s you that is changing? The Delilah around here have been pleasant enough, and I know that with time, they may even grow to love us, but what if that’s not the problem? What if you’ve started to hate who you are?”
“Same thing,” Kyran replied, his eyes shifting toward the hallway around the corner. “Change will hurt at first, but if you can hold on and learn to overcome your feelings, you may just get stronger because of it.”
“Then what do you think I should do?” Bastion asked.
“I don’t know,” Kyran said. “But changing the world back to what it was can’t be the answer.”
“So what do I do while I’m trying to figure things out? Just wait for an answer?”
“No. We go find them.”
***
“HEY,” JAMES SAID, APPROACHING Catherine. She was sitting on the edge of a floating platform, dangling her legs over the edge as she stared out over the clouds. When James called, she didn’t hear him so he leapt down the stairs attaching the platform to the walkway and then approached her slowly. He sat down beside her and she smiled at him.
“What are you up to?” she asked and Catherine giggled.
“Daydreaming,” she said. A smirk came across James’ face. She hadn’t changed so much.
“I want you with me,” he said and she gave him an inquisitive look.
“Of course I’m coming with you.”
“Yeah, but I just wanted to tell you that I want you with me.”
“I don’t understand,” she laughed. “What’s going on with you?”
“I just wanted to say it. And I want to tell you that every single day that we’re out there. I know you’re coming, but it’s not an obligation, nor is it because I need you for your skills or whatever. It’s because I love you, and you’re never leaving my side again.”
She leaned over and kissed him tenderly on the lips, slow and sensual. James felt a rush fluctuate throughout his entire body. She smiled and backed away. She was teasing him, he could tell. He lost all willpower and kissed her hard, grabbing the back of her head and pulling her closer into him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
“I missed you,” he whispered into her ear as they both bowed their heads. She chuckled briefly and tried to smile but she was overwhelmed with emotion.
“I missed you too,” she managed to say and he hugged her tight.
“I’m scared, Katie,” he said, and she hugged him tighter.
“I know. It’s like the journey of the stones all over again, but this time...there’s no telling what will happen. We don’t know our enemy this time.”
“We have to get better,” he said, breaking from her embrace. “I’ve been thinking a lot about this. You know people are developing new abilities?”
“Yes. But no one knows why. It might have something to do with the atmosphere.”
“And yet, that’s changing drastically. This is the first clear day we’ve had in weeks. That’s not good.”
“What are you saying?”
“Watch this.” James stretched his hand outward and turned it over so that his palm was facing upwards. The hilt of his white eidolon appeared but the blade struggled to form. It appeared for a second but then it vanished in the next instant. Catherine frowned at the display and tried to perform the same action. Her multi-colored eidolon appeared in full form for a second but then it vanished just like James’.
“This is the best I can do,” James said, his black eidolon appearing in his hand suddenly. Catherine watched attentively as James struggled to hold it, his muscles beginning to shake as he grit his teeth. Ten seconds later, the black eidolon disappeared.
“I didn’t know it had gotten that bad so quickly,” Catherine whispered.
“It’s another reason we have to go,” he said. “The Sages are basically dead. Everyone’s been staying inside so they might not have noticed much. Training has been performed indoors and we’re all so proud that if anyone did notice a weakness, they’re not going to bring it up to their peers. But once a few good days appear in succession, they’ll start realizing how horrible things have gotten. It won’t be long before being away from the atmosphere won’t even matter.”
“But why so quickly? You’ve been here for twenty years. Things haven’t accelerated this fast.”
“It’s just a theory...but I think it’s the Sorcerers. They must know that we know of their existence. I doubt Cimmerian would do this because they have warriors with Sage abilities on their side as well.”
“We’ve done nothing to the Sorcerers. We haven’t even seen one yet.”
“Doesn’t matter. If they’re anything like Thorn was, they’ll carry out a plan long before things get detrimental for them.”
“Cimmerian might be searching for them actively.”
“We already know they’re looking for Sorcerer weapons. By the way, did you ask if Remi wanted to come with us?”
“No, and I don’t plan to. She has her mission and we have ours. She looks for the Sorcerers and we look for the warriors of the past.”
“It should be reversed. We’re stronger than she is.”
“Debatable,” Catherine said. “If we can barely keep our eidolons together then we’re in trouble. What about you?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re a Deja. What if...are you going to disappear too?”
“I don’t know,” James said, staring out into the distance. “I try not to think about it.”
“I don’t want to see it start to happen and then we do something about it. I want to be proactive on this.”
“The warriors of the past might have the answers,” James replied, turning to her. “They or the Sorcerers. I’m sure of it.”
“And how are we going to defend ourselves while we’re on this mission?”
“Did you ask Arimus if he was coming?”
“He is. He’s to meet us down below in a couple of hours. What about Kyran and Chloe? Or Bastion and Lily?”
“They have a new life to get acclimated to, and by them being where they are, they can make sure that the Delilah stay with Paragon.”
“Did you ask anyone, James?”
“I did actually,” he smiled. “A few students that I’ve gotten close to. Each of them have abilities born under this atmosphere.”
“And I take it that they are Sages as well?”
“They are.”
“Then we must ask ourselves...what is it that they have done that we haven’t. Why do they get new abilities, and we don’t?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “Guess we should ask them.”
“Where would they be now?”
“Could be getting ready. Either way, they’ll be meeting us down below in a couple of hours.”
“Then let’s make our own preparations. We have a long journey ahead of us.”
***
“ARIMUS,” JAMES SAID as he nodded toward his father-in-law. The big man with the blue-grey eyes and the long beard chuckled from deep within his belly as he saw James and Catherine walk toward him. They were each carrying a large knapsack on their backs. Under his massive cloak, Arimus was carrying one of his own.
“I am truly excited about this,” he said. “Not like the last journey we all went on.”
“That’s what scares me,” James laughed. “We’re not nearly as cautious as we should be about all of this.”
“We’ll be fine.”
“James,” Catherine said, tapping his shoulder and pointing behind them. “Is that them?”
“Yep,” he said as the students approached. There were four of them heading their way, which surprised James because he only remembered three joining them. The fourth one he had seen around, but he didn’t know who he was.
As they approached and everyone acknowledged each other, James cleared his throat.
“I think it’s time for some introductions,” he said, waving his hand around as they formed a semi-circle.
“Name’s Midori,” a young girl with short black hair and almond shaped eyes replied. She was thin in frame but her body was chiseled as if she constantly worked out. Her hair had been dipped in bright green dye and she wore loose clothing—a thin white t-shirt that billowed freely in the wind and tight dark blue pants that came down to her feet and expanded out into threads at the end that wrapped around each of her toes.
“Pascal,” a deep-voiced stocky boy said. He had his hair cut short like a military cut and vibrant brown eyes. He was a little chubby but James knew that he was quicker on his feet than he looked. Whatever he lost in speed, he made up for in heart.
“I’m Gwen,” a long blue haired girl with blue eyes replied. Everything about her was tall or long. Her arms, her height, her hair. Even her face was long although it still had fullness to it that said that she was healthy. She had a quiet and contemplative aura around her that made everyone around her feel at peace. James knew that with her there, she would keep them all focused in times of great conflict.
“And I’m Ronan,” the mystery boy replied. He had dark red hair that was long and spiked in all directions like there was a porcupine sitting on the top of his head. His eyes were dark and intense and he was big. Really big. He walked as if his legs were tree stumps and the sword and axe he carried on his back looked like they weighed more than he did. His arms were bigger than James’ head and his face seemed like it had never experienced a smile.
“What brings you here, Ronan?” James asked.
His body and lips barely moved. “Same as everyone else.”
“But what specifically?”
“Does that matter?”
“No,” Arimus replied, placing a hand on James’ shoulder. “No, it doesn’t right now, but as we get to know each other, we will want to know. That goes for all of you.”
“Makes sense,” Ronan replied.
“Excuse me for a second, James,” Catherine said as she turned around and began walking backwards. “I forgot about something that I have to attend to real quick, before we head out.”
“Anything wrong?”
“No, just that a student told me that someone of interest to us has decided to leave prematurely.”
“Sure,” James said, “we have other things to discuss anyways.”
Catherine sprinted toward the lowered platform under the Sage Academy’s east tower as James sighed and looked to the group that he would be traveling with.
“While she’s gone, I want to explain more in-depth what we’re trying to accomplish out there.”
“This,” Arimus continued, “is essentially a suicide mission. It may not seem that way, but if we are successful, the odds of coming back whole are slim.”
“I don’t understand,” Ronan replied. “We’re looking for warriors of the past, right? Trying to find out where they’re hiding and asking that they teach us...isn’t that the plan?”
“We’re here to save the world,” James said, folding his arms. The students looked at each other with puzzled glances as James shook his head. “What? You thought this was a training exercise? No. We’re looking for a way to end the war. Our sole goal in all of this is figuring out a way to end the looming war and bring peace to the three worlds.”
“Isn’t everyone trying to do that?” Pascal asked. “What makes us so special?”
“As it stands right now, we have multiple task forces trying to ensure that the worlds remain whole. Paragon has their own private forces with the King, waiting to strike if things get too hot. We have the Sages at the Academy acting as Paragon’s front line. A young girl I recently met will be taking a team out to Terra to search for the Sorcerers—”
“Remi, right?” Ronan asked.
James nodded. “How did you know?”
“Anyone of interest, I know.”
“As I was saying,” James continued, “she is going to look for the Sorcerers, and that is an important cause as they may be behind a lot of what’s going on in the background, though we have no way to tell. That’s where we come in. We’re a separate task force with no allegiance to either side, much like Catherine’s group down on Terra. Even if the warriors of the past aren’t willing to help us or train us, we’re still going all out, heading into the heart of Cimmerian if need be.”
“That’s stupid,” Pascal said. “So we’re just going to kill ourselves?”
“You don’t have to come with us,” James said. “But if you do, you may discover more about yourself and the three worlds than you ever thought possible. It wasn’t until I actually went on the journey for the five stones that I learned what was going on behind the scenes. That’s why we’re going to hit it all. Paragon, Terra, Cimmerian. Nothing will be off-limits to us. Nothing will hold us back.”
“We understand that hearing all of this can be disconcerting,” Arimus said. “But I promise you that if we bond together and sharpen our skills and techniques, there is nothing that we can’t accomplish.”
“No offense,” Ronan said, “but...if I recall, out of the eight of you that went on the journey for the five stones, three of you died. With your battle against the Yama and the Delilah...nearly all of you. Listen, I’m with you on this mission regardless of what anyone says, but there is no way that being united protects all of us from harm. There will be blood. There will be death.”
“And that’s why,” James said, “each and every one of you has to make this decision to go for yourselves. All I know is that none of the other task forces I mentioned earlier may accomplish a thing.”
“And what is the limit?” Pascal asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Do we betray Paragon? Do we fight against the Sages if need be? What are our boundaries?”
“That’s rich,” Midori scoffed. “Pascal asking about boundaries.”
Pascal eyed her angrily. “I want to know what to do if we’re separated and we have to make some questionable decisions. Decisions that might fall under treason or murder. Those kind of things.”
“Use your best judgement,” James said calmly. “Your only focus should be on saving the world.”
“Thank you,” he said.
James looked up at the Sage Academy. “I hope all of you said your good-byes. This may be the last time any of us sees this place for a long, long time.”
After a few minutes of silence and glancing up at the floating fortress, James looked to each of them. “Alright, that’s enough. Let’s head out.”
“What about Catherine?” Midori asked.
“She’ll catch up,” he replied. “Trust me.”
“Of course,” she said. “Where’re we headed first?”
“To the Paragon countryside, past Cirrus. If there is such a thing as the edge of the world, I want to find it.”
“Okay,” she said, taking the lead. The rest began to fall in line one by one, walking across the meadow with a sense of purpose and a bit of anxiety. James stayed behind with Ronan and the two of them walked side by side.
“I am a Solon,” he declared and James said nothing. He waited for Ronan to continue. “Does this surprise you?”
“I suspect anyone hiding in the shadows to be a Solon,” James said.
“Are you saying that we’re sneaky?”
“No, just that your people are in the minority, and as a result, you’re waiting for your chance to strike, so to speak, whether that be in battle or in word. I don’t blame you. I would do the exact same thing.”
“Then what is your hesitation in involving me with this group?”
“Because I sense that you r motives aren’t pure. It’s not like I’ve scanned you with my eidolon to confirm this. Just call it a hunch.”
“You would be correct,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t be a valuable asset.”
“Why are you here then?”
“I suppose you will learn in time, but it has nothing to do with any of you personally. To be vague, I’m looking to get stronger.”
“Aren’t we all?”
“Mmm.”
“Whatever your motives are,” James said. “As long as they fall under saving the world, I really don’t care. Long ago on my first journey, there was plenty of conflict between us. We were a family, but a very dysfunctional one, and yet, we still got the job done. As long as our mission is completed, I don’t really care what your motivations are.”
“Nor do I with yours.”
“Then we have an understanding.”
“Not quite yet,” Ronan said, keeping his eyes forward. “But at least we can keep up a conversation for now.”
James was on edge after that comment, but considering the trials they might have to face, he considered that a good thing.
