Fairien awoke in a dim room to find himself lying on a soft bed. He blinked, wanting to slide back into the calm unawareness, but he suddenly became aware of another’s presence in the room. He blinked and moved slightly, turning to see Will sitting in a chair next to him. Will turned, seeing his movement.

“Hello.” He said. Will smiled.

“For once, its not me that’s gotten knocked out, eh?” he said. Fairien blinked then smiled, his mind slowly emerging from its haze.

“Yeah.” He said and smiled, “Maybe if you wouldn’t take so many chances you wouldn’t end up knocked out so much.” Will rolled his eyes.

“Oh, like you’re one to talk.” He said. Fairien had to laugh at that. He stretched squeezing his eyes shut and yawned.

“How long have I been out?” he asked. Will shrugged.

“A few hours.” He said. “Everyone is busy right now and they told me to baby-sit you while you slept.”

“Hmph. I guess that means they think a lot of you.” Fairien said.

“What are you talking about?” Will asked.

“I was being sarcastic.” Fairien said wearily. He paused and then asked in a more concerned voice, “Anyway, how are you? I mean, you went through a lot more than I did.” Will shrugged.

“I’ve felt better.” he said. “But I wouldn’t be here at all if you hadn’t helped me.”

“Nah, you would have figured something out,” Fairien said dismissively as he looked out the window. Will smiled and closed his eyes.

“I think you’ve always been there, to call me back from oblivion.” He said. Fairien blinked and sat up, watching Will.

“You’re wrong.” He said. “Who was it that brought me out of the under world?” Will didn’t answer. “You see,” Fairien continued, “It works both ways.” A few moments passed and Will said,

“… What happened exactly? I-I know Yash attacked me and I guess he managed to get all three of your powers into the sword but…”

“Yash tried to kill Sir Michael with the sword.” He said and turned to Will, “You know why the sword has to have the blood sacrifice of a mortal? The sword draws the soul of the mortal into the blade and then, when the blade is used on an immortal, the mortal soul moves into the immortal one, tainting it, and killing the immortal being. That was the only way Yash could kill Sir Michael.”

“So, he stabbed Sir Michael with the sword, and I… went into him?” Will frowned. Fairien nodded. “… But you called me back. You kept me from killing Sir Michael, right?”

“Yes.” Fairien said. I called you back into the sword, and ruined Yash’s plans.” Fairien said and frowned. “And then, when Yash knew he had lost, he grabbed the sword from me, and stabbed me with it.” Will’s eyes widened.

“He did?” he asked. Fairien nodded.

“That’s when we met.” Fairien said. “Our souls met...”

“We were joined again for a moment.” Will said. He frowned. “… Fairien, you asked me if I wanted to die then. If I had said yes, you would have died too, wouldn’t you?” Fairien blinked, then dropped his eyes away guiltily.

“A-ah.” He nodded. “… But I didn’t want that fact to prevent you from choosing what you wanted. What you needed.”

“Idiot.” Will frowned. “I could have killed you.”

“… You didn’t though.” Fairien said. Will rolled his eyes.

“Still, you should have been more prepared. I mean, when Yash was defeated, you should have expected him to do something like try to kill you. You ruined his plans after all.” Will said. Fairien frowned at this and stared out into space.

“I think you’ve got the wrong idea about Yash Will.” he said. “I’m not so sure Yash wanted to win.” He said quietly. “I thought he hated us- me, Azrael, and Minerva because we stopped him before, but I don’t think that’s the case.” He said.

“Huh?” Will asked. “What do you mean?”

“I mean Yash wasn’t trying to kill me when he stabbed me. The last thing he said before he did it was, “I wish you good luck in the future”. Not exactly a thing you say to someone before you kill them.” Will frowned at this.

“Yash was insane.” He said.

“No he wasn’t.” Fairien said. “… I’m not sure but I think… I think he knew that the only way to save you was for me to take you into myself and that could only be done if I were stabbed with the sword…” Fairien trailed off. Will stared at him.

“No way. Why would Yash care about me? He kill me, remember!” Will protested. Fairien shrugged.

“Say what you like, but that’s what I believe. Yash was giving me a chance to save you.”

“… Maybe.” Will admitted, more to end the argument than anything else. He still didn’t believe Yash had any kind intention to save him. Fairien smiled.

“Where are the others?” he asked.

“I don’t know. I think they’re getting ready for tonight.” Will answered.

“Huh?” Fairien said, ‘Tonight?” Will nodded.

“Yeah. You guys are going to have your awakening ceremony.”

 

 

It was late afternoon now, and the sun was moving west.

“Eeh, Azrael!” Minerva called, “Should I wear this, or this?” she asked, holding up two different robes. Azrael blinked at them then frowned.

“I don’t know Minerva. You know I’m no good at picking those things.” Minerva frowned at him, pouting slightly. Azrael laughed and shrugged.

“You know it doesn’t matter.” He said.

“Yes it does!” she cried.

“Awakening has nothing to do with clothes.” Azrael said. Minerva shrugged in annoyance. They were in a large room with closets of robes, which Minerva was looking through.

Fairien sat away from them, out on the balcony with Hazael. Hazael and Nathanael had returned about an hour ago, reporting Yash’s death.

Will had been told to clean himself up and had been hustled off into a random dressing room, while Fairien had been told to join Azrael and Minerva in preparation for the ceremony. However, he was feeling lazy and had ducked out of the room and now sat out on the balcony with Hazael.

“Hazael?” Fairien asked. Hazael blinked and looked over at him.

“Hmm?” he asked.

“What’s it like to awaken?” Fairien asked. Hazael stared at him a moment, then laughed.

“It’s not something you can describe.” He said. Fairien frowned.

“I don’t know, but I think I got an idea of it.” He said. Hazael turned to him again questioningly. Fairien continued, “When Yash took my power into the sword it left me… alone, with only myself. I knew that I was the barest essence of what makes me, and somehow I knew what I was. Did I awaken a little?” Hazael watched him a moment, then shrugged.

“You may have become aware of what you are, but you didn’t understand it.” He said. Fairien scowled.

“How do you know?” he asked. Hazael laughed.

“Because if you were aware of what you are, you wouldn’t be asking me those silly questions.” Fairien pouted and turned back to the sky.

“… Does the awakening change you?” he asked

“Of course it does.” Hazael said.

“I mean, does it change who you are?” Fairien asked, “Like what you feel?” Hazael looked over at him slowly.

“… What do you mean?” he asked. Fairien flushed slightly and looked away.

“… Does it change what you love?” he asked. Hazael gazed at him a moment, frowning.

“You’re worried about losing the love you have for your world and your friends?” he asked. Fairien nodded.

“You’ll still love them.” Hazael said.

“Really?” Fairien asked smiling hopefully. Hazael nodded.

“You’ll just love them differently.” He said. Fairien paused, not liking the sound of that as much.

“… I see.” He said quietly. Hazael smiled.

“Don’t worry.” He said. “It may sound frightening, but its wonderful.” He turned to Fairien, “What is your purpose in life right now?” he asked. Fairien blinked.

“… W-What do you mean?” he asked.

“Just what I said.”

“… I don’t know. That’s not exactly something you get asked a lot you know?…” Fairien said. Hazel peered closer at him.

“Maybe people don’t ask you that, but you have to have some reason to live. Especially someone as spirited as you.”

“… Don’t label me as spirited.” He murmured.

“You don’t think you’re spirited?” Hazael asked. “I thought you were known as the spirit of your world.”

“… That’s true,” Fairien said, “But I would say a spirited person would be one that never gives up, someone who can’t be pushed down into uncertainty.”

“… Just because you experience uncertainty, doesn’t mean you aren’t spirited. It just means you have to have a stronger spirit to overcome those challenges, and that truly is what makes someone spirited. But anyway,” Hazael said waving his hand, “You’re getting away form the point. I asked you what your purpose in life is.” Fairien blinked and looked down a moment, thinking.

“… To love.” He said. “To protect.” Hazael stared at him a moment then closed his eyes nodding.

“Awakening won’t be so hard for you.”

 

 

“Glaaa! Stop it!” Will shouted. Nathanael glared at him.

“They told you to leave your hair untied.” He said. “Leave it untied.”

“… I look like a girl with it down!” Will protested, “Especially with these robes they’re making me wear!” he complained. He was indeed dressed in light airy robes that did much to hide his gender. Will gritted his teeth. “Fairien’s going to laugh at me! I’ll never hear the end of it!” he muttered. Nathanael snatched the hair tie, hiding it before Will could protest. He raised a finger.

“You’ll do as your told, especially in such a trivial matter.” He scolded. “Besides, it doesn’t matter what you look like. We’ll all be dressed this way.”

“… If it doesn’t matter how I’m dressed, then let me wear my hair up.” Will growled. Nathanael narrowed his eyes, growing tired of Will’s complaints. He moved to the door, leaving.

“You look common with it tied up like that.” He said, walking out the door. Will blinked and opened his mouth to reply, but Nathanael was gone. Will snapped his mouth shut again and pouted angrily.

“This sucks.”

 

 

 

 

The main hall was filled. Will glanced around at the crowd around him. They were all those beings, he realized. And they were all dressed in those robes, he noted as well, sighing. Oh well, it wasn’t so bad now that he saw everyone else wearing them…

The murmur of the crowd suddenly grew silent, as if there had been some kind of cue, though Will had been aware of nothing. He blinked, and looked up toward the front part of the room. There were marble statues lining the walls and a small raised platform at the front of the room, almost like a stage. Will watched curiously as a procession made its way solemnly to the stage. He watched even closer when he realized that within that line of people were Minerva, Azrael and Fairien. Hazael and Nathanael were there too, in the back. A small part of Will’s mind felt kind of slighted that he was stuck back here in the crowd. But then again, he had to admit he should feel honored to be at a ceremony like this, since he was mortal.

Sir Michael stepped out of the large door and walked slowly, solemnly across to the stage area. He halted as everyone moved into position. Minerva, Azrael and Fairien were lined up in a single row, facing the audience. Sir Michael began to speak but it was in a language that Will had never heard before. He blinked, looking around him in the crowd. They watched, seeming to understand his words. Will frowned and turned back to the stage, watching. Since he couldn’t understand what was being said he let his mind drift, as he took in the grandeur of the hall.

“Will Kapino!” Sir Michael said. Will jumped, startled at hearing his name. Those around him in the crowd turned to look at him, some murmuring in surprise. Will blinked, feeling his face turning red as everyone stared at him. What was going on?

Noticing his lost expression Sir Michael repeated himself and this time Will could understand him.

‘Will Kapino, would you please come up here?” he asked. Will nodded and began to walk shakily up to the front. As he neared the front Sir Michael directed him to Hazael, who held a large silver dish. Hazael held it out for him to take. Will looked at him a moment, then took the dish uncertainly. There was another murmur from the crowd, but those on stage ignored it.

“Will, give these to the three.” Hazael said, indicating the dish. Will frowned, his mind slowed by his nervousness. He looked down into the dish he held and saw three clear orbs, each about the size of a large grape. Will nodded and Hazael gave him and encouraging look. Slowly, Will approached the nearest of the three, Azrael. Azrael watched him, but his eyes dropped down to the orbs in the dish. Will stopped in front of him and gently, reached down and picked up one of the orbs, holding it up for Azrael to take. To his surprise, Azrael did not reach for it, but bent down and took it from Will’s hand with his mouth, swallowing the orb. Will blinked, a bit taken aback, as Azrael straightened, his eyes caste down. Will paused a moment more, then decided he better move on.

Minerva waited for him next. Just as Azrael had, she took the orb from Will’s fingers with her lips, holding the orb in her mouth before swallowing it. She looked slightly startled as she did, but just as Azrael had, she caste her eyes downward refusing to look up. Will moved on. He made no sound, walking across the carpeted floor. He stopped, and moved his eyes up, to meet Fairien’s. They stared at one another a moment, the need to the ceremony to continue forgotten temporarily. Slowly, Fairien let his eyes soften and a slight smile crept onto his lips.

“Once more, eh?” he whispered.

“Eh.” Will said quietly, and move his hand up to the dish, reaching in a holding the orb. He noticed for the first time that the orb was slightly soft. He looked down at it, examining the object he held.

“Fruit.” Fairien whispered. Will blinked and yes, as he looked closer, he could see that the orb was indeed, some kind of fruit, though it was like no fruit he had ever seen.

Slowly, Will raised his hand up, offering the fruit to Fairien. Fairien watched, feeling almost frozen in time.

“I keep feeling like you’ve got that fruit pressed against my lips and despite my best efforts I think that any minute I’m going to bite it.”

Fairien took the fruit, biting into it, and swallowed it. Will watched him and noticed right away that Fairien didn’t thrust his eyes down, as Azrael and Minerva had. Instead he held Will’s gaze. Will watched breathless as Fairien’s eyes changed, the pupils contracting and dilating rapidly. He felt like he should be panicking to see such a thing, but Will found that he couldn’t feel anything, looking into those eyes at this moment.

And then it was over. More words were said, and the ceremony came to an end. The crowd moved away, but the three newly awakened ones and Will did not move.  The lights went out. They were alone. There was a pause as they stood there, isolated.

“What do you wish now?” Hazael’s voice came though the darkness. He stood, silhouetted against one of the large windows. Slowly he turned to them, his face in shadow.

“What do you wish now?” he asked again. No one answered him.

“What do you wish now?” Nathanael’s voice came, off to their right. He too stood in shadow, watching them.

“We…” Azrael said.

“…wish…” Minerva said.

“… to return.” Fairien finished. There was a soft laugh in front of them and they were suddenly aware of another presence. Sir Michael stepped out of the shadow.

“You have returned. Is this what you wish?” he asked. “Please define your desires more appropriately.”

“… We want to return to the world created to shelter us.” Minerva said.

“… However, its purpose will not be to shelter us any longer.” Azrael said.

“… Its propose will come from its own will, the will of its people. They live for themselves now, not for us.” Fairien finished.

“Ah, good you recognize that. Then you know too that your power to create and destroy is gone.” Sir Michael said.

“Gone.” Azrael said.

“Gone.” Minerva said.

“Gone.” Fairien said. “The power was never ours to have.”

“It came to us by mistake.” Minerva said.

“And only because it was a mistake, were we able to create beauty with it.” Azrael said. Sir Michael closed his eyes.

“You understand then.” He said. “You also understand that by eating the fruit of the over world, you have committed yourself to your own race, and thus accepted our rules, and our hierarchy. Correct?”

“Correct.” Azrael said.

“Correct.” Minerva said.

“Correct.” Fairien said.

“Then you will display obedience, inwardly and outwardly.” Sir Michael told them. “There is a saying, that to be bound to something is the only way to find freedom. Do you understand this?” There was a pause, and the three newly awakened ones dropped their head slightly, smiling warmly.

“Yes.” They whispered.

“Then I will give you your assignment.” Sir Michael said. “Return to your world, watch over the people, let them grow, let them destroy, let them love, and let them die. That is your assignment.” They brought their heads up again staring into the shadows.

It would be so.

 

 

Will watched, feeling small and lost in the huge dark room, as they talked of obedience, and bindings. He didn’t understand it. He didn’t want to. The thought of Fairien being bound to anything was almost heartbreaking.

And so he kept quiet.

 

 

It smelled like the sea. Not cold and damp, but warm and alive, liquid air sparkling with salt and sand as it drifted by, too small to be seen, but yet you knew it was there all the same. Will watched the waves roll in. he didn’t know how long he had been watching them. His mind didn’t seem to remember when he had started.

“You’re thinking.” A voice said lightly. Will closed his eyes and nodded. He hadn’t been aware of someone else with him, but it did not surprise him and so he though that he must have known someone was there.

“Was I right to give you that fruit?” he asked softly. “Isn’t it the same as the other fruit. What makes it any different? It binds you, that’s all the fruits do. They bind. You shouldn’t be bound. You should be free.”

“That’s what you think?”

“Yes.”

“Then I can’t change you mind.” With these words Will found himself suddenly anxious.

“No! Talk to me! Explain! I want to know. I want to know why you accepted it this time… Don’t leave me.” He murmured.

“Idiot.” The voice said affectionately. “You’re much too insecure.”

“Don’t insult me.”

“I keep forgetting your only human.”

“You’re insulting me. Talk to me. Talk to me like you used to.”

“Has the way we talk changed?… I suppose it has.” The voice said quietly.

“Because you’ve changed.”

“How?”

“You allowed yourself to be bound to something. Sir Michael said, he said if you’re never tied to anything you’ll never be free.”

“Yes he did.”

“It’s a contradiction! I don’t understand.”

“I can’t give you the answer. You have to find it on your own.”

And Will was alone again, watching the sea, trying to remember how long he had been watching it.

“Someday.” He said.

 

 

Tella sighed, watching the clouds. It was summer now. Betamy was alive with chirping bugs and tall grass and deep green trees. She loved this time of year, but found the joy of it escaping her. Avery watched her from a second story window of the castle. She lay sprawled out on one of the benches in the courtyard, staring at the sky.

Maloom was no longer here. He had been released, and had disappeared. Many had wondered if he would try and rally his supporters now, but Avery had known the truth. He had seen something in Maloom’s eyes, a spark of understanding, which gave him confidence that Maloom would not harm them any longer. Avery wondered for a time, how it had been possible, what thing was it exactly that he had said or had done to create a change in Maloom. And then, he realized that it hadn’t been anything he had done. Maloom had made the change. His ideas and passions were no longer able to build into blind fuel for hatred, not now that he had seen that there were shades of gray and different sides to matters.

Maloom lived, but he would not be remembered in history books. Did that make him dead now? Avery pondered that for a long time.

I won’t be remembered in history book either, but does that mean I can’t make a difference, that I haven’t made a difference. Being remembered isn’t the only thing that can make you happy. He smiled and gazed at Tella. He wanted her to be happy.

More than anything.

 

 

Tella heaved one last sigh and sat up.

“You looked dead, laying like that.” A young voice said from behind her. Tell blinked, and then scowled, turning.

“I don’t care.” She said, looking up at Collin. Collin smiled and shook his head. Tella watched him and suddenly realized something.

“You’re not a child anymore.” She said. Collin scowled.

“I haven’t been a child for a long time.” He said. Tella shook her head and looked away sadly.

“It may have been less time ago than you think.” She said. They were quiet a moment, while Collin stared at the ground.

“I have to go back to Area.” He said. Tella nodded.

“Good luck.” She said looking up at him. Collin hesitated a moment, then reached out and took her shoulder.

“I’ll be fine. You look out for yourself.” He said. Neither mentioned Will. They both thought it, but bringing up their long missing friend hurt too much.

“I’ll see you soon.” Collin said and took his hand away. “Good bye.”

“Good bye.” Tella said, smiling. “Don’t let them push you around! If they do I’ll do something terrible to embarrass them! I’ve got blackmail on all of those senators! You give me a call if someone bothers you okay!” Collin laughed nervously.

“Don’t say such things.” He chided, leaving, “You’re incorrigible. See you later!” and with that he was gone. Tella stared after him a moment, her head dropping down slowly.

“Good bye Collin.” She murmured. The bugs chirped around her noisily, but there was no other sound.

“Don’t be stupid Tella.” She said quietly after a moment. “Get up. You have a life to live. You have things to do. Things to change. Passions to pursue…” she felt herself stand to look upward. “Don’t get me wrong, you can be sad, but remember who you are…” she nodded, not caring anymore that she was talking to herself. “I am Tella de Alarica, not just myself. I belong to Betamy.” She heard a group of guards outside the courtyard talking loudly suddenly and jumped, wondering if they had heard her talking to herself. But that didn’t seem to be the case. Tella frowned and rushed to the edge of the courtyard to peer over the gate at the guards.

“What going on?” she asked. They blinked, looking up at her.

“Ah, your highness, nothing to concern you.” The guard said. “Just some crazy idiot that’s been hanging around. Says he’s waiting for a girl to come out.”

“Huh?” Tella frowned.

“Ah. And that would be the girl.” A voice said. Tella blinked and looked up, gasping. The guards turned.

“Hey you! Be quiet! Don’t you know who your speaking to? Get out of here before we arrest you.” The guard said glaring. He was surprised to hear a choked cry from behind him, coming from the princess. He turned to see if she was alright, but Tella was already hurling herself over the gate and running to the stranger.

“Will!” she shouted, grabbing him into a hug. Will laughed lightly and hugged her back, tightly.

“W-W-” Tella began.

“Sorry to bother you,” Will said, “But I was in town and I thought I might drop by. Besides, I have something to give you.” Tella blinked and stepped back, letting Will dig in his pockets. The guards watched, confused as to why their princess was acting like this to this boy.

“Ah, here you are.” Will said, pulling out a thin bracelet. Tella peered at it, recognizing it as her own.

“Huh? Where’d you get that?” Tella asked.

“You left it in Nathanael’s shop.” Will said. “He told me to give it back to you.” Tella blinked taking the bracelet. She had always been careless with things like that. It didn’t surprise her that she had left it. Will smiled again.

“Well, see you.” He said waving. Tella blinked.

“Hey! Get back here!” she shouted, grabbing him and dragging toward the castle. Will laughed and tried to struggle away.

“Hey! What are you doing?” he shouted.

“You’re not getting away that easily!” Tella said, pushing him inside. Will grinned.

“Oh?” he asked.

“Yes, now come on, you have to tell me everything!” Tella said. Their voices faded as they moved inside. From the upper window Aver smiled.

He had a feeling Tella would find her happiness.

 

And maybe Will would learn how it was possible to be bound to something, and yet at the same time, obtain true freedom.

 

 

THE END

 

 

Notes:

Wow. I can’t believe I’ve finished MOTW. It’s been with me for so long now, about four years, if you count planning and character sketching (three of actual writing- I was slow at first^^). I started out writing all these short little scenes with the characters that vaguely fit into the plot. I think the first one I wrote was a scene between Collin and Demus. And then one between Will and Fairien…

 

I originally had some very different ideas about many of my characters. Will and Collin were the same person for a while. Hehe. Glad I split the two conflicting personalities up. Otherwise he would have been terribly schizophrenic.^^

 

I think my main flaw with MOTW was that I developed a main character that I thought I would like, and then it turned out that the wanderer really annoyed me. I’m still not sure why, and that’s why she seemed so flat at times. That’s also why I tended to ignore her and pay more attention to Will for instance (Will was my favorite, incase you couldn’t tell^_^). I usually like supporting characters better anyway. I think they are more interesting for some reason… In my next story I’m going to make my main character interesting though. Make no mistake.

 

Oh yes, and my other flaw is that I seem to be bad at climaxes. Beginnings are okay… middle is fun… the end has to bang! And I don’t think I have the skill yet to make a good enough bang at then end yet, but hopefully I’ll get better with practice.

 

                The world with Betamy, Hailia, Area and Iyokia came from games me and my best friend used to play at her house, where she had a pond. We would go swimming in that pond everyday and we would pretend it was a great ocean and we named the countries on the sides of the pond and we made maps of this world, which became the world that I used in MOTW. We also had stories about Tella at that point. She was the damsel in distress, kidnapped by the evil Areans (although even by that point I made it clear about Tella’s personality that she wasn’t one to just hang around an wait for her prince to come rescue her. She was always escaping and causing trouble. Only later did I add in the part where Fairien comes to rescue her. Maybe some day I’ll write that part out cause I think it would be funny. I’m sure it wouldn’t be the traditional rescue. I imagine Fairien would find a way to screw it up pretty badly, or else Tella knocks him out, thinking he’s an Arean and leaves him there for the Areans to find while she runs off. Haha.)

 

                One more thing, (yes, this notes section is big, well, its make up for chapter where I didn’t say anything at the end.) for the end of this I had futures plotted out for people and until I was one the last page or two I had it in my mind that Will was going to become a priest. Yeah weird, but I though it made a kind of sense and it was a nice foil to Maloom Vraido. Also, I wanted something unexpected for Will and I still think he would make a good priest, but as I was writing it I got onto the whole being bound to something and how within bounds you can find a greater degree of freedom (a philosophy I borrowed from the Broadway play of Pippin hehe… Download the Pippin Finale song and you’ll understand.) and I wanted a different kind of binding for Will to contrast the almost religious binding that Fairien had chosen, so I left Will with Tella. (I myself don’t know about the Will Tella thing, even though I’ve supported it through out. My friends tease me that Will and Fairien make a better couple than Will and Tella do.^^)

 

Once again I thank you all for reading MOTW and being so kind in your reviews. Writing is a side hobby for me but I think I’ve improved a lot with MOTW and the reviews have certainly helped me to shape things and remember to answer questions in the plot that I might have otherwise forgotten about. (I hope I’ve answered everything and haven’t left anything to big out. I do that sometimes.^^’) Thank you again.

-Sumimasen