Will awoke late in the night. He rolled over and tried to go back to sleep but found himself unable to relax.

“I wonder if something is wrong…” he asked himself silently. He didn’t hear or see anything out of the ordinary. Will turned around one last time and just as he was about to lay back down he saw a small light. It floated gently on the breeze, its color changing from red to green twinkling mysteriously at him. Will watched in absolute silence for a minute or more and then slowly moved toward it. It darted back a few feet and then continued to float and twinkle at him.

“Are you a forest fairy?” Will asked softly. He had legends of such things. But the more he watched it the more Will became certain that this was no fairy but some kind of magic light. It was leading him away form the camp.

“Are you luring me away to eat me?” Will asked suddenly concerned. The light flounced down in what almost seemed to be frustration. Will laughed softly.

“I suppose not. Well, then what are you leading me away for?” in response the light darted out and reappeared about twenty feet away. Will cried out in surprise and ran after it. Soon he found his way into a small clearing.

“Light?” he called, looking for it. It had disappeared. “Huh, I wonder what all that was about…” he kicked at the ground in annoyance. “Most likely some forest spirit playing with me. I’m such an idiot sometimes…” he trailed off looking up. Will drew in a quick breath when he saw that he was not alone, as he had previously thought. A man about his own height stood looking at him. It was not a Hailian, Will could see that. He wore fine garments and his hair streamed down the sides of his face in short green rivulets. Neither one spoke for a moment but continued to study one another. Will found himself draw into the other man’s eyes. They shone with such a spirit behind them that he was immediately transfixed.

                “Greetings. Will Kapino.” The man said softly. Will trembled at the sound of his name.

                “You’re not The Soul, Azrael…” he said. “Or are you? Has your appearance changed?” The man’s eyes softened.

                “No. I am not one that great. But you are not far off.” He said. Will felt the man’s identity through senses he knew he did not possess.

                “Wait… You’re…” Will trailed off trying to recall something through his mist filled mind. This man was vaguely familiar… He was… Someone… But…

                “I am The Spirit of this World.” The man said, “Though, you may call me by my mortal name, Fariean.”

                “Fareian…” Will mused. And then he remembered. “You’re… The guy the wanderer was looking for. Fairien Bayard… But they said you were dead…”

                “I was once Fairien Bayard.” He said. “But that is not important now.” They stood again in silence for a moment. Will still stared into the Spirit of their World’s eyes, finding that he was unable to think.

                “I have a favor to ask Will Kapino.” Fariean said. “You travel with Princess Tella and the Wanderer, am I right?”

                “Y-Yes.” Will said quietly nodding.

                “May I join you?” his words seemed to echo in Will’s mind. Will blinked.

                “Well, yes, of course.” He said. “Its fine with me.” Fariean smiled softly.

                “Thank you Will Kapino. Thank you so much.” He lifted his chin and stared into Will’s eyes holding him there motionless. “Prepare yourself.” He told Will.

                “What?” Will asked confused. But Fariean had not heard him. Will cried out sharply as fire suddenly pieced into him, burning him down to the very core of his existence. Its flames roared consuming him in its power, burning away all thought and emotion. His limbs shook uncontrollably, though he was no longer aware of them, and sank to the ground where he sat staring into nothingness with hollow eyes.

                “Will…” the voice echoed through his mind rippling and bouncing into unconceivable syllables. Will shivered. He was now flooded with a deathly cold that can only come with the realization of a terrible deed.

                “You didn’t understand… Did you?…” Fariean asked slowly, his eyes wide with guilt and horror. “You didn’t understand.” Will shakily looked up at him trying to focus his eyes.

                “What have you done to me?” he asked in a slow quivering monotone, trying to stop his mind spinning off. It took a great deal of control, for Will now felt that if he let his thoughts wander they would wander forever never reaching the end of knowledge that his mind contained now. It was like a universe with in his mind, Will realized. Fariean stared at him,

                “I have joined our sprits together.” He said. “That’s what I meant…” 

                “I see. Yes.” Will said distractedly.

                “I have no idea whether this can be reversed…” Fariean said aghast with his own error. “I am sorry…” Fairien was now much less confident than he had been a few moments ago.

                “It’s alright…” Will answered in a slow unfocused voice still unable to bring his mind into reality. Fareian felt Will fearfully feeling his way around his new mind. Such electric terror filled the small being that Fairien felt his own heart quicken. Carefully he wrapped Will’s consciousness in a protective layer. That was enough to bring Will back from the depths of his mind.

“Why did you do this?” Will asked. 

“I…” Fairien trailed off. “Well, I… wanted to protect… Well, all of you, on this mission. And I can do that, if I am joined with you… It’s the only way that I can directly aid you all. This mission is quite important to the survival of this world.”

“Yes…”

“You know you have been bound to this mission?”

“Yes.”

“Azrael has bound all of your souls together.” Fariean said.

“Fariean?” Will asked as his mind spun, “You said you were mortal, I even met you once at the castle, remember?”

“I was… mortal yes.” Fairien said embarrassed by it. “You’re jumping topics.”

“Sorry. I can’t help it. So… Why were you mortal?” Will asked.

“I was to… provide the service that you all are going to do. We did not want to use the children of our world. But now we have no choice.”

“What are we doing?… In this mission I mean?” Will asked suddenly anxious.

“You are full of questions Will Kapino.”

“Well of course I am. I’ve been thrown into this weird mission where no one knows anything and now I finally meet someone who might know something. So of course I’ll ask you questions, even if I don’t think you’ll answer all of them.” He said. Fariean laughed softly.

“Well, I suppose it’s worth a try.”

“Plus, you’re guilty about joining your spirit with mine and you’re more likely to tell me something now.” Fairien looked at him in disbelief.

“Are you this informal with all the deities you meet?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. But I’ve certainly never been joined with one.” Will said. “Also I suppose your used to being bowed to and worshiped, not talked to.” Fairien opened his mouth in amusement.

“Yes I suppose so.”

“Well, then. There you are…” Will said trailing off into silence. They stood for a moment watching each other.

“Will, I think you should get back into camp.” Fairien said. “You will have an… exciting day tomorrow.”

“Ah.” Will nodded keenly aware of the fire in his chest that had not burned out yet.

“It will not burn away until we are separated. If that is possible.” Fairien told him. Will nodded unsurprised by Fairien ability to read his feelings. Fariean faded away and Will turned back toward camp, knowing that the Spirit of their World had not left him.

 

 

“The camp is just head.” Demus informed them quietly. “If we intend on rescuing this wanderer we must do it now or she will be beyond our reach.”

“I agree! We must get her now.” Tella said.

“Mahito will be expecting us. We should have done this before now…” Collin complained. “He is not one to be underestimated.”

“Well of course!” Tella said. “You think we don’t know that?” Collin looked away silently. “Well anyway here we go to get ourselves killed!” Tella said enthusiastically, “Do you still want to tag along Will?” Will looked up in surprise.

“Of course.” He said. Tella shook her head in annoyance.

“I suppose it’s your life. Can you handle any weapons?” she asked. Will shook his head.

“I don’t know. I’ve been a sailor all my life so I can fight with my fists but I doubt that will get me very far with someone like Mahito.” Will said remembering his capture. Something suddenly stirred within him as he remembered Fairien inside him. Perhaps through Fairien he could wield a sword, Will thought. But almost immediately after that thought he got the feeling that it wasn’t a good idea. So he dismissed it.

“Well, then try to stay out of our way.” Tella said.

“Perhaps Will could act as a decoy.” Demus mused. “While they are chasing after him, we could get the wanderer.”

“Mahito won’t leave her, but maybe we can get rid of all the other Arean soldiers that way. Yes. That’s a good idea.” Tella said.

“D-Decoy?” Will asked suddenly uneasy. “That doesn’t sound like much fun.”

“Well then you can leave.” Tella said angrily.

“No way! I’ll be the decoy!” Will said returning her anger.

“There’s the base.” Collin said interrupting. “They will be coming soon.”

“Yes. There they are, on the path, see?” Will asked.

“You have keen vision.” Demus commented.

“He’s an Iyokian.” Tella said distract watching the Areas coming toward them.

“The wanderer is there, next to Mahito. He has her hands chained.” Will said straining his eyes trying to capture every detail he could. “I think he has a binding spell on her as well. So she can’t run away.”

“Naturally.” Tella said raising her staff in anticipation. Demus fingered his sword hilt and Collin held his breath waiting. Will shivered, wondering what would happen if he were skewered on one of those Arean pikes.

“Alright Will! Now!” Tella whispered fiercely and pushed him out into the open. Will shouted in surprise and stumbled out into the clearing around the Arean base. Mahito and the other Areas paused on the path and looked at him.

“H-Hello!” Will said nervously. “And how are you fine gentlemen doing today?” the Areans stopped and stared at him in open mouth astonishment. Will was almost pleased by their reaction, until he realized they were marveling rather at his stupidity. Mahito let his lips pull into a tight smile.

“Come here boy.” He commanded in smooth Iyokian. His voice carried a strong magic within it and it tugged at Will, making him step forward, eager to obey it. But he pulled back at the last moment and smiled innocently.

“No thank you.” Will turned away and made as if to walk off. Mahito stared at him in anger and surprise.

“Get him!” he screamed at the soldiers around him. With a quick “Yes sir!” they ran off after Will. Mahito at once realized his mistake, that Will was only a decoy. But in his anger he had let logic slip. He turned to find Tella, Demus and Collin staring at him, their weapons raised. The wanderer watched them in silent joy, unable to speak under Mahito’s binding spell.

“Well, you must think you have accomplished something.” Mahito scoffed pulling out his thin staff.

“Please release that girl. Her safety is my responsibility.’ Collin said coldly.

“Not any longer.” Mahito said. “If you attack me Collin, you will be considered an enemy of Area. I am quite an important general.”

“Be that as it may. I will not disobey my master.” Collin said.

“As you wish.” With that Mahito stepped forward building a powerful spell. However in his concentration he failed to notice Will running back toward him with the soldiers chasing after him. Will jumped suddenly behind Mahito and grabbed the wanderer lifting her away and kept running. Mahito turned in fury to Will, who was running now as quickly as he could while still carrying the wanderer.

“STOP!” Mahito screamed with such power in his voice that everyone froze, even the soldiers. However, Will kept running. Mahito was now beside himself with frustration and fury. Never before had his powers failed him. And now Will was out of sight.

 

“Will!” the wanderer cried as the binding spell broke. Will finally slowed down and dropped the wanderer. She shouted in surprise as she hit the ground.

“Ah-! I’m sorry!” Will cried.

“I’m fine, Will.” She said picking herself up. “Hey, how did you get away from Mahito back there?” Will shrugged.

“I don’t know, but the others are in trouble now. They’ll have been frozen.”

“Yes.” The wanderer said.

“Look, you stay here, I don’t want you to get captured again.” Will said.

“But you have no way to attack Mahito.” The wanderer said.

“Well, I can’t leave them to die.” Will said angrily.

“No, but…” the wanderer held her hands out and with a small golden glow her staff appeared.

“Hey! Alright!” Will said. “We hoped that Mahito hadn’t gotten that thing, so you found a way to hide it from him? Great.”

“Yes, so I’ll come and help you!” she said. Will paused.

“Well, I don’t guess I can talk you out of it. So let’s go.”

Carefully the Wanderer and Will crept forward in the brush toward where they had left Mahito and everyone else. To their horror, they saw that the solders binding the hands and feet of everyone. Mahito was looking around trying to anticipate their return.

“Right. I’ll shoot a spell out there at them-” the wanderer said.

“Hey, do you even know how to use that thing?” Will asked. The wanderer paused.

“Well, no not really. Do you?”

“I’m a sailor. I don’t know anything about magic.” He said. “Well, give it your best shot. Just try not to kill Tella and the others.”

“Right.” The wanderer concentrated on the end of her staff and to her surprise and happiness it began to glow.

“Hey! Alright! That’s really cool!” Will said. “Now try to shoot it at Mahito.” The wanderer nodded and let the staff discharge, sending a golden beam strait for Mahito. The solders yelled in surprise as the beam shot past them and hit Mahito. The air around him shimmered in golden heat as the magic exploded around him.

“You did it!” Will cheered. However, the golden power faded and Mahito blinking stepped out of it unharmed. In fact he looked a lot stronger now.

“T-that was a healing spell!” Will said.

“Well, I told you I didn’t know anything about magic!” The wanderer said frightened.

“Alright, can I try it?” Will asked. The wanderer shrugged.

“Go ahead if you think you can make it do anything.” She said. Will nodded, holding the staff and aiming it at the pleased Mahito. Will felt Fairien's presence strongly within him as he build up a fiery ball near the end of the staff. With a shout Will shot the ball at Mahito’s head. The wanderer gasped in admiration.

“Wow!” she breathed. Mahito made no effort to escape. Will’s smile faded as the red ball shot apart into pretty sparkling cinders that flitted down to the ground.

“Y-You enhanced his magic.” The wanderer said hollowly. Will looked sick.

“Yeah.”

“Thank you both.” Mahito called into the woods.

“You’re welcome sir!” Will shouted, stepping out of the brush. The wanderer froze in panic wondering what Will was doing.

“You idiot!” Tella shouted to him. “Get out of here!”

“No, I think this works out quite well, myself.” Mahito said dangerously edging closer to Will. The fires of anger were a light in his eyes and he gripped his staff eager to use it. “No one makes a fool of me.” He growled quietly. 

Will reached down and took Tella’s staff from where it lay beside her on the ground.

“You have not the skills to use such a weapon.” Mahito commented with amusement. He lifted his staff and fired a ball of lighting at Will. Will gasped, knowing that he could not escape this time. However, the wanderer lifted her staff and twirled it once creating a large golden barrier around Will and the rest of her friends. Mahito jerked back as his spell hit the wall and fizzled away. Will however, took no time to be surprised and immediately rushed at Mahito with Tella’s staff. He raised it as though he were going to cast a spell but instead, brought the staff down on Mahito's head with a loud thunk. Mahito’s eyes rolled up in his head and he collapsed on the ground.  The wanderer rushed forward and began to untie everyone. Will took out his pocketknife and slashed Tella’s bonds. 

 “Come on, we should leave before Mahito wakes up.” The wanderer said.

“Yes. He will be quite angry with all of us.” Demus said, “We must make haste from this place. We should not feel secure even now.”

“Right, let go!” Will said leading the way.

“No.” Collin said getting up and walking over to Mahito’s still figure. He held out his hand until it glowed.

“H-Hey! Collin, what are you doing?” the wanderer asked. “We have to go!”

“No. I’ve waited long for this!” Collin’s eyes glowed, the white pupils contracting until they were mere dots within his strange white pupils.

“What are you doing?! Stop this!” Demus shouted cuffing him in the head. Collin shook with fury and turned his glare upon Demus.

“Collin! Get a hold of yourself!” Will said alarmed.

“What’s wrong with you?” Tella asked angrily. “If you kill him, we’ll have the whole Arean army chasing after us, if we don’t already.”

“I will kill him… I…” Collin’s hand shook as he tried to control his magic. Demus grabbed his arm and pulled the boy away.

“Hey, why are so angry all of a sudden?” the wanderer asked in a frightened voice. “What’s Mahito done?”

“I…!” Collin turned away shuddering and would say no more.

“You are one screwed up little boy.” Tella said. “Come on. Lets get out of here.” Everyone turned to walk away and so the wanderer was the only one to see Mahito’s hand grab his staff. She cried out too late. Mahito’s magic was thick in the air and thick around them before anyone knew what was happening.  However, the spell was hastily cast and Tella easily canceled it. Mahito’s smiled faded as they pointed their weapons at him. He was defeated.

“I shall return to claim what I want!” he snarled and disappeared.