Selenia Nights

Three years.

Three years since Emperor Peony declared them heroes.

Three years since Anise became the new fon master, the first ever female fon master in history.

Three years since they overturned the Score.

Three years since they defeated Van.

Three years since he made the promise.

"Luke, come home! You have to!"

"I promise."

Those images suddenly blurred, mixing with darker images: Luke, sprawled on the ground, blood pooling underneath him in a puddle, green eyes staring lifelessly at the sky, seeing nothing.

"No! Luke! Wake up! Wake up!"

She ran to him, picking his body up, shaking it desperately, as if to shake the life back into him.

"It's no use," an ice cold voice stated flatly. "He's brain dead."

The emotionless voice repeated itself over and over again.

"Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead. Dead."

Tear jerked awake, shivering with the horrors of the nightmare. She stared out into the vast pitch black room.

I have to stop thinking about it! I'm scaring myself to death!

She shook her head to clear it, and decided that it was no good to worry.

I think I'll go outside for a while. Maybe the fresh air will clear my head a bit.

Tear swung her legs out of bed and quietly dressed herself in her oracle knight's uniform. She tiptoed out of her room so as not to wake anyone up, taking her boots with her, and silently crept out of her room.

Where to now? I think I'll go to my favorite place- the selenia garden.

As she entered the garden, she felt a wave of pleasant peacefulness wash over and leave, taking her worries with it.

Tear started to hum the first thing that came to mind- Yulia's grand fonic hymn.

It's peaceful, for now. Tomorrow, I'll ask grandfather if he needs help with the research; it should take my mind off of things for a while.

Morning- Sylphday, Ifrit-Decan 39

"Good morning, grandfather," Tear greeted as an old man walked into the room.

"Good morning, Tear. Where are you off to today? Going to see your friends, perhaps?"

Tear looked down at her plate. "No, grandfather. There's no need to see them, now that the journey's over. I was wondering if you need any help with the research. I could collect some data for you," she offered.

Theodoro chuckled. "Some help would be great. I do need to collect some data. All right, then. Your first mission begins after breakfast."

After breakfast, Tear knocked on the wooden door of her grandfather's study. The door opened and she was admitted inside.

"Grandfather? Is there something I can help you with?"

"Actually, there is. I need you to go to Grand Chokemah and get the data from a census made a few days ago. That data contains the population count of all the cities in Malkuth at the moment. Could you go get it from Emperor Peony for me?"

"I'm on it, grandfather."

As the ship docked at the port, Tear gazed up at the majestic blue and white buildings, thinking of the last time she had come here.

Last time I came here, it was with my friends.

-Flashback-

"We're here!"

"This is a city?!"

"Believe it or not, Grand Chokemah is a city. It is a small portal city used mainly for the docks here. The emperor, my good friend, Peony, lives here."

"Wahhhhh! Sooooooooo cool!"

"Rappigs?!"

"They're so cute…"

End Flashback

It's just like I remembered it, Tear thought as she walked down the long blue and white tiled hallway. Soon, she reached the main chambers and was admitted in. Emperor Peony sat on a high back chair at the other end of the room.

"Ah, Locrian Sergeant Tear Grants. It's been a while. What can I do for you?"

"Theodoro sent me from Yulia City to obtain the census for the world from your majesty."

"The census, is it? Yes, I do remember receiving a note from-Theodoro, is it? - I happen to have it here with me at the moment."

Tear waked back down the hallway, holding the manila folder with the data in it.

It's been so long since I last came here, but everything is still the same.

As she recalled the past, she suddenly collided with another person going the opposite way. She quickly stood up, apologizing to the unlucky person.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't see you! I should have watched where I was going. I'm so sorry. Are you alright?"

"Never been better. How are you feeling?" a familiar voice responded.

Tear looked up and saw the familiar figure of Guy Cecil, one of her old companions.

"Guy!" Tear exclaimed in shock.

"Hey, what's up?" Guy answered, helping Tear collect the papers that had scattered.

"What are you doing here, in Grand Chokemah?"

"Well, I work here now."

"Work? What sort of work?"

"I walk His Majesty's rappigs."

"That must be fun," Tear responded as they headed down the corridor together.

Guy chuckled. "Fun, if Luke's collar is tangled up with Nephry's collar, and they're dragging you through the streets of Grand Chokemah at a breakneck pace."

Tear looked down. "Luke…"

Guy looked horrified. "Look, I didn't mean to make you upset or anything. It-it just came out the wrong way!"

Tear fixed Guy with a steely glare. "I'm not upset about anything."

He turned to leave, then turned back around again. "Oh, yeah. I almost forgot to give you this." He handed Tear an envelope. "It's from Natalia. I've gotta go, or His Majesty will be mad at me for being late. See you around." He waved, then jogged off in the opposite direction. Tear opened the envelope and took out a cream colored card with the words "Locrian Sergeant Mystearica Aura Fende Grants" on the front in fancy script. The return address was from "Princess Natalia Luzu Kimlasca- Lanvaldear".

It's from Natalia. I wonder why she sent me an invitation?

She opened the card and read the words inside. It said, in equally fancy script,

The royal families of Kimlasca- Lanvaldear and Fabre invite you to the coming of age ceremony of their deceased son, Luke fon Fabre, on Gnomeday, Ifrit-Decan 41. The fon master, Miss Anise Tatlin, will be conducting a remembrance ceremony in the main ballroom. Attendance is required.

Luke's coming of age ceremony…so it's already been three years. Time flies, and although life must go on, I can't accept the fact that Luke is dead. Nothing will change that fact, just as nothing will change what I said to him on Eldrant. Even so, I can't bring myself to go, not yet.

Gnomeday, Ifrit-Decan 41

The Fabre manor

"…And so, we honor you, Luke fon Fabre. Your noble sacrifice will be remembered forever. You truly are the light of the sacred flame."

The raven haired girl solemnly finished her speech and walks down the aisle to find her friends.

"How did I do?" Anise asked.

"Very well for the first speech as the fon master," Jade commented.

Natalia looked around, then asked, "Have you seen Guy or Tear? I haven't seen them anywhere all night."

Anise piped up, "I think I know where they are."

Tataroo Valley

Tear sat on a big rock in the middle of the selenia field, breathing in the fragrant scent of the selenias. It was calming, and she could finally relax. Just as she had settled on the rock, a voice behind her said,

"So you are here."

Tear turned around to see Guy standing just behind her, to her left.

"Why aren't you at the ceremony?" she questioned.

"There's no point," Guy stated flatly. "If he's gone, he's gone."

"But," he continued, "It looks like we're the only ones who still believe he's alive."

They both looked out at the vast field, remembering, and Tear began to sing. As the melody of Yulia's hymn floated out, the selenias bloomed, thriving on the melody. Three more figures appeared. They stood silently behind the hymnist.

Tue rei zei croa nue tue zei

Croa tue zei tue ryo rei nue ryo zei

Va rei zei tue neu tue ryo tue croa

Ryo rei croa ryo zei rei va zei rei

Va neu va rei va neu va zei rei

Croa ryo croa neu tue rei croa ryo zue rei va

Rei va neu croa tue rei rei

Please, Luke… come home…

As the song ended, the last note lingered in the valley and faded away. Silence, except for the sound of five people breathing and the roaring of the waterfalls in the background. Finally, Natalia broke the silence.

"You didn't come. I believe your presence was requested at Luke's coming of age ceremony at the duke's manor."

Tear turned her head to the side and away from the others so that no one could see the grief etched on her face.

"I'm not interested in some ceremony… in front of Luke's grave."

"That's why… the both of you came here, isn't it?" Anise piped up.

"He said he'd be back, so let the others sit around and tell stories at his grave. But I won't be joining them," Guy declared.

More silence, this time broken by Jade.

"We should be going now. The valley is dangerous at night."

The valley is dangerous at night…

She had said those words, so many years ago, when she and Luke had gotten transported to this very valley.

Slowly, she reluctantly turned to leave, letting herself slide off the rock. As she turned to go, she looked one last time at the remains of Eldrant. She spotted a figure coming closer and closer, nearing the top of the hill.

A figure with flaming red hair and a black cloak.

A figure clad in white.

Luke.

As if in a dream, Tear moved forward, until she and the person were standing a foot away and separated by a column of water from the waterfall in the background. She felt her mouth make words, and hesitatingly, she spoke.

"Why are… you here?"

The person responded, "This place… has a nice view of Hod. Also, I promised someone."

Tear felt a thousand different emotions bubbling up inside her: grief, happiness, joy, and wonder.

He remembered! He remembered his promise!

As conflicting emotions bubbled up inside her, the façade Tear had created as a soldier vanished, and she cried for the first time in three years. Droplets of salty water overflowed in her blue orbs and spilled down her cheek, landing on the pure white selenia petals. A breeze picked up as the others walked forward to greet their friend, lifting Jade's hair up ever so slightly, as the necromancer breathed a sigh of relief. That same breeze blew the newcomer's long, fiery red hair up, along with the long black cloak, revealing the Key of Lorelei, sheathed in its scabbard. A choked sob escaped from within Tear, and, step by step, the two closed the gap between them. Luke hesitated for a brief second, then lifted his arms and wrapped her in a hug.

"You idiot," Tear stated flatly, her voice muffled by Luke's clothes. "Where were you all these years?"

"Around the world and back again," Luke responded, smiling.

"Luuuuuuuuuuuuke!"

A raven streak pounced on the redhead from the side.

"Where were you? I missed you sooooooo much," Anise pouted.

He had barely any time to respond when he felt a friendly punch on the arm, followed by,

"Hey, Luke. Glad you could join us."

Luke smiled.

"I'm glad I could make it."

"Now that you've all greeted our guest, I'm sure we're all ready to go. After all, Noelle is waiting with the Albiore," Jade called, breaking the steady stream of conversation.

"All right," Natalia agreed.

"Let's go," Anise chirped, skipping happily ahead. When she had gone a few feet ahead, she turned back and called, "C'mon, you guys! We don't have all day, and I'm sure everyone wants to hear Luke's amazing story."

"All right," Jade chuckled. "For your sake, I suppose I could move my tired old bones just a tiny bit faster."

"Colonel," Anise objected, "You aren't that old yet!"

"Old enough for my bones to fall off its hinges. I think they might need some oiling soon," Jade joked.

As the group chatted animatedly, Luke pulled Tear aside.

"Wait."

Puzzled, Tear stopped and faced Luke.

"What is it?"

Luke hesitated, then opened his mouth and closed it again.

"It's a beautiful night," he finally managed to say.

"It is," Tear agreed, puzzled.

Luke sighed, then moved his mouth around, but no words came out.

Finally, he came up with, "Tear?"

"Yes?" she answered.

"Remember what you said back in Eldrant, right before I freed Lorelei?"

Tear turned a pale pink. "Yes…"

"Well, I… love you too."

Tear smiled.

"That's all I needed to hear."

They stood that way, in each other's embrace, until another voice pierced the night air.

"Hey, Luke! Are you coming? Noelle's waiting!"

"Coming!" Luke called back.

As Luke and Tear ran towards the group, the stars twinkled above them, and a voice resonated in the valley.

"Welcome home, light of the sacred flame."

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