Part 2.
Earth, Heatherfield,
next day, morning.
Cornelia slowly walks up the stairs and rethinks what better to say. She still hopes its only slight problem that will go away in time, however inner voice does not let it go. Even blind could see that Will was not okay lately, but none wanted to ask it directly. On small notices about her look or behavior she alleged to being simply tired.
She reached Wills door, but could not decide to press ring button. After minute of hesitation she forces herself to ring to the door. Another minute pass and door is opened and reveals Will standing in doorway. Cornelia still wasn't certain what to say.After few moments of silence Will started.
"Hi Corny".
"Morning Will, mind if I come in."
"Not at all, come inside."
Will turned around and invited Cornelia into her flat. Room was unusually well cleaned. Cornelia sat on couch and took backpack of her shoulders and put it near herself. Will turned her office chair so it faces Cornelia and sat on it.
"So how you feeling today" Cornelia started.
"You mean about yesterday? I am pretty much ok now. Just couldn't sleep again"
"Glad to hear, I have something for you."
Cornelia opens backpack and takes out black wooden case encrusted with various silver decorations. Center of the lid was encrusted with twin curved lines that symbolized Wills element.
"Yesterday Elyon wanted officially hand them to us as tokens for our deeds, but since you had to leave early we decided to not make any official ceremony for handing these" said Cornelia while turning case to Will.
"What is it?" asked will While looking at case
"Open it then".
Will opens the case and it reveals finely crafted dagger with almost foot long blade. Like case, its hilt was engraved with same symbol.
"Those are daggers meant for the Meridians army commanders, however these ones never had masters before, so they were personalized for us, Aldarn personally engraved and made cases for them" said Cornelia looking at Will as she studied dagger.
"Its beautiful" said Will and took it out of case in left hand and started to examine it.
"Yes they are pretty nice, we each received one. Careful they are very sharp." Said Cornelia noticing that Will is sliding her index finger along the edge.
Will put her finger to point of the dagger and looked into blades side, watching reflection of her eyes in it. After short while Will puts dagger back in the case, closes it and puts it on the table.
After minute Will breaks silence:" You are not really good at this"
Cornelia shrugged. Wills voice was unusually cold.
"What do you mean?"
"Giving me the dagger. It is not real reason you are here I presume"
"You are right. I really didn't know how to start. Well yesterday after you left we talked and we are kind of worried about you. You are acting not like yourself lately. So wanted to ask if there is anything wrong with you.
Will sighed, stood up from chair and walked to window.
"Well to tell truth I am not really feeling as myself lately. I am thinking a lot lately and I think I want to quit guardian business.
"QUIT WHAT!?" Cornelia almost shouted " what happened Will?"
"Don't you see yourself? What we are becoming with each fight."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that every time we fight for our "just cause" we are becoming more like they. They send army of soldiers, and we are forced to kill them. No matter how many ten or hundred, their blood is on my hands"
"That's not true. We do it because it is right thing, We are protecting innocents. No war can be fought without victims, specially amongst soldiers. We don't harm innocents "
" Listen at yourself. Do you even believe yourself what you are trying to prove to me. We mindlessly do what we think is better and what we are told to do. When someone surrenders we spare him just to think we are good guys. That is only thing that separates us and them, for now."
"Don't compare us with Phobos or that hag. We fight so everyone is safe from tyranny. They fought so they can get power for themselves. We care for people we protect."
"Is that so? When Nerissa started to win. We stroke deal with the devil, fully realizing consequences that it will lead to, we knew he will break pact, we knew he will retake Meridian for himself. People I ordered to fight against Phobos were sent to certain doom. Their blood is on my hands, I cant watch in the eyes of Drake, Elyon or anyone else on Meridian anymore."
"There was no other choice, she was too strong for us. People of Meridian knew what they were fighting for and they were ready to sacrifice themselves for their home."
"Maybe so, but they did not sacrificed themselves for any noble cause. I sacrificed them. We were playing chess with living pawns. I allowed thousands of people to fight in hopeless battle,to be butchered by Phobos and Cedric, so we can eventually win. Our means of achieving victory are same as theirs. We are no better than them."
Cornelia was watching Will as she talks and wanted to object to her, but she could not think of anything to say. When Will stopped talking, room sank into deadly silence.
"But Will" Cornelia finally said" you cant quit and leave us, without you we cant continue our duty and you are out friend"
"Cant quit? Watch me. As one that were first to try to quit when Elyon was captured by Phobos, you should know how I feel and that I can quit."
"Yes as one that tried to quit I know importance of not giving up, you with other girls taught me that"
"Listen this world is not black and white as you see it, at least we certainly are not white as we would like to be"
"Guess I cant convince you now to change your decision now"
"NO, not really"
"Well we will still be friends, right? Even if you quit"
"Of course"
"How about you come to the Dragon at three o clock for dinner. Its on us"
"Guess I could come. But first I must do several chores otherwise my mum will kill me if they wont be done by time she comes home"
"See you then"
When Cornelia left Will wiped her forehead of sweat. She felt as if room was unusually hot. She sat at the table and picked up book that covered sheet of paper and picked up pen.
TBC