Hello all, I know it's been a while. Life caught up to me with a sock full of pennies and beat me into submission. I have a little announcement to make here. This is not the last chapter. It is, however, the second to last chapter of this story. That's right, all good stories must end, and this story is coming to its conclusion, which I hope to have done by its one-year anniversary. Well then, time to get it started.

I have no choice: Chapter Seven

"Master and Servant."


It had taken a bit of time for Toumei to prepare for this. Edgar thought, with a tug at his heart, of how difficult this was going to be. How unlikely that he could even pull this off? And even if he did, how would he get back? But he knew one thing, and that was enough. Part of her soul was imprisoned, or something like that. It couldn't move, and he couldn't think it was by choice. He had to know, so he had to go. In the time it had been, he had managed to repair his axe, but Toumei had advised against removing the blade from Halavard's'' chest, where it was currently resting. He said something about it neutralizing evil spirits, and damaging the land if removed, in truth Edgar was only half listening. Nina had tried her best to comfort him, but even she seemed to give up after a few moments of Edgar's company. It wasn't as though he was sad and breaking down, he was determined. He would travel to Sapureth, and he would free her soul. And eventually, he would find a way back to her. That was just what he had to do. Looking over he unconscious form, he brushed her cheek with his hand.

"You are my Guardian Beast after all…"

Then he noticed something, something weird. She was in angel form now, she was almost never in her angel form, it was the submissive side of her personality. But there had to be a reason, what was it? Then it hit him like a brick, if part of her soul was trapped in the other world, it would have to have been her Devil half. Which meant that he would have to find the devil portion of her soul, he couldn't imagine it being easy. It was only a few minutes more before steps in the hallway told him someone was coming.

"Edgar." He heard Nina's voice. "We're ready to start."

He stood up and walked past Nina, down the stairs and outside of the small inn. Toumei had set up some kind of weird circle, he had called it a "Summoning Circle." Edgar didn't understand summoning, but if this was how it had to be done, he didn't care. Clasping the Summonite Gem in his hand, he walked over to Toumei, who directed him into the circle.

"There. Now, I'm not too sure how enjoyable the trip will be, but it should work. I can't tell you how close it will get you to her, but you should be in the general vicinity."

"Right." Edgar said nodding.

"Well then, I believe this is your show Nina, you are the talented Summoner here."

Nina stepped forward, it was quite clear that she was uncertain of her own ability, but she raised her staff with determination and strength.

"I invoke the powers of the five realms! In the name of Nina draw your powers together to return your servant to you!"

Edgar felt something pulling in his hand, the gem trying to get free. He clenched his fist around it as hard as he could.

I'm not going to let go, not ever.

And then he felt it. The gem was pulling him. He couldn't really see anymore, blurry screens as if he had just woken up, but the images were flying by him. He felt that he was moving quickly, though he had no way to gauge it. Finally with a crash he hit something, hard. He was lying on the ground, or at least something that felt like ground. His head was spinning and his hand twitched in pain. Pulling his head up he saw that his palm was cut where the gem had pressed against it, but then he looked around at his surroundings and almost could not believe it. He was currently lying in a field of grass that seemed to extend on forever. He began to get to his feet, and realized that it really did seem to extend on for miles, he couldn't even see where it ended. It was then that he felt something collide with him, as he toppled to the ground. He heard a giggle from above as he strained to see what had just crashed into him, once again he was speechless. There was a full angel in front of him. Young, yes, but still a full angel. She was looking at him quite curiously.

"Hello!" She said waving franticly. "You are from Lyndbaum right? Wow we don't see many humans here. Why are you here? Did you come here on purpose? What is your home like? Do they have fields of flowers there too?"

Edgar held up his hands. "W-Wait wait! Please." Taking the moment of silence he took a breath and stood up, dusting himself off. "Yes I am from Lyndbaum, I did come here on purpose, and I am looking for a friend."

The little angel smiled, flipping over in the air. "That's good! We have plenty of friends here! I'm sure you'll find the one you want!"

"Umm…well…" Edgar began. How would you ask an angel for directions to meet a devil, it didn't seem like the easiest thing to do. A light bulb went on in his head, and he addressed the young girl once again. "Actually, the friend I am looking for was captured by the devils I think, I came to save her. Can you tell me which way that is?"

The angel looked quite troubled, as Edgar expected. "You can't go there, nobody can."

Edgar was expecting an answer along these lines, but pressed on. "But I have to go there, she is probably in big trouble, and I'd need to help her!"

The angel looked at him sympathetically. Then smiled. "Wait! I know, you can come back with me, then we can get help from bigger people."

"Come back with you? To where? Your village?"

She merely laughed again. "There is only one, look!" And with that she touched the ground at her feet. A shimmering pool seemed to open up below her, and she fell into it with a squeal. Edgar looked horrified.

"Hey!" He shouted, diving after her.


Edgar quickly learned that things were not the same here as they were on Lyndbaum. For one it seemed any angel could open a path to this city, as it didn't truly exist on the plane, more like between it. As far as he could gather, the same was true of the devil city. The young angel had taken him to meet someone whose name was never given, indeed nobody seemed to call anyone by name here. The man looked quite intimidating, his feathered wings looking as sharp as steel. He had his own questions for Edgar, and he seemed to be looking through him as he talked. After Edgar had told the basics of his story (He left out the part of her soul being half devil.) the elderly angel nodded at him.

"I see, so you have come to restore a fractured soul…hmmm, a difficult task."

Edgar took a step back from this. "How did you know-?"

"That you were hear to reclaim the fractured piece of the soul that is the biggest anomaly for this entire plane? Age brings more benefits then merely being wise Edge Fencer."

Edgar shouldn't have been surprised he knew this too, but he still couldn't help it. At the mention of this there was cheerful talking and chattering behind them, people weren't even bothering trying to keep their voices down.

"I heard he saved an entire island and even saved the Silturn god."

"Really? Wow, that guy is supposed to be really tough, I wonder how strong he is then."

"Yeah!"

Edgar spoke up at last, more then a little uncomfortable. "Well, you know my name, but I don't know how I should address you…"

At this everything got very quiet. Some people looked offended, the elderly man, however, looked to Edgar and explained.

"We do not have names until our kind are summoned. The name is a way of binding us in service and allowing magical effects to target us. When we are here, we exist as one. Though only the purest of heart can ever summon an angel to their realm, the idea of a name could be considered an insult. However, the name actually becomes the problem for you and for us. You see, there is one here who is not one with their group. One who is devil by technicality, but is not united with them as the others are. As such, our safe guards to keep them from causing trouble do not effect them."

"Safe guards?" Edgar echoed.

"Did you not think it odd that this plane is not constantly covered in war? Angels and Devils cannot co exist…usually." He added the last word with a half smile. "So in ages past, the two portions of this realm split apart, a barrier between them. Neither of us can cross it. But this soul, it can. This is tipping the delicate balance of this plane, and it must be balanced. Which is why, Edge Fencer, I must ask you to do this for us. Besides, you doing this will help both of our ends."

It dawned to Edgar almost immediately.

"You mean that devil running around causing chaos…"

"Yes, it is her. Or rather, the piece of her you are looking for. I pray for your success, but you are attempting to convince a devil, masters of trickery and deceit, to return willingly to your world, and share a body with it's mortal enemy. I must be honest because we can speak no lies, your chances are not good."

Edgar thought for a moment and then looked up.

"You can read my mind right?"

"Well, I suppose you could call it that, for lack of a better explanation."

"Then you already know that I came here regardless of the chances."

"And you reason for doing it, Edge Fencer, is why we are helping you. The strongest power in the universe drives you, you will not fail."

He moved aside and drew his hand in a circle, making a shimmering portal of light in the air.

"She should be here, among the emerald fields. Good luck."

Edgar walked through without looking back.