They traveled for four days. Tella and the wanderer talked, with occasional comments from Demus and Collin. Will however, was strangely quiet.
At first, the woods were sticky and wet from the rain, but as the days went on the sky cleared and finally the sun shone through. By the third day the land had changed. Where it had been dense woodland, the ground was becoming harder, the trees sparser, and the air colder. They were approaching Area.
By nightfall of the fourth day, they had not reached the Arean wall, however, it could be seen in the distance. They decided to take shelter in the trees while they still could before attempting to pass through the wall. Demus agreed to stand watch for the night, while the others rested. None of them could have known it, but they were being watched.
The night was wearing on and Demus was growing tired. He shook himself and watched his sleeping companions. Collin, he noted seemed tense in his sleep, his knees drawn up to his body, hiding half of his face. Demus sighed and shifted his eyes to Tella. She slept with a slight frown, but was for the most part sleeping peacefully. Next to her, Will slept, his back to everyone. Demus realized that Will had given up his habit of sleeping a short distance away from his friends, as he had done almost every night in Iyokia. Now he always slept near them. Demus wondered why. The wanderer slept on her side, clutching her staff gently in her relaxed fingers. All seemed well.
Demus blinked once, trying to clear his eyes. His friends were… glowing slightly. He gasped and stood up going to their sides. He reached down to shake Will’s shoulder, but something stopped him and he found himself moving back away from them. He tried to call out to them, but found he couldn’t do that either. His heart pounded in confusion and concern.
“Don’t wake them up.” A small voice said form behind him. Demus jerked around, and nearly lost his footing he was so surprised by what he saw.
A small Hailian girl stared at him. He hair was long and golden, he long ears sticking out from the sides of her round face.
“Are you… doing this?” Demus asked lowly. She didn’t answer, just shifted her gaze to the sleeping people. Demus turned back to them and noticed the glow growing brighter. He pulled back in almost a panic.
“Stop it!” he shouted. “What are you doing?”
“I’m just looking at them.” She said softly. Demus’s face clouded, as he realized what she meant.
“No! You mustn’t do that!” he said angrily.
“Yes I must.” She said softly, “Now be quiet. You’re distracting me.” Demus stood up again and walked to her.
“Leave them alone. They are my friends.” He demanded. “You don’t need to look at them.” The girl did not answer. Demus grabbed her shoulder and shook her, trying to break her gaze from his friends. However, as he opened his mouth to protest further, he felt the chill of cold steel under his chin. Someone was holding a sword against his neck, pushing gently into his skin. Demus shivered and looked up in the face of another Hailian.
“You may be the prince, but you will not harm her.” The Hailian said softly. Demus shivered again and moved his eyes back onto his friends.
“Please, leave them alone.” He begged. “They don’t need this.”
“We will decide that.”
Tella felt someone watching her. Fondly. She turned behind her, looking but only darkness stretched out beyond her.
“Fairien?” she called. There was no answer. But the presence was still with her. She shut her eyes in anguish. “Go away.” She commanded. “Get away! I can’t stand it any more! Leave me alone!… Fairien… Leave me alone.”
“Why?” a silent voice asked. Tella turned angrily to the voice.
“Because I said so! Why don’t you go bug someone else?”
“Okay.” The voice said, and disappeared. Tella was grumpily triumphant.
“… Some people are afraid of the voices in their heads. I scare my voices away.” She said smugly to herself, and continued dreaming.
Collin, however, was not as lucky. He had curled himself into a ball, trying to escape the voices, watching him, looking into him. They could see… no! He wasn’t going to let anyone see him like that! No one was to see…
“I’m not helpless! Leave me alone! I’ll kill you! STOP!” he screamed. “Don’t…” he could feel his chest constricting, but he refused to cry.
You have such weight upon you… even though you’re still a child.
Collin jerked his head up and looked around widely trying to find the voice’s origin… But there was nothing.
“Don’t look…” he cried out and curled into a ball again. It was then that he realized he was alone again.
Will was resisting. No one was to see inside him…
This has to be some kind of nightmare… If I let it pass… It will go away… He told himself. But…
Everything inside him was tensed, fighting against whatever it was, trying to invade him.
“Fairien…!” he called out. He knew that whatever was happening he couldn’t hold out much longer against it. But it would NOT find his secret. His and Fairien’s secret.
“Will? It’s okay! I’ll-” Fairien’s voice came.
“NO!” Will shouted in an almost panic. Fairien turned to him in confusion… He blinked once, looking at Will with an almost hurt expression.
“That’s… Not what I’m going to do.” He said softly. The thing pounded against Will’s subconscious, trying to find a way in.
“Do you still trust me…?”
Willed blinked, wondering if he had really heard that. But Fairien was looking at him. Will bit his lip and paused.
“… I do.” He said quietly. Fairien turned toward the invader and…
Everything was quiet. Nothing tried to penetrate them, nothing tried to see them. Will let out a sigh of relief and smiled at him.
“Fairien…” he said.
The wanderer. Slept. On.
The young girl had become agitated. Demus watched her curiously until finally the girl lifted her eyes, and the glow died around his friends. The girl studied Demus a moment and then said,
“Why does that girl have no soul?”
“…What?” Demus asked, not understanding. “Who?” the girl pointed to the wanderer, who continued to sleep. Demus frowned slightly.
“She…” he began.
“What’s going on?” Tella asked groggily as she sat up. Demus turned to her, and saw that they were all awakening. The wanderer rose sleepily and rubbed her eyes. Will jerked awake and rose blinking at the torches the Hailians carried. Demus hadn’t realized it, but there were about ten Hailians around them now.
“Demus?” Collin asked anxiously looking at the Hailian who still held a sword to Demus’s neck. The Hailian blinked at Collin’s expression, and slowly lowered the sword. He bowed politely.
“Excuse me Prince.” He said. The girl moved quickly, striding up to Tella, peering curiously into her face. Tella blinked.
“What do you want?” she asked. The little girl smiled.
“You’re funny.” She said. Tella paused a moment then laughed.
“Well, little girl, your funny too.” She said.
“Will you come to our village?” the little girl asked.
“Your village?” the wanderer asked. The girl looked at her for a long moment.
“Yes.” She finally chirped.
“A village? Really? This far south?” Will asked, looking excited. The girl turned her gaze to him and glared.
“You can’t come.” She said narrowing her eyes. Will blinked in confusion.
“Huh? W-Why not?” he asked, but the girl was ignoring him now, turning to the wanderer and Collin.
“We have lots of good food, and music and nice people.” She said taking Tella’s hand. Tella glanced over at Demus questioningly. He nodded slightly.
“It’s safe.” He said quietly.
“Of course its safe.” The girl said confidently. “We have magic that keeps bad people out.” With this she once again glared at Will.
“It sound nice… But we need to hurry… We’re on a journey…” the wanderer said.
“Just for tonight!” the girl pleaded.
“Excuse me,” said the Hailian standing beside Demus, “You perhaps know this, but… There is an Arean general in these woods. He seeks all of you. We’ve seen him wandering through these woods.”
“… How far is this village?” Collin asked.
“Not far! Just a little ways this way.” The girl said and turned to Collin, “You’ll all be safe there.” She said quietly. Collin blinked at her and dropped his eyes nodding.
They followed the girl silently, with the small group of Hailians trailing behind them. The girl turned around a couple of times to stick her tongue out at Will. Will eventually began making faces back at her.
“What’s her problem?” Will asked Tella irately. Tella shrugged.
“I don’t know. I guess kids don’t like you.”
“Every other kid I’ve ever been around liked me. She’s just weird.” He said and stuck out his tongue as she turned to glare at him again.
“Well, maybe she just doesn’t have good taste in people.” Tella said.
“She likes you.” Will grumbled. Tella glared at him.
“I was trying to build your self esteem. Don’t ruin it.” Tella muttered back. Will sighed and rolled his eyes.
“Well, Hailians can be weird.” Tella muttered.
“Can they?” Demus asked from behind her. There was slight amusement in his voice. Tella flushed and turned to face him.
“Hey I didn’t mean anything by it!” she said.
“I think Betamians can be kind of weird too.” Demus said laughing. “… But Hailians… Are weird because… sometimes they can see things others can’t.” he turned his eyes slightly to Will. Will stared back, trying not to look guilty, but he felt his cheeks flush faintly. Luckily the light was poor and no one seemed to notice.
He suddenly had an urge to talk with Fairien. He didn’t really have anything specific he wanted to talk about; he just wanted to see him. After the ordeal at the Arean base, Will had felt kind of reluctant to contact him. He supposed Fairien knew that, since he hadn’t approached Will in days. He wasn’t quite sure why he had been reluctant.
Am I… Scared of him? Will asked himself. Of course not! It’s Fairien!… Although, I keep forgetting what he is.
But now Will wanted to see him and maybe… apologize for being distant? Or would he just embarrass himself by apologizing… Maybe Fairien was just busy or something… Although, he had never been gone this long…
Jeez! Why am I worried about him?… Does it matter that much to me? Will swallowed hard, wondering what that last thought had meant.
“Will?” came the soft voice of the wanderer from beside him. Will realized that while he had been lost in thought, he had dropped back, away form Tella and Demus and was now walking next to the wanderer.
“Ah, hmm?” he said, attempting to smile.
“Are you alright?” she asked softly.
“Yeah. Of course.” He said. “Why, do I look sickly or something?” he asked smiling. The wanderer smiled back hesitantly.
“No.” she said. “You just seem quiet…. These past few days.”
“O-Oh.” He said. “Well, I’ve just been thinking about this mission…” he lied. “We’re going into Area now… The thing is… I never thought I would go this far with you guys, at first… But now I ah… I know I have to go all the way.”
“… Are you scared?” the wanderer asked quietly. Will blinked into the darkness and looked down at the ground pausing.
“… A little.” He admitted quietly. The wanderer nodded.
“Me too… But what helps is that I know I have good friends that are going with me. People that I would trust with my life.”
“Really?” Will asked. She nodded.
“Everyone we’re traveling with… I trust.” She laughed. “I don’t think Tella would understand that.”
“No…” Will laughed softly. “She wouldn’t. But… I think I do.”
“I thought you might.” The wanderer said softly.
“You’re picking up a lot in this world.” Will said. “I hope you make it back to your own world some day. We can’t have you dying here.”
“…” the wanderer paused and nodded, clutching her staff protectively.
“When you go back, will you tell them about us?” Will asked.
“… Maybe.” The wanderer said. “I don’t think anyone would believe me… But… I don’t know.”
“I guess you’ll worry about that later.” Will said. “Right now we have enough to worry about.”
“Yeah.”
“We are here.” One of the Hailians announced. “Our village is right around the corner but first we must ask this,” he said turning toward Will, “That person will have to stay outside.”
“What?” Tella cried angrily. “Outside! While we’re all in the village nice and safe?”
“No! He’s part of our group! We can’t leave him out here!” the wanderer protested. The Hailians looked unmoved. The little girl smiled.
“W-Why can’t I come in?” Will asked. What makes me different? Ah… No! It can’t be that. They couldn’t know…
“Little Danae doesn’t like him.” The Hailian replied. “You heard her. She said he couldn’t come in.”
“Because some child said-” Tella started. Demus gasped slightly and grabbed Tella’s shoulders, covering her mouth.
“She doesn’t know.” He said. “Please ignore her.” Tella growled at him and bit his hand. Demus jerked back, surprised and grasped his injured hand. Danae laughed softly and pointed at Tella.
“That’s why you’re funny!” she said giggling.
“Danae,” Collin said beside her, “Will’s our friend. If he stays out here, Mahito could find him. Even if you don’t like Will, do you want him dead?” he asked. Danae blinked at Collin.
“Do you want him dead?” she asked softly.
“Of course not.” Collin said.
“Is he your friend?” she asked. Collin nodded, growing more and more embarrassed.
“Y-Yeah…” he said.
“Oh, look! Collin admitted he’s our friend!” Tella said. Collin glared at her.
“I didn’t say I was friends with you!” he snapped. Tella laughed again in good humor.
“Well,” Danae said finally, “He still can’t come in, but… He can stay in this clearing. This clearing is also part of the village and is also protected by our magic. But he can’t come any farther in!” she said stubbornly. Tella was about to protest when Will spoke.
“That’s fine. Thank you.” He said.
“Eh? Are you sure Will?” Tella asked.
“If Will has to stay out here, then we’ll all stay out here.” The wanderer said.
“No! I want you all to come see our village!” Danae protested.
“Well-” the wanderer began but Will interrupted.
“No, don’t worry about it. I don’t want you guys to have to stay out here. Besides, its nice out tonight I don’t mind at all.”
“But,” the wanderer began. Will sighed and leaned closer to her.
“Besides, I’d like some time to think.” He murmured. The wanderer looked at him a moment then nodded.
“Alright.” She said finally. “I guess… We’ll see you in the morning.” She called as they walked away. Danae smiled in triumph and tittered on, her voice fading as they moved away, disappearing. Will was left alone in the clearing. He sighed softly and sat down.
“But what helps is that I know I have good friends that are going with me.”
Will frowned, thinking on the wanderer’s words.
“Everyone we’re traveling with… I trust”
Will drew his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around his legs, pondering his thoughts.
“… Fairien.” He said softly. “I think… I trust you…”
Why shouldn’t I?… The only reason that strange thing happened at the Arean base was because he was trying to protect me… And he did. I’m still alive…
Will rubbed his head.
“Ugg… I’ve never had to deal with anything like this…”
Fairien sat on top of some big rock. He didn’t really know where he was, nor did he care. He looked down on a big forest and in the distance he could see the sea.
The sea…
Hmmm… Maybe I should rejoin Will… See what mess he’s gotten into now…
Fairien was lying to himself. He had just been with Will, briefly and knew that he was alright… But… he sighed and stood up.
Your scared to approach him. Afraid that he’ll still be freaked out by you…
Shut up.
It’s the truth though. He’s scared of you right now.
So? He has good reason to be. He should be a lot more frightened than he already is.
“Michael?” a voice called to him. Fairien turned.
Oh no… Only one person called him by that name.
“Azrael.” He said softly. Ever since he had joined with Will he had been avoiding Azrael, knowing that Azrael would be angry with him. Azrael appeared next to him, standing on the great rock.
“Michael-” he started.
“Don’t call me that.” Fairien muttered stubbornly. “I’m Fairien now.” Azrael shook his head gently.
“As you wish. But you’re deluding yourself. Minerva would-”
“Don’t talk about her.” Fairien growled. Azrael stopped, and watched him coldly.
“I’ve never known you to be so… Pushy.” He said. Fairien sighed.
“I’m sorry.” He said softly. “I’m… not thinking right, right now. Please don’t take offense.”
“I can’t take offense. Not when you’re the only one I can relay on. You and our small group of traveling mortals.” He said fondly and sat down beside Fairien. Fairien bowed his head and shifted his eyes to the forest below them.
“Speaking of which,” Azrael said, turning to him. “How is Will Kapino?” for some reason Fairien felt himself shiver as Azrael said Will’s name. It was strange somehow, to hear it spoken that way…
“So… You noticed.” Fairien said sluggishly.
“How could I not?” he asked.
“Mm…” Fairien made a noise and turned back to the trees.
“Well, how is he?” Azrael asked.
“Okay.” Fairien muttered.
“Are you certain?… you know what will happen-”
“You don’t know anything for sure!” Fairien said angrily. Azrael sighed impatiently.
“No, but you know as well as I do that a joining like that will effect him, much more than you realize. It may even kill him.” He said. Fairien hunched his shoulders up and didn’t reply.
“You can’t just use mortals like that Michael. Or are you content with his murder because he is one of Minerva’s children?” Azrael asked coldly. Fairien jerked his head up, eyes flashing angrily as he glared at Azrael.
“Don’t say that! How dare you!” he shouted.
“He is one of hers, you can’t deny it.”
“… I’m not. But…” Fairien’s voice lowered dangerously, “Don’t say that I want him dead. I…”
“Yes?” Azrael asked. Fairien paused, unsure of what he was going to say.
“I… Wouldn’t harm him.” He finished lamely. Azrael sighed.
“You already have.” He said. “Whether you admit it or not.” He sighed. “Do you remember? Twenty years ago, when Minerva left Iyokia, you told me that we had to care for the Iyokians, as though they were our own. They were abandoned… and for that you loved them.” He paused, “You’ve always been a very passionate person. I hope it doesn’t get you into trouble.”
“What do you mean?” Fairien asked dully. Azrael watched him a moment then shook his head, not answering.
“We must be careful. Our group of mortals is entering Area soon. If we don’t protect them, Minerva will kill them.” He said.
“I’ll protect them.” Fairien said softly.
“Yes. But try not to call too much attention to yourself.” Azrael warned. “If she finds that you have joined with Will, she will kill him… Although, I find it highly unlikely that she doesn’t already know about the joining…” he sighed. “You need to be very careful.” Fairien nodded. Azrael shifted his gaze out past the sky.
“Will is calling for you.” He said softly. Fairien scowled slightly.
“You don’t need to tell me that. I’m the one joined with him. Not you.” He said. But Azrael shook his head.
“No, I mean…” he paused, “His soul is calling for you.”
“… What do you mean?” Fairien asked quietly. Azrael shrugged.
“I don’t know.” He said. “But, I need to go.” He stood up and disappeared. Fairien lowed his head, and rested his chin on his knees, staring off into the sky.
The village was small and cheerful and the houses were warm and sweet smelling. The wanderers, Tella, Demus and Collin had been directed to one of the small houses and told to make themselves at home. It seemed Danae had taken a liking to them. When they were finally alone Tella looked over at Demus and said,
“So just what is the deal with this village? I’ve never seen anything about it on the maps.”
“This is Secerno. To be honest, I didn’t know that it really existed. It’s a myth among Hailians, though many people have said it was a real place. The Secerno Hailians keep to themselves and have some kind of strange magic pocket here, somewhat like Malibius. In the myth the village is ruled by a single Hailian named Danae.”
“The little girl?” Tella asked. “She rules the village?”
“Didn’t you get that?” Collin muttered. Tella glared at him.
“Shut up!” she scowled, then turned back to Demus. “I don’t understand how a little girl could have ruled this village for years and years.”
“She didn’t. Every female born of that family takes on the Danae name and becomes the ruler when the old Danae dies.”
“Ohh…” Tella paused. “So, why’s she so weird?” she asked. Demus smiled and sighed.
“She’s not weird. I told you. She can see things. That’s all.”
“Like what? Hph. What could she see that would make her not like Will?” Tella asked. Demus shrugged.
“I don’t know.” He said. “Maybe she doesn’t like Iyokians.”
“Jeez, you’d think it would be the Areans they’d be prejudice against.” Tella muttered.
“No, that’s just who your prejudiced against.” Collin said glaring at her.
“What do you mean by, she sees things? What is she looking at?” the wanderer asked.
“… The soul.” Demus said softly. “She looks into the soul.”
“Eeeh, you mean she’s looked into all of our souls?” Tella asked. Demus nodded. “Come to think of it, right before I woke up, I had a strange dream like…” Tella tried to remember but shook her head. “What about the rest of you?” Collin blinked and nodded silently. The wanderer stared back blankly.
“I didn’t have a dream like that. Maybe I forgot though…”
“No. You wouldn’t have forgotten that.” Collin said. Demus was about to say something when a small figure burst in. Danae rushed to their table and threw her arms on top of it, grinning at them.
“Come out! You have to hear the music!” she chirped.
“Music?” the wanderer asked. Danae nodded.
“Yeah! Every night they play music in the village square! It’s really nice! Won’t you come see it?”
“… That sounds nice.” Collin said.
“Yeah. I’d like to hear it.” The wanderer agreed.
“Then come on!” Danae said, grabbing the wanderer’s hand and pulling her up. “Let’s go!”
The village square was surprisingly warm. Small lamps glowed, reflecting off the polished cobblestones, while lush foliage grew up around the houses and paths. The air was slightly breezy, with fireflies lighting the night softly winking in and out of the darkness. A small crowd of about twenty Hailians filled the ornate square, talking softly and merrily. Another group stood apart from them, tuning strange instruments. Beautifully carved wooden benches lined the small square.
“Come on! Take a seat!” Danae said, pulling them on toward the benches.
“Hehe, you’re a pushy little thing, aren’t you?” Tella asked good-naturedly. Danae smiled.
“So are you!” she giggled. Tella flushed and Collin laughed at her expression. A Hailian woman stepped in front of the performers and smiled to the crowd.
“Welcome travelers to our small village of Secerno. We are pleased to have you. Please everyone, enjoy our music.” she said. Tella blinked at the foreign words.
“Was that Ancient Hailian?” she whispered to Demus. He nodded.
“Yes. She said, ‘please everyone enjoy our music’.” He turned to the wanderer.
“Did you understand her?” he asked. The wanderer continued watching the Hailians, but nodded.
“Yes.” She said. “Its strange that I can understand all the languages of this world.”
“Not that strange. Azrael must have given you that power.” He said. She nodded. The Hailians sat down and took up their instruments. Some were vaguely familiar looking, while others were all together alien. As they began the small group of outsiders gasped together at the beauty of the notes. Danae smiled at their reaction as they became rapt in the music. The woman began to sing softly, picking up speed and rhythm in the refrain.
A longing sweet in your eyes
Would try and tame me
But I must smile at your tries
That eyes cannot see
A longing sweet in your eyes
Would try and tame me
But I must smile at your tries
That eyes cannot see
The world is not a place you can get by by being sweet
However I cannot surrender to its harmful hateful heat.
The world is not a place you can get by by being sweet
However I cannot surrender to its harmful hateful heat.
Run with me to the world’s end
And find my heart is there
Only then will I bend
With my fingers in your hair.
Run with me to the world’s end
And find my heart is there
Only then will I bend
With my fingers in your hair.
She smiled and ended the song as the music grew softer and softer. As the notes died softly the audience clapped enthusiastically.
“Wooow…” Tella breathed. “I’ve never heard anything like that…”
“Of course not!” Danae said proudly. “Our music is the best in the world!”
“It was strange…” the wanderer said finally. Danae scowled at her.
“What do you mean strange? You’re strange yourself!”
“I didn’t mean it was bad! I liked it. Really.” The wanderer said flushing. Danae nodded, seeming to accept this answer. The Musicians pulled their instruments up again, and prepared for the next song.
“The next song we will perform is an old song, from the very beginnings of our history. It’s called Amazing Grace.” the wanderer blinked at hearing these words. They were… somehow familiar… But…
The instruments started on a low note, but not as quietly as before. They then rose into higher, quicker notes… notes that were very familiar. The wanderer sat stunned, listening as they played a song she had heard countless times in her childhood. They sang no words with it, but played through the notes beautifully. The wanderer felt something inside her mind snap and she rose silently. Danae and her companions looked up at her, but she did not return their stares. Softly, she began to sing to the music.
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved and set me free,
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.”
The musicians stopped and stared at her in awe. The crowd murmured, turning to her. Even Danae looked dumbfounded.
“W-Wanderer?” Tella asked in shock. The wanderer, had by that time, broken out of her trance was noticed everyone staring at her. She blinked, wondering what they were thinking.
“You sang words too… Amazing Grace…” Danae said. “No one knows that song but the Secerno Hailians, and we don’t even know the words!”
“I… I uh…” the wanderer stuttered.
“Where did you learn those words?” Danae demanded. Demus stood up and took the wanderer by the elbow before she could reply.
“I think we should retire for tonight.” He said. Tella and Collin stood as well.
“I want to know where she learned the words! That’s one of our oldest songs!” Danae cried, tugging on the wanderer’s sleeve. “And what language was that?! I’ve never heard that language!”
“Language?” the wanderer asked, her eyes growing round in surprise. “I spoke in-”
“Danae,” Demus said, “If you want to know, come with us to the house.” He said quietly. “We’ll try and explain there.” She glared at him, but Demus did not waver. Eventually she nodded and began following them, back to the house.
“Wanderer, are you alright?” Tella asked as they entered the house. “You look sick.”
“I… ah…” the wanderer paused at the door and braced her body against the frame. Everything was spinning in front of her eyes and her stomach was starting to heave.
“Wow, grab her a bucket!” Tella ordered. Collin scrambled inside and grabbed a small trashcan and held it in front of the wanderer. The wanderer promptly grabbed it, shoving her head into the can and vomited. She gasped and lowered the bucket shakily, handing it back to Collin, who winced at the smell. Danae cringed as he slid past the wanderer and Tella outside to dump the can. Demus handed the wanderer a glass of water to rinse her mouth out, which she did.
Despite her pail color, the wanderer was beginning to feel a bit better. She sat down at the table and breathed deeply as the others sat down beside her.
“Are you alright?” Tella asked. The wanderer nodded.
“Yeah… I feel better.” She paused and looked at Danae, “You said I spoke a different language?”
“Yes.” Danae responded. “A very strange one that I’ve never heard… Though… It seemed vaguely similar to some of our ancient Hailian.” Demus nodded.
“There were some similarities… I wonder what this means…” he pondered.
“I want to know what’s going on!” Danae cried. “You said you’d explain!”
“Alright!” Demus growled and then sighed softly. “Sorry…” he mumbled and continued, “The wanderer, is not from our world. She came here because Azrael called her here.” Danae’s mouth opened slightly in surprise.
“Lord Azrael!” she gasped. “You’ve seen him?!” she asked the wanderer. The wanderer nodded.
“He called me here originally to deliver a message to the Betamian warrior, Fairien Bayard… But that didn’t quite work out. So then he sent out little group on a journey to Avrai, though, we’re not sure yet why we’re going there.”
“So… You’re not from this world… Is that why you have no soul?” Danae asked. The wanderer blinked in surprise.
“I… What?” she asked.
“You have… no soul?” Tella asked her. The wanderer looked back at Danae, thoroughly confused.
“I don’t?” she asked.
“When I looked… before… you didn’t have one.” Danae said.
“I don’t think that’s right.” Demus said. “I’ve been thinking about that and… The wanderer of course has a soul. She wouldn’t be able to function without one… But… Her soul is not of this world. That’s why we can’t see it.” Danae pondered this silently. “Maybe that’s part of why she can’t have a name here. It would bind her to this world…”
“Mahito told me he could find my name.” The wanderer said. “For some reason that scared me.”
“If you are named here, it might make your soul part of this world.” Demus said.
“Would that kill her?” Collin asked, “if she were to be bound to this world?”
“I don’t know.” Demus said. “But it might make going home rather difficult.”
“I think,” the wanderer started, “That when I heard that song and sang it, I might have bound part of myself to this world… Just a small piece… Because those things were connected. Maybe that’s why I got sick.”
“…Maybe.” Tella said. “This is all so strange. I still don’t understand how our world could be connected to your world.”
“Maybe in some ways they are connected.” Collin said.
“Or maybe, they once were connected.” Demus said.
“But you’d think we would have heard something about another world…” Danae said.
“And that song,” the wanderer said, “It isn’t terribly old. Just a few hundred years in my world.”
“There are many things we can’t understand… It’s useless to go on. We don’t have enough information.” Demus said. “We should consult with Azrael… He would know.”
“Would he tell us?” Tella asked.
“Yeah, it doesn’t have all that much to do with our mission, and he seems kind of reluctant to give out information…” the wanderer said.
“Well, it has to do with you!… I think that’s kind of important.” Tella said.
“Well… It’s getting late anyway.” Demus said. “We should go to bed. We have a long way to go tomorrow.” Danae slide out of her chair and made for the doorway.
“Good night. All of you.” She said. “… You all must succeed in this mission. If He sent you… Just be careful. There are things in this world that are very strange indeed… And it is easy to be surprised…” with that she closed the door, and left them.