My Third work. Just like the second, if anyone here has read it, it's shortly after the activation of the Apollo Lens.
The group were at the inn of Tonfon, having ended the Grave Eclipse and were now going to rest before setting out towards Belinsk with Eoleo's ship, yet Himi, Rief and Amiti exchanged troubled looks.
"Well?" Was the only thing Matthew asked.
Neither of them knew how to break it to him. Rief is the son of Mia, the greatest healer of all of Weyard, yet there was nothing he could do. Himi and Amiti, having the Third Eye which sees "the essential truth" and the Insight psynergy, which revealed "what had to be done" respectively, were unable to help him.
After carefully considering his words of choice, Rief finally spoke. "I'll be honest with you Matthew. Your future... looks dark." Amiti glared at Rief for making such a statement, yet Matthew understood.
"Thanks for trying to cheer me up, even with such a half-assed joke. At least it was better than Tyrell's." Matthew let out a sigh. "And there's no way I might recover?"
Rief shaked his head, only to remember the issue at hand, but Matthew spoke before him. "It's not that bad yet Rief."
"Shouldn't we... tell the others?" Amiti asked, unsure as to what to do next.
Sighing again, Matthew realized it was for the best. "Yeah, we should. Rief, could you do it?" Rief nodded, and began walking out of the room. "Amiti, Himi." Matthew's face turned to the both of them. "Please leave me alone for now..."
Neither of them could understand his suffering, but they agreed, it was probably for the best to leave him alone for a bit. As Rief descended the stairs, Tyrell rose from a chair.
"Hey Rief, what did Matthew want to talk about? It seemed really important." Tyrell asked frankly, as he wasn't exactly known for his common sense nor caution, yet Rief knew the sooner they got to know, the better.
"Matthew... is loosing the light, so to say..." Rief normally didn't speak so cryptically, but as it was the first time he had to bring such grave news, he was unsure weather to say it frankly like Tyrell or not, so he decided to say it in whatever manner he could that made it seem less serious.
"Loosing the...? What are you blabbering about now, Rief?" Tyrell obviously didn't understand his statement, yet a gasp from behind him indicated that Karis had well understood what he was saying.
"No... it can't be true, Rief!" Karis almost pleaded him, hoping he was joking, or perhaps had made a misstake. Yet he only shook his head.
"I'm sorry." Those few words almost made Karis burst into tears, but Tyrell almost exploded into anger as he still didn't understand what they were talking about.
"What are you two talking about? How about explaining to me so I too can take part in this discussion?!"
"Tyrell... Matthew's going to be blind soon." It was Amiti who spoke. The statement almost made Tyrell wonder if he had just tried to pull a joke, but Amiti's serious expression shot down any hope of it being one.
Before he got a chance at saying anymore, the group heard someone going down the stairs, albeit VERY slowly. It was Matthew, with some sort of bandage covering his eyes. "Might as well get used to it, since i'm going to have to live like this before long, anyway." He attempted a smile, but the others just looked at him with sadness (not that he could percieve that). The leader of the Warriors of the Eclipse going blind the day after they had saved the world. Was there anything more pitiful than that?
"Thank the ancients Sveta's asleep, she has enough to worry about since she'll be the queen of Belinsk once we get back." Matthew stated, altho it didn't sound like he was happy at all. And why would he be?
"Matt..." Tyrell began, but he was at a loss for words. What would he say?
Karis noticed it, and quickly took word. "Matthew, even if you're going blind, it's not like it's the end of the world, right? You still have us! We'll help you come through this ordeal."
He couldn't help but smile at this, as Matthew came to the conclusion that she was right. He would manage somehow, Blind or not.
"Yeah! You can say we'll be your eyes or something!" Tyrell said, and Matthew heard something that sounded very familiar, namely Karis slapping Tyrell on the back of his head.
"Surely you could have said anything but that?!" She was obviously angry, but Matthew only laughed at Karis. "It's fine Karis, he was merely trying to cheer me up." As he stopped laughing, Matthew took word again. "We should get some sleep, we have to be on our way early tomorrow, the sooner we get to Belinsk the better."
As they all went into their respective rooms, Matthew lay in the bed, deep in thought. Wonderful. I risk my life trying to save the world, and this is my reward? After considering, he shook his head at himself. No, it isn't. This is my reward for being reckless, trying to activate the Apollo Lens despite it being obvious there would be strong light at the top. Altho I couldn't have known it would be stronger than anywhere else. But I still should've been more cautious. He couldn't repress a light snort. And here I thought it was Tyrell that would get himself in serious trouble one day...
Some of you might have noticed Eoleo played no part in this chapter, I simply didn't think he would fit in such a serious conversation, despite being the oldest in the group... Well, except for Kraden, but hell he's around 100 years old! I'll make sure Eoleo gets around next chapter.