Pure Heart's Wish - Chapter 1
"Gone" He let out a big sigh as he whispered the word. He woke up in his chamber feeling a little tired after using a powerful magic. Alas, Cephiro was at peace again and to rebuild their land was the only problem they had. A problem that they could resolve gradually with the help if its people. He felt relieved yet he could not deny the feeling that a part of him was missing. A feeling that he never thought he would felt for centuries of his existence. Fulfilling his duties as the master mage, he thought maybe this is the time that he should think about himself first. All his life he gave it to their land without any regret and full of determination. It is at this time that he suddenly felt tired of thinking about Cephiro. Missing a half of his heart, he just couldnt focus on being a mage.
"Is this what is like Emeraude?" He asked. Feeling a heavy burden in his heart. He couldnt tell exactly the feeling but for sure he was talking about the feeling that Emeraude once was had when he fell in love with Zagato.
Feeling disturbed he stood up, heading towards his balcony to look at the land he was commited to. He was not the pillar and yet he felt that he is much responsible for the land he was seeing right before his eyes.
"I have given a lot, would it be selfish if i chose not to think of this land just for once?" A question he didnt know who will answer. He wanted to retire from his duty only if it is possible.
"You have given all your life for this land, you deserve to have a rest" A familiar voice answered. Looking at his back was the prince, ready to lead his land with full of will and determination.
"Ferio" he acknowledged as he took a sight from his back with a bit surprised by his visit and response.
"I'm sorry if i came in without notice, I was just about to check if you are alright." The prince bowed as he apologize.
"It's fine Ferio, I feel good now." He smiled, trying to hide a bit of emptiness he felt inside.
"Based on what I just heard, I could tell that there is something bothering you" the prince asked with concern.
With a little smile in his lips he respond. "Now that the pillar system was abolished, no one will ever suffer like Emeraude again."
"That is right Master Mage, we can now freely think for ourselves for a while. How about taking a break from your duty?" the prince offered.
"Am I really allowed to do that? I couldnt imagine myself thinking of anything else but Cephiro." The mage respond with guilt.
"For this time Master, you are worth of thinking for yourself. Centuries you have been here, you commited it in our land, you deserve to have a rest and think of someone you truly love." The prince respond with a hint of something he knew that the mage could not broughtout.
"Truly love?" the mage repeated.
"Like Umi?" Ferio mentioned directly for he knew the mage will never broughtout that topic.
The mage blushed as he heard her name. The name he truly wanted to hear.
"What do you mean?"
"You could not deny it now Master, when the magic knights were still here I noticed that you care much for Umi than the other girls. I suggest that you must let your feelings out now or it will just burden your heart and thoughts." he confronted the mage.
The mage smiled, he was indeed a bit of denying it but since Ferio had noticed, he knew he had no choice but to talk about it. He was right, he could not deny it. The only woman who was capable of changing his will and desire, is none other than Umi.
Once he had a conversation with her, he felt her concern. Of all the people in the castle, he was the one she chose to talk to. The act that she did was no different for many had consulted him about different matter, its not unusual for him to have such conversation. As he touched the water knights hand he felt something different, as if that touch grounded throughout his nerves. From then, he knew that there is something inside of him that suddenly woke up. After each day, he felt her concern and her care, he tried to deny and think that it was nothing special not until she visited him in his chamber. The care she gave to him was something special, far different than the care she gave to anyone else. He got a bit of an idea of what she was showing but then ignored it for he was in doubt. How could a young beautiful woman like Umi, would love an old and child-looking mage? He hate the feeling he was feeling that moment. He knew he should not think of that matter right there and then for there is much more problem that he should think about. He shut her out of his room unintentionally, he couldnt stand being with her alone in his chamber for it just makes him want to think of her and her alone. Unspoken words, the last moment he tried to reach her he knew what he had to tell her but his heart keeps on denying it thinking of the responsibilities he had in Cephiro and the thought of that its no use to tell her for she will never be coming back. He should have tell her, regret is the only feeling he had now that she is gone.
"Is this how it felt to love someone? I felt burdened for not telling her what i felt." The mage honestly admitted.
"I did felt incomplete when the Magic Knights left, letting Fuu go was not really that easy. To tell her how much I love her was the only way I knew to relieve a bit of my pain and knowing that she love me too is much more comforting."
"My mistake is that I failed to tell her and that I regret." the mage looked at the blue sky. The sky that was blue as her eyes, he closed his eyes remembering her beautiful face. It was too late to be enlightened with the words that Ferio had said.
"I know what you are feeling, i felt that once when Fuu left Cephiro for the first time. I honestly pray for her to comeback, to be with her once more and after that I couldnt believe that i saw her again. I have asked once and it was granted, if i ask once again for her to return i think it will be too much but then I'm still hoping. We always say that our land is a land of will, sometimes I just couldnt understand why I cant will her back with me and until now Im still hoping that I will see her again." with empathy he let his heart talk about the woman he love, to show that Clef was not alone, that he was also sharing the same feeling as him.
"Perhaps its not just us that needs to faithfuly will for their return. I dont know much about Fuu, but for sure she did want to be with you. It was clear that she love you and I believe that one day she will come back here for you." The mage smiled as he made a word to encourage the prince.
The mage couldnt help but feel hopeless. Never did he knew the feeling that Umi had for him, thinking about it he thought that maybe she never had the will to return in Cephiro. Why would she come back in Cephiro? To see her friends will never be enough for her to return. As far as he could remember on their first visit she truly desire to return to their home and thats the only thing she wanted from that moment. If he wish for her to return he thought that it might be unfair thinking that she doesnt wish for the same thing as his.
"I also believe that they will return for us at the right time." full of hope the prince stated.
The prince walked his way out of the mages' chamber, giving him a lone time to think for a while.
Will she return for him? He doesnt want to expect but he still hopes for it. With his unsettled feelings for the water knight , there he was looking at the sky with ambivalent feeling of hope for her return. Though he wishes to see the water knight he was also thinking for her sake and wishes for her to be in good condition. He prayed for her more than his own. He couldnt do anything but to think of the memories they had together and regret those chances he let it passed him by. One sided love, is this what he really got? He never really know, though her care makes him want to believe that she love him too and that thought was the only thing he was holding on to.
The pain, he already experienced a lot and extreme physical pain but this kind of pain inside his heart is much more excruciating than any other pain. The pain of regret is something that will remain as burden throughout his life and until he die.
He tried to forget, but the feeling he had was like a curse. He couldnt just undo it. He wanted to stop the pain but it seems that the only way to stop it is just her presence. Never did he imagine that this feeling he had now was so difficult to resolve. He just couldnt let her out of his mind. Thoughts of regret just makes him want to go mad. He took a deep breath trying to calm himself as tears unintentionally gathered from his azure colored eyes. Centuries had passed never did he shed a tear for someone. He closed his eyes trying to fight back the tears, and as he exhaled he opened his eyes. That eyes that once showed sadness had turned into hope and that he made a decision.
"I cant be like this forever, I need a peace of mind to go on with my life. If seeing her will be the only way to stop this feelings then I will find ways to do it."
It was said that only a pillar could summon someone from another world, without the pillar, its impossible that the magic knights will return in Cephiro. Is there any other way for him to be with his water knight? It is true, he never really had any idea on how to do it. No known spell could ever summon anyone from another world but there is one thing he knew he could do to make impossible things possible.
He put on his usual white robe and his headpiece. He reach for his staff and hold it tightly. Immediately he went to the chamber where Emeraude's crown was held and then he called the name of someone he knew was much powerful than anyone else.
"Mokona, hear me pleading for a wish that my heart purely desire. You are the creator of the world i serve my whole life grant me the desire of my heart to be with the one i truly love."
He was desperate to ask for the creator's help. Full of will and desire he faithfuly prayed for the only wish of his pure heart. A bright light came in, Mokona came in the center of the room from the top. He was descending lightly down to the crown. A powerful voice was heard, it wasnt the usual sound that mokona has. A deep low tone of voice echoed throughout the room. From then he knew, his prayers were heard.
"My loyal servant of Cephiro, you have given a long life to serve and protect the world I created but you prayed for something else not related to you duty." The voice he heard were like that of the rune gods.
"I have to see Umi, I need to tell her something very important. I just have to be with her even just for a while or else i couldnt function as a mage of this land anymore" the mage explained begging to grant his wish.
"Clef, you have served enough in this land, here I will grant your hearts pure wish but in return, you will live as a normal person and will aged as time passes by. You will rest in this world and rise in the other world. Your knowledge will remain but your magic will fade. I will still be your guide throughout your journey."
A bright light covered the whole chamber. A powerful aura was felt all over the land. Cephiro was shaken a bit.
Everyone felt something wrong with what had happen and suddenly they felt that they have lost someone. Someone who played a great part in Cephiro. One strong heart beat made the Cail rush into the chamber where Emeraude's crown was held. As he opened the chamber and saw in front of him a familiar white robe, head piece and a staff lying on the floor. Lantis knew it was Clefs garments. His face turned into sadness as he reach for the robe. Clef wasnt there anymore. From then he knew he was gone. Lantis gathered his clothes and explained to everyone what he knew. Everyone mourned for the loss of Cephiro's Master Mage. They never seemed to imagine that this will ever happen. For centuries that he lived he finally had found his peace. Rain started to fall from the sky as tears shed from the eyes of all his friends, they cant believe that they are grieving for the deceased of their beloved Master Mage.