Chapter Ten: Return to Ayuthay

Some time later, the party came over a ridge and the stone walls and palace of Ayuthay came into sight. It was as beautiful as ever, but the mere sight of it could not comfort Amiti.

"Amiti..." Karis said, seeing the worry on his face.

"It's okay, Karis," he said, walking ahead without looking at her. "Let's hurry."

Karis frowned, and Rief turned to her. "I can't blame him for being worried. Paithos is, after all, his only... the only family he knows. If I were him, I'd be in a rush to get home."

Amiti smiled wearily. "No use going any faster, Rief. Either we get there in time or we don't."

In any case, the party did hasten their pace as they went towards Ayuthay. Amiti wasn't the only one who was anxious. They all were, for their own reasons.

"We have to warn people about the danger!" Matthew told Sveta. "If we pass through any cities, we have to tell them not to travel in central Angara for a while."

"This whole situation is bad," Sveta sighed. "Not only have we just come out of the tragedy of the Grave Eclipse, but the Mourning Moon is coming back. Terrible."

Matthew nodded. "Dad's been studying that, too, all these years. He thinks they occur because of an imbalance caused by the release of Alchemy. The last two times they've happened, they only went away when they'd sucked in enough pure energy from everything around them to be sated. Only... The last one wasn't as big as the first one. He thinks this next one could be even worse."

Sveta shuddered. "I can't imagine that."

"Me, either. I don't even remember the last one," Matthew admited. "...I'm kind of scared."

"Me, too," Himi agreed, and Rief nodded as well.

Eoleo frowned, and said, "Well, I remember it. It was awful—made me feel really queasy. And I remember the first one, too. It was definitely worse. If Isaac thinks the next one is going to be worse than that... I don't want to see it."

Amiti, who had seemed lost in thought throughout this conversation, spoke up in a quiet voice. "The first Mourning Moon happened about twenty years ago. I... I wonder..."

Rief perked up. "You know... Mother did say a lot of people took ill shortly after the Mourning Moon. Nothing that major... But it could have something to do with..."

"Amiti! Prince Amiti!" By now, the group was just outside the city gate, and a group of small children had run up to them in excitement, beaming at Amiti. Amiti's face brightened visibly, and he beamed right back at the children.

"Hello, friends," he said. "How have you been in my absense?"

The little girl smiled. "We've been fine, Prince Amiti!"

"Yes, fine!" One boy agreed.

"How could you not know?" The other boy chided.

Karis, Rief, and Matthew chuckled. Tyrell just shook his head in exasperation.

Amiti looked increasingly joyful. "Prince Amiti, you say? Then... Does that mean my Uncle...?"
The children shared a glance, their faces turning a bit more solemn. "He's... alive," the girl said. "But... He isn't doing so well."

"The grown-ups say he could leave us any time," The first boy added.

"You know that, though, don't you?"

Amiti's shoulders drooped. "Yes. I have been aware of that. Thank you. Please, lead the way."

The children did just that, leading the party into the gloomy city. Kraden, seeing it, remarked, "This reminds me so much of Lemuria... It's beautiful, but it has certainly seen better days."

Amiti nodded, but didn't say anything. The children led them into the underground section. "We're still staying in the shelter, because there's still a chance Kaocho will attack us, and we have lots of repairs to do," The girl said.

As they passed people in the halls, their faces brightened when they saw Amiti every time, but there was still sorrow in their eyes. They were happy to have their bright prince back, but knew it was only a matter of time before he'd be their prince no longer.

When they came to the door of the inn, Amiti hesitated. "Prince, King Paithos awaits you..." The guard said.

"I know," Amiti said, "...but I'm not sure I'm ready to face him."

"You can do it," Karis reasurred him.

"I believe in you," Rief agreed.

The others just smiled sadly and urged him on. Amiti shot Karis and Rief a grateful look before he set his jaw, straightened his shoulders, and walked into the inn in a regal manner.

"Uncle...?" Amiti said once he was in front of the King's sickbed. He had declined considerably since their last visit. Amiti could hardly stand to look at him, he was so different from the Paithos in his memories.

Paithos opened his eyes, and smiled. "Go..." he said to the servants and guards. "I want to be alone with Amiti for now."

The entire court left in utter silence, proof of their undying respect for their King. Amiti sat on the corner of the bed beside Paithos. He didn't even try to keep the sadness he felt hidden. "I came home, Uncle. Just like I promised."

"Look at you," Paithos said, beaming. "I told you you'd be a man when you returned. You're a warrior now, you have an aura of strength brimming about you. Yet... You are still uncertain of yourself."

Amiti frowned, and Paithos prodded, "Is this about your father, Amiti?"

Amiti shook his head. "I... I do not care about my father. I have an Uncle who has always loved me as if I were his own son, which is truly something I am grateful for." Tears welled up in his eyes as he went on. "Considering the nature of my birth, you could have shunned me. You could have thrown me out, disgraced my mother... Yet you did not. You made my life wonderful, blessed."

Paithos smiled at him weakly. "Of course, Amiti. I could never have done anything less. I loved Veriti so... She was my only family. We lost our parents when we were very young. I was only fourteen when I became King, Amiti, and she was only nine. There... There is a tapestry, somewhere in the palace. It is just before they died. Veriti is beaming in it, and I do not look weary at all... Who could've known only ten years later, she'd be dead?"

"No one could've known." Amiti said, clenching his hands. He'd seen the tapestry, he'd often thought of it himself. His mother... She'd been such a bright, spirited girl. That's what everyone said. Someone you would never expect to die.

"She was the same age you are now when she died," Paithos went on. "Do us a favor... Live a long life, Amiti. Do not die before your time."

Amiti nodded, and Paithos drew a shuddering breath. Amiti knew then he had indeed arrived home just in time. "Uncle..." he cried softly, burying his face into Paithos's chest as he'd often done as a small child. It had been a long time since then, but Paithos remembered, too, and smiled faintly. He hugged Amiti weakly. "Uncle, I will miss you dearly... You have been a father to me all this time. I do not need my real father... You will always hold that place in my heart."

Paithos shook his head, sighing. "You can't know that. Not for certain... but thank you all the same. You certainly will always hold a place in my heart... Son."

Amiti waited for Paithos to say more, but when he did not, Amiti realized he was dead. He bit back tears, then gave up and let them fall. Let the people see how much he mourned him. They knew Paithos was dearly loved by his nephew. He stood, trying to stand tall, and went outside.

One look at his face told everyone what they needed to know. They bowed their heads, both in mourning of their old King... And in honor of their new one.

…

Meanwhile, with Isaac and Garet, the duo were still on their way to Kalay when Garet broke the silence. "You seem thoughtful," he said.

"I'm worried," He admitted. "...Especially about Eos and Amiti."

Garet frowned. "Why? Does it have anything to do with what you were talking to her about last night?"

"Yeah," Isaac admitted. "...I don't think Felix's son is dead."

…

Author: Well, there you go. Another chapter. This one's a bit on the short side, but that's only because I was working on it, and realized what I was typing went with the next chapter better than this one. I feel bad for Amiti in this chapter. He needs someone to cheer him up, doesn't he? (Hint: You get the first real Stormshipping in this fic next chapter.^^ Not counting the times Karis was inexplicably worried about a certain Adept.)

Lol, the children. I can see what kind of person that third one is going to be someday. "How could you not know?" Taken right from the game:)

On a side note... Notice Rief's slip of the tongue at the start of this? Isaac's comments at the end? ...Maybe more people know more than others realize? That's all for now.^^

Just a fan: I don't know... I wouldn't throw out any theories just yet. *Points at last few lines.* Thanks for the comment about Alex. It's very hard to work with him, because I want him to have good in him, without taking away what makes Alex who he is to everyone. You know, ambiguous. Glad you think I'm pulling it off so far. As for Felix... All I can say is that will be fully explained later, and that he has done his homework. In other words, he knows more than Alex gives him credit for. I love your idea of the "Society of Miserable Masked People." It made me laugh.

smasherthekeybladebearer: Actually, the Sun Saga in game pretty much ends where the games do: immediately after the Golden Sun. There's a short break in Prox, that's it. Game over. I'm pretty much making all of this up, besides the references to stuff that actually happened. Sorry. I'm as eager to find out the real truth as anyone else. (Lol-The real truth.)

The Shadow of Wings: I've gotten that from others, too. It might seem a bit disturbing at the moment, but I plan to explain his motives sooner or later. Bear with it:) I'm trying to work more characterization into this. And rest assured: I can promise you at this point at least seven of the eight will be seen for sure by the end of this fic in person. Beyond that... I can't say. And sorry about the though-thought thing-I've noticed that in hindsight, too. My spellcheck doesn't catch pesky things like that. It drives me nuts. Normally I'm really good at catching those things. I'll keep watch for that twice as hard now:)

Mystwalker: Thank you. Hope you enjoy this chapter. I can't wait to read your new chapter:) And yeah-You will learn the rest of Felix's story by the end of this. It's pretty sad. :(