I think when you see how fast this post was you'll all die of shock ^_^ I told you I would type it all on my training day. All 16 pages *hands throbbing*. Anyway this is the final show for our friends Ipsen and Courage. Also just another rather offending last comment to be made.
I can understand people wanting Zidane back in the story and I could take those reviews. But to have a review by '…' telling me in such a rude way that they 'don't see the point' in Ipsen and such I get a little annoyed. If there was no point do you think I'd be writing about him? Honestly I take the time to do this thing when I need to write my other stories and finish coursework so you can better understand the main story later on and I get a review like that! Maybe I don't want to get to the point after reading that! I am so close to saying the hell with it and giving up on this thing! You don't see the point then don't read it!
So thanks to '…' I will get to the point. these chapters happen to be vital but seen as you obviously don't want to read them I will just do the rest of Reason and Meaning in one incredibly long chapter. Seen as I haven't started it yet except half a page it could take a while. Longer than I normally would. And with my final exams coming up in June I don't know when I'll get to write it. But at least then I will get to the point faster eh? Unless you want me to leave them out altogether so you don't understand any of the story in which case there would be no point in me writing at all.
Anyway, enjoy cause it will be a while till the next one and you know who to thank.
Marie chased the boy giggling madly. The castle was huge and she liked it here better than the crumbling house. Her mother was doing well now, already up and about three weeks after Ipsen had healed her.
Marie finally caught the boy tackling him to the floor but stopped when the Terrans came near. The head of the army was close to them with his men separating the Terrans from those around them. Marie recognised one who had spared her mother and herself.
She wanted to thank him but something stopped her, the idea that he might have been the same man to end her father's life.
"Marie! Get off me!" The boy complained. She giggled again while climbing to her feet. It was then she saw the King walking just behind the army.
"Ipsen!" She yelled happily running into his arms.
"Hello Marie. How are you doing? Is you're my home okay?"
"It's beautiful! Mum likes it too but sometimes it upsets her about our old house."
"Well, tell her not to worry because all of the village will be restored in a little while."
"When?"
"After we have sorted out this business with the Terrans, okay?"
"Thanks Ipsen. It will make mum so happy!" She said giggling. "Where are you going?"
"To a meeting with the council."
"Sounds boring."
"Maybe, but its all part of my job."
"When will it end?"
"I'm not sure, it could end up taking all day."
"Oh, well I'll see you afterwards." She sang while running off.
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"We have still had no word from this world 'Terra'." A council member spoke. "Three weeks since the last meeting, it is time we renew our options and decisions."
Ipsen translated in Terran although many of them no longer needed it.
"However this time the Terrans have the chance to be heard."
Courage stood up and looked around him.
"I have informed your King of the reason our planet attacked and I am sure he has passed on that information. Our entire planet is dying and our people along with it. Our council saw no other choice but to attack."
"All this King Ipsen has informed us of." The council spokesman said wearily, "And we sympathise with your situation, however you may have guessed we are nit about to just let you kill our planet instead."
"Obviously, but where does that leave us?"
"If your council were to come and meet us to discuss this we could find some way of agreement. Maybe we can allow your people a continent here on Gaia.!
"You mean leave our home!" Ambition exploded. "why should we have to do that?"
"Because your planet is the one dying." The spokesman said harshly. "And King Ispen has informed me that even if your planet were to consume ours it would need to have another planet in a few thousand years. King Ipsen, if you would care to explain your theory."
"Thank you." Ipsen began speaking now in Terran . "I have done research since you arrived and have confirmed Courage's saying that your planet is the oldest, the first in fact. It has existed for millions of years before any other planets had begun to form. Your planet has grown so old that it can no longer produce new energy, or life force.
"It tried to produce a different type of energy instead about thirty five years ago, hoping this would enable more energy needed to form. But instead it is causing your planet to die out faster."
"What energy is this?" A council member asked.
"Souls. The planet began to cause the Terran souls to evolve within its cycle hoping this would stop it from dying."
"How would that stop it from dying?"
"Because the evolved souls each now carried a part of the energy keeping the planet alive. Magic. Magic is what stops our planet's dying, it is the centre of the planet enchanting it to live. By pouring this magic into every soul on the planet it had hoped this would stop it from dying.
"You see, with the cycle possessing the magic and those on the planets surface as well as the planet itself it had thought this would save it. Because the magic was everywhere helping every part of the planet to live."
"So you mean the planet won't die?" Courage asked.
"I'm sorry, but it will. The idea would have worked if done only a few thousand years earlier. But now the planet has given too much magic out and not enough remains in the planet itself anymore. Only if more magic came could it survive."
"Like if it consumed another planet's energy." Ambition muttered.
"Exactly." Said Ipsen, "But even that won't last, the planet's energy are all unique, soon after it has consumed the energy it will reject it. If the planet were younger it would accept it, grow with it. But this planet is fully grown and unable to accept new changes, which is why…" Ipsen stopped unable to bring himself to finish.
"Which is why all the Terran's are going to die." Courage finished . Murmurs ran out throughout the room.
"What do you mean?" The council spokesman asked.
"The planet had its energy in our souls changed so the magic could flow within us. We are different from the planets energy because we have both magic and our normal life force energy. Soon it will reject us too." Courage said quietly.
"It will kill us? How can a planet kill us?" Ambition burst.
"We need certain things to live, like oxygen. The planet could stop producing it or could create a disease to kill us all off."
"…When?"
"I don't know, but it can't be too long. Just over ten years or so."
"Ten years!"
"Well, fifthteen to be exact." Ipsen put in.
"But…but no one knows about this! We have some of the greatest scientists observing the planet, they would have noticed!"
"They will see no difference for another ten years. The it will be to late to stop it."
"We must warn them! We must go to Terra to warn them!"
"We can't allow you to do that." Ipsen said calmly, "If we let you go you will inform your council of what we have here, our situation. We would become vulnerable to any attack you wished to do. We must wait for your council to contact us first."
"And how would they do that? They can't contact us here, they would have to come themselves and they would never risk that!"
"…I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do."
Courage remained quiet throughout this, memories of his family invading his vision. He really would never see them again…
"I'm sure they will come for you." The council's spokesman whispered.
"Come for us? Why would they! They selected us because they knew no one would miss us! Only Courage has a family here and I doubt they will march all the way here just for him!"
"Ambition.." Courage began.
"It's alright for you! You will never be forgotten! Your wife and children will always remember you but we will just vanish and no one will care! No one will even notice!"
"Well maybe we can help send a message…" Ipsen began
"I don't want your help!" Ambition stormed making for the door. The Terran army followed him, all except Courage.
"I'm sorry about that." He began
"Don't be sorry." Ipsen told him, "It is how I would have most likely reacted in his situation."
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Ambition faced the army as they reached the room they were put in once more. For the first time since they arrived they were truely alone, no guards were posted around them or nearby.
"We must destroy this castle and return home." He muttered.
"But how? They won't let us leave! They have guards and weapons, we can't win them."
"We possess something they don't, magic."
"But we don't know how to use it! How are we going to learn?" Ambition just smiled.
"Courage said the King used magic to heal that woman. I'm going to make him tell me."
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Marie followed Ipsen as he entered the entered the streets.
"How did it go? Was it boring?"
"…Not a word I would use to describe that meeting."
"Did something bad happen?"
"You could say that…Marie, do you miss your father?"
"Very much." She said quietly tears filling her young eyes.
"…You like Courage as a person don't you?"
"He's friendly, I like him. He spared me and my mother."
"…What if you knew that he had done something awful to you, would you forgive him?"
"What do you mean?" Marie asked her small lip quivering.
"Courage was the one to kill your father in Oeilvert. Your father had been leading the men to attack and Courage stabbed him. He…"
"Stop it!" Marie screamed, "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because you need to know. You need to decide how you feel about him."
"How could you do this Ipsen? I hate you! I HATE YOU!" She screamed running off. Those around were muttering and glaring at the young King but he barely cared anymore.
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Ambition found the young King near the top of the tower yet not at the very top as he usually was. He was in a room containing a map of Gaia on the wall. Ambition had been made to go up an old elevator in order to reach it.
"May I help you?" Ipsen asked not yet turning to face him. Candles were lit around the room ad he seemed to be praying.
"What are you doing?" Ambition asked coldly.
"I'm not too sure yet." Ipsen sighed turning to face him. "But I am sure you know why you came here."
"You said the magic is in all our souls, I want you to help me use it."
"You know I can't do that."
"Why? My planet is dying and I want to help!"
"And how would knowing magic do that?"
"We could use it to help the planet more…somehow."
"If you wanted to try and fool me the least you could have done was have thought it through first."
Ambition was never known for his temper, and he wasn't one to have it tested by a young authority figure. He lunged at Ipsen his hands going round the young man's throat.
"Tell me!" He screamed as Ipsen turned a shade of purple. He released him roughly making his body slam into the mosaic world map. The impact caused four tiles on it to fall and break.
"Do you deny me the chance to save my planet."
"You can't save it." Ipsen whispered through his aching throat.
"Liar!" A burst of red shot from his hands, four bursts each hitting the place where the tiles had been moments before. It was only after four shots that Ambition began to realise where the firs had come from and he stared at his hands in amazement.
"Ambition…" Ipsen began.
"So, when you are overwhelmed with a certain emotion it unlocks your power!" He said laughing. He stared at Ipsen with a cold smile. "When I am through with your castle I will be coming for you."
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Henry and his men searched around desperately to learn where the Terrans has vanished to. Only Courage had been found who Ipsen had explained to them was not the threat. Courage had been left to wander as he liked while they searched for the others, but already Henry knew it was useless.
"I won't give up." He muttered, "I will defend the King and this castle with my life."
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Ipsen kneeled before the map, his eyes were closed and his hands pressed firmly together.
"Please don't allow this continent to fall for no reason. I ask you to seal the way back to Terra at the four points Ambition has revealed. Send guardians to protect it so the Terran army can never return to their home. And a guardian here to guard the secret of the seal. Please allow us the chance to protect our planet, let our souls continue to watch over it…"
At his last words four circled keys appeared in the four locations on the map and a voice filled the room…
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Ambition grinned while watching Henry and his men from a distance. His army were almost ready now. Most had mastered the se of magic and were willing to destroy the castle city. All they needed was Courage…
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Ipsen was still in the small room when courage found him.
"My army! They're…" He stopped short at the grim look on the King's face.
"I am aware your army is missing." He said roughly through his aching throat, it's usual cheerful voice was full of weariness and despair.
"But how…you look so…"
"I know." Ipsen interrupted impatiently surprising Courage with his tone. "I am no longer the person who I was."
"…I don't understand."
"I have offered my soul to the God's, the ones that watch over this planet. Soon I will have my life ended and will serve them by watching over the planet."
"What about your peace?"
"I will find no peace now, not until this reign between Terra and Gaia has ended once and for all."
"…But that might never end, not until Terra dies completely. That's thousands of years away!"
"Then I guess I will not rest in that time, there will be too much to do in order to keep the Terrans form succeeding."
"You shouldn't have to do that, you already had to drift for so long."
"I was suppose to protect this continent and I have failed. Now all I can do is watch as the Terran army kill my people. I can no longer help them, it was part of the deal to offer my soul, in failure."
"But why? You could have saved them still."
"No one can save them now. Ambition has learnt how to use magic because of me and now all of the army will have mastered it too. Nothing can save them now. I have failed them."
"That wasn't your fault! You didn't know this would happen!"
"For so long I had felt something like this would happen. Still I hadn't believed I could change it."
"But you can't sacrifice you soul! You could be kept working for them for all eternity!"
"Nothing I don't deserve. Once I die I will serve them as many others will that I must recruit. All will be through their actions…
"One through failure
One through betrayal
One through reason
One through love
One through forgiveness
One through loyalty
One through duty
One through friendship
One through revenge
One through honour
One through uncertainty
One through protection
One through humility
And one through ignorance."
"…But when we these be chosen?"
"They are already chosen, but will begin their destiny at different times. Some will today, the others over the next few thousand years before the true war will begin."
"The true war? Against Terra and Gaia?"
"That's one of the battles, although by then Terra will have another ally. One that can cause endless oblivion."
"Who?"
"That doesn't matter yet. First it will be because of your son that this will be able to happen."
"My son? Reason?"
"In fifthteen years time the Terrans will die, but he will create something which will one day revive them. He will be responsible for the rising of it."
"It?"
"This does not concern you…yet. It will be your son's fight to stop it, to prevent his creations from destroying Gaia."
"But what if he fails? What if he doesn't want to save Gaia?"
"They'll be another to guide him. Two in fact, his sister and genome soul."
"You mean my baby?"
"Yes, only her and the genome can help him."
"Genome?"
"Never mind that, you will learn of it one day."
"…Did they tell you this?"
"Yes," Ipsen sighed, "These are my instructions, I must find those destined to protect this planet, ones who will delay their eternal peace for the cause. They will be rewarded with rest when they are not in service and then they will be able to rest when it is all over."
"What about you? Will you get to rest or will you live every moment of those few thousand years?"
"I am the one who will find them and wake them when they are needed. I must stay between eternal rest."
"But that's torture!"
"Nothing I don't deserve for failing my people."
"…So when you die you will serve them with no way out of it?"
"Yes."
"Then I will find a way to stop you dying." Ipsen laughed at that. "Believe me Ipsen, you don't want to spend thousands of years in tireless existence."
"And is this something you experienced yourself?"
"…My soul was the first created with the new magic ability. That was three thousand years ago."
"It was? But…"
"The planet made me by accident and it took a long time before it realised this may actually save it. Because I was different I was unable to properly join the cycle of souls, so I was forced to wander for thousands of years, still in existence."
"Was it awful?" Ipsen asked sounding so child like.
"Worse than anything you could imagine. I…I don't wish anyone to have a similar fate."
"It's too late for that." Ipsen said with a sad smile. "When I die I'll be theirs."
"Then you must not die. I will find a way like I said before."
"Everything dies eventually, you can't stop that…but there is something I need to request from you."
"Anything."
"Go talk to Marie and tell her what happened to her father."
"Her father?"
"He was the man in charge at Oeilvert. He died under your sword."
"…Why?"
"She needs to know that not all death is done deliberately. She needs to know about it in order to forgive you. Please." A desperate look appeared on the young man's face and there was a shimmer of tears in his eyes.
"I will."
"Thank you." Ipsen bowed as Courage left. Courage just shrugged not realising it was the last time he would see the young King.
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Marie had fled to her father's crumbling house unable to pause her tears. Loving memories of her father played in her mind and she could feel a cold emptied inside her. Them she pictured Ipsen revealing who her father's killer was and her whole body began to shake with anger.
Why did he have to tell her? Why did he have to hurt her like that? He had saved her mother and she loved him because of it, but why did he need to take her love and instead make her feel like this?
"I thought you might be here." The very sound of the voice made Marie fill with anger and an overwhelming helplessness all at once.
"What do you want? Do you wish to kill me too?"
"if I did I wouldn't have let you live before Marie." Courage said quietly. "I didn't mean to kill him."
"Yes you did, you killed all of them there!"
"Yes we did kill, and back then we thought it was necessary. I see it different now thanks to Ipsen."
"Ipsen." Marie stammered with a heavy heart. "He doesn't care about m…anyone anymore."
"That's not true! He is willing to sacrifice everything for his people. I don't know why he told you, but I do know if he felt you needed to know then you must."
"Or maybe he just hates me."
"Why would he hate you?"
"…Because I always bother him when he needs to work."
"Trust me Marie, I think he is glad you do."
"…So why are you here anyway?" Marie asked finally.
"To tell you what happened, the you can know the truth instead of wandering for the rest of your life."
"…Okay." She said weakly, Courage smiled and sat beside her.
"Your father was in charge of the army at Oeilvert. We could tell that because pf the green suit he wore. So I told my men to capture him for negotiations later one. But your father would not have it, he would not become the downfall for the continent when we would use him to get past your defences. So instead he grabbed his sword and charged at me…he was too angry to aim properly and it was easy enough to block him and…" He couldn't finish, but he knew Marie got the idea.
"…Daddy was always like that. He said he would rather die than risk harm to any of his fellow people."
"I'm sorry I was the one to end his life. He was…a man I would have been honoured to know."
"Thank you." Marie sobbed. Courage began to put a hesitant hand around her shoulder but stopped midair. He smiled weakly before turning to leave. He was almost out of the door when he heard a mall mutter of,
"I forgive you…"
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"The seal has been set." Ipsen muttered placing the pieces back on the map. "Only with these keys will the gateway of Terra be opened. They can no longer use their teleport to come here…It is all I can do now."
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Once Courage had left the old house he hadn't walked for half a minute before he was grabbed from behind and led to another crumbling house.
"What the..?" He began.
"Sorry sir," Ambition grinned. "We needed to get you somehow."
"What do you think you are doing running off?"
"We can all do magic now sir! We can slaughter the Gaians!"
"No! we don't need to kill them!" Courage burst. The smiled faded from his men's faces.
"What?"
"They don't want to hurt us! We can negotiate with them."
"…You have been effected by that Ipsen's magic. You are not yourself."
"I am myself! Ipsen is a good King and we can bargain with him!"
"Don't worry Courage, we will end all their life's and then you will be yourself again."
"N…" But he was hit over the back of the head with a sword butt before another word could escape him. The army looked uneasy but determined.
"You see? We must kill them in order for our leader to recover! Then we will return home and be heros!"
The men cheered with insane glints spreading within their eyes. They all did test fireballs before exiting the building towards the castle.
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Henry stood waiting as the Terran army came charging towards the castle. His men and he stood at the bottom of the stairs ready for them. Henry shivered with fear knowing that this was all they could do.
"Remember." He told his men firmly. "You serve the King to protect our people, and even if you day today you will prove your loyalty to the King. It has been an honour serving with all of you." His men cheered whole heartedly raising their weapons high and waiting as the Terrans drew nearer, fireballs being released…
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Marie had watched the army head towards the castle with terror running through her. However she saw that Ambition had headed towards the place Courage had last come from wanting to be aware of his purpose for bring there. Marie gasped weakly as the door swung open.
"Ah, so Courage was with you." He grinned moving further into the house. Mrie backed away near to the stairs. "I guess he was missing his son so he was using you as a substitute."
"Leave me alone!" Marie cried starting to climb the stairs, his words were foreign to her and she could only see the mad look in his eyes.
Ambition smiled coldly as he watched struggle up the stairs. He lifted his hand and shot a fireball at the stairs causing them to collapse. The last he saw of Marie was her falling with the remains, her scream cut off suddenly as she hit the ground.
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Already after the first round of magic half of Henry's men were dead. He brought down two Terrans and dodged a fireball. It had barely started and already it was ending. He swung around to slash a Terran when he was hit from behind.
I tried Ipsen he thought before his world was invaded by darkness and he knew no more.
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Ipsen watched from the top of his tower as the Terrans slaughtered his people. More than anything he wished he could go down and help. But the Gods had claimed him now and they commanded him to stay and wait. Wait for his killer to come…
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Within three hours all the Gaians in the castle were dead. The Terran army remaining gathered in the great hall drinking the wine and eating heartily.
"So where's the King?" One asked, Ambition just grinned.
"He'll be in his little tower. You lot stay and eat while I so and take care of him."
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Courage groaned clutching his throbbing head. He looked around aware that he was still in a house. The dust seemed to have settled around him once again showing he had been unconscious for a while.
Courage stood up wearily causing the dust to scatter into the air. His world began to spin and he was forced to lean heavily on the wall for a few minutes while it balanced out once more. Only he knew in reality that his life was still turned upside down, he could see that the moment he walked through the door.
The town was in ruins as it was before but now the castle which had stood out amongst it all was silent. No noise of children's laughter or people chatter drifted on the stale wind to Courage. Only endless silence found him.
"No." He breathed while feeling the heavy silence. He set off in a sprint with the crunching rubble beneath his feet inhumanly loud in his ears. His ragged breathing was the only thing he dare concentrate on, not what he might find, not that this was all his doing…
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Never would Courage be able to bring himself to describe such a place. However the image of the castle was one to stay in his memory forever.
The sun had retreated it's golden rays from the darkened sky leaving only shadows and an unwanted chill running through the castle. A gentle wind had appeared when the light had vanished, carrying the scent of burnt flesh and blood through the air.
Courage didn't dare look at the fallen on the ground, he knew he wouldn't have the stomach for it. More than once he stumbled on a lump of flesh causing his breath to catch in his throat. This was beyond inhuman.
He approached the centre of the town in a traumatised state no longer able to see those laying on the ground as once being people.
"Sir!" A Terran called eagerly, the drunken army moved towards their approaching leader.
"We've done it sir! We have taken the continent! Soon Ipsen's magic will be undone and you will be you normal self!"
"He's not dead?" Courage asked.
"Not yet, but Ambition is just about to kill him! Any moment now."
"No!" Courage yelled a new kind of adrenaline pumping through him. "I can't let him die, they will take his soul!"
"…Sir, you should clam down, you're glowing.."
"I won't let Ambition kill him!"
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Ipsen heard him approach from behind and he smiled weakly.
"Have you come to end me?" He asked quietly.
"Nothing you don't deserve!"
"So I deserve to die for telling you the truth?"
"You deserve to die because you won't let us save our planet!"
"You cannot save it, no matter whether you warn them or not. It will die."
"And how would you know this?"
"I know a lot about your planet." This caused Ambition to smirk.
"Yes I know that. I knew it when I discovered the other big city was named sanctuary in Terran." Ipsen smiled slightly when hearing the word 'Oeilvert' used as its real meaning, sanctuary."
"It just seemed to fit when my father asked me what I wanted it to be called. It was meant to protect the people within its walls. But I knew before you came it would fail."
"Hah! So you knew they would die? Yet you let the men stay?"
"It was the only way they would have an honourable death. It is what they wanted."
"How would you know? Did you ask them?" Ambition spat.
"I just know these sort of things."
"Sure you do! Truth is you sent them to die for no reason! That's why you can't stand yourself! It's why you don't have any paintings of yourself with the other Kings in the hall. But don't worry you highness, I disposed of them all and that rather fancy chandelier."
"yes, I knew they would die, knew it was how they would have wanted to go. But still I didn't want it. I wanted to be able to save them like a King should. But I failed, as I was always destined to. As I have always known I would. That is why no painting hung with the others." Ipsen said quietly turning to face the Terran with a rare look of pure defiance. "But at least I will be able to ensure the fall of Terra once and for all!"
"Not if you are dead!" Ambition cried releasing his fireball. Ipsen closed his eyes bowing his head slightly as he waited for it to hit.
I am yours now.
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The bodies of the Terran army littered the floor around him, Courage cried out in shock. He had let the magic overcome him and this had been the result. The first Ultima spell had been unleashed.
Courage gazed at his hands in chock unable to believe what he had just done. He knew now he could never return home, he had betrayed his own people.
"Ipsen…" He recalled vaguely and headed for the tower.
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Ambition stood over the body of King Ipsen a full smile on his lips.
"Now you will know in your afterlife never to interfere with Terra again!" He shouted spitting on the body. He kicked at it giggling happily.
"…What have you done?" Came a strained whisper from behind him. Ambition turned and grinned at Courage.
"It is over. He is dead and his enchantments with him. I have freed you sir!"
"…You cannot begin to understand what you have done."
"I have released you!"
"You have condemned Terra to destruction!"
"I have saved Terra! We can return and warn them!"
"We cannot return! Ipsen prayed to the Gaian Gods in order to seal the way to Terra. We can never return with just the two of us!"
"…What do you mean two?"
"The others are dead. I killed them."
"You killed them!"
"It was an accident, emotion overtook me and the magic was very powerful."
"…You traitor!"
"You are the traitor! You have condemned Ipsen to an eternity of suffering. He will recruit fourteen souls to help him crush Terra! You have begun the end of Terra!"
"Liar! I have saved Terra! Ipsen is dead!"
"He may be dead but his soul is not, he will be ready at the final battle and he will win."
"You are not enchanted! You are just a traitor! I will not allow you to say such things!" Ambition cried shooting off a fireball. Courage formed a reflective barrier around himself causing the fireball to backfire. Ambition's body fell to the ground.
A heavy silence descended upon the castle, upon the entire continent. No living creature stirred except Courage, more alone than he ever thought possible. He shoved Ambition's body out of the way and his gaze set upon the fallen King. The left side of his body was burnt badly and it made Courage almost sick at the smell of burnt flesh. Tears welled up in his eyes as he saw the unusual peaceful look on Ipsen's face.
"I'm sorry." He whispered bowing his head. He forced away the tears and stood heading down the tower to the room with the map in. Courage studied it carefully while his mind wandered to his family. His beautiful wife he would never be able to see again, to hold or hear her whisper softly to him. He would never be able to see his son grow up, never see him try and save Terra as Foresight had predicted. He would never be able to meet his daughter.
"God of Gaia, I know you can hear me. I…I wish to offer you my soul." Silence followed the offer and it was a good ten minutes before Courage heard an all consuming voice speak in his head.
"You are a Terran soul. Why offer your service to us?"
"Because it is the least I can do. Ipsen sacrificed everything he is to protect this planet. The least I can do is offer my services as one of his chosen."
"The eidolons have already been chosen, over the next thousand years they will be revealed. Three have already agreed to protect the planet."
"Three? Who?"
"One through failure, one through forgiveness and one through loyalty."
"Failure? That's Ipsen right?"
"He is the leader of them, yes."
"Frogiveness?" Courage muttered pondering over who it could be. Then he heard Marie's words in his mind.
" I forgive you"
"Marie is one? But she's so young."
"Her soul has accepted her fate and she has agreed to help. Her spirit is inexperienced but it has emotional power within it required in order to become an eidolon."
"One through loyalty? Who's that?"
"The man closet to the first eidolon has proved his loyalty to him and agreed to be one of those who protect the planet."
"Henry?"
"That was his name."
"So all the eidolons have been chosen even though some have lived yet?"
"Yes."
"So even though I offer my soul you will not allow me to protect the planet."
"You are the next eidolon."
"…I am?"
"You have offered you services to us. You proved yourself through betrayal. You are the first to use the powerful Ultima spell. Your power will be used to protect the descendants of the royal family when you are needed."
"So I am to die now?"
"…Yes, all you must do is accept your task and then you will die."
Courage hesitated taking the moment to think of his family. How he would miss them."…I accept."
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The castle and the ruins surrounding it were engulfed in a bright light. The light grew like a small explosive force but it was concealed to the crater's edge. As the light faded the castle was changed. the ruins surrounding it were gone as were the bodies of both the Terrans and the Gaians. The castle itself changed, symbolising how the magic would soon turn Gaia's way of life completely upside down…