The familiar scent struck Daena in a way that made her feel dizzy. A scent she knew but had almost forgotten about. A scent of burned wood, thyme and late autumn leaves. She took a deep breath, the sound of her heartbeat drumming in her ears as she came face to face with the one she searched for.

He appeared to be waiting for her. He had grown tall and quite robust since the last time she saw him. His presence had also grown more menacing.

"It's been a long time, hasn't it, Daena?" The Demon broke the tension.

His voice was deep, filled with authority, but Daena refused to cower. "You look all grown up and demonic, Irwin." She gazed her surroundings, before sizing him up. "What are you up to, big guy? You've got all the Faeries on your side."

She couldn't help but notice his arrogant smirk. "Hmm, let's see… What am I capable of doing?"

The feline closed a fist in anger. "Just answer my question. Say it! What are you going to do to Matilda?" Daena looked away, suddenly not being able to look the Daemon in the eye. "She's been aging too rapidly since she collapsed in the mines! Escad says it's because you took her elemental powers. You are taking away my friend…" Once again, she stared him down, only this time, her gaze was filled with hatred. "…and I can't do anything about it!"

Had Daena blinked, she would probably have missed the very subtle change in Irwin's expression – one of almost understanding of her pain. For that split second, she saw the Demon who had once been her friend. But the Demon staring her down was a cold, indifferent and emotionless one.

"Well, that's too bad." Was all he replied.

Her many years of training and meditation, could never had prepared her for such a cold answer, Daena lost control of her rage. "Oh, shut up! Give her back the elemental powers you've stolen!"

The feline sprung forward, ready to fight the answers out of the Demon.

X

They were at an intersection; Rhea knew they had already lost precious time and were stumbling on their path with absolutely no direction of where Daena had gone.

Elazul kneeled down, carefully scanning the ground. "I see a few broken twigs in that direction."

"Daena has been here for a while, you and me have walked these paths as well, and let's not forget the monsters living here." The two-bladed warrior was in a bad mood.

The Jumi rose, crossing his arms. "There is a way for us to be sure." He eyed his partner. "Are you willing to be a little rough around the edges?"

Rhea took a look around, not quite understanding the Jumi's idea. "If it's to save Daena, then I am willing to do anything."

"I knew you'd answer that." Elazul approached her.

The Jumi stood in front of her, impossibly close and leaned in. Rhea held her breath, fortunately realizing rather quickly that the Jumi leaned in to her ear as to not have his plan overheard. She listened carefully, at the same time realizing how stupid she was for ever considering the idea that Elazul was about to kiss her out of nowhere.

Elazul's plan was a very simple pincer attack on a noisy Faerie who had been watching them. The small being was caught, a tight grip on her wings by Elazul.

"Y-you stupid Human and Jumi!" The Faerie spat. "Let go of me!"

"Tell us where Daena is." Rhea begun.

The Faerie shot her an angered look. "Who?!"

Rhea was not having it. "My feline friend who came here looking for your master, Irwin." She pointed the sharp tip of her blade at the Faerie. "I'm getting very tired of your mischiefs. You either tell us, or I'm cutting both your wings off."

The Faerie's already big eyes widened even more. She understood the treat as the two-bladed warrior was not playing around. It still took her a moment to consider her betrayal of her master and if her loyalty was worth her wings. The Faerie realized her sisters were not around, something that made her decision a bit easier to make. She pointed the warriors in the right direction to her master.

Elazul dropped the Faerie and both rushed up the path. As they ran closer to their mark, they could hear the sound of a battle taking place. Daena was fighting Irwin, Rhea could feel it. A painful screech followed by a body falling, made her run even faster.

X

Irwin eyed Daena's injured body. The stubborn monk still struggling to get up. He had enough of that.

"Go back and tell Matilda. You will see that it was only a dream when everything comes to an end."

Daena had a swollen eye and was having a hard time watching the Demon walking away from her. "Is… is he invisible?"

She heard footsteps running towards her. She still managed to smile, knowing who it was. But she couldn't allow Rhea to interfere, she had to go further. Daena struggled to her feet, in front of her, she saw Irwin disappear in the middle of a Faerie circle.

"No! I won't be able to make it!" She panicked.

With all her strength left, Daena rushed to the Faeries as they came in closer and began to teleport her. In the distance, she saw Rhea and Elazul running for her, she saw the worry in them. She smiled.

"Daena!" Rhea shouted.

"Thank you."

Daena's words echoed, as her and the Faeries disappeared from sight.

"Damn it! I was too late!" Rhea yelled in pure frustration.

X

The Priestess had been just as surprised to see the Jumi Knight as he had regarding her physical condition. There were some common greeting words exchanged, but neither felt comfortable in their situation.

"Did you find anything about Daena?" Matilda ended up asking, though, she had already puzzled most of the story together.

"She went to Lake Kilma in search of Irwin, just as you had suspected. She found a way to enter the land of Faeries in order to confront him. She went through the portal before Rhea could stop her."

Elazul had the feeling she wanted to get up, but either lost her strength or wanted to disguise her excitement upon hearing the Demon's name.

"She went to the land of Faeries? Does that mean Irwin is there, too? No, I should not ask you anymore. Thank you."

It surprised him; it really did. He was far from an emotion expert, but even he – a Jumi – felt surprised to see how little worried Matilda was for her friend. A friend who had gotten herself in danger in order to protect her. A friend, from what he gathered, had been there for her since they were children. Was love truly that powerful? Or was it making Matilda blind to the obvious danger? This story oddly intrigued him greatly.

"… I used to see Faeries very often myself." There must have been an uncomfortable silence in the air, as Elazul's mind wondered. "But Escad could not, so he used to make faces when I was speaking with them." The Priestess smiled. "We were talking about that when he was here just now. He says he can somewhat see them now. Perhaps they still live around here."

"You seem to be thinking back to more nostalgic times. I'll let you be. Rest assured Rhea will not give up until she finds Daena."

Elazul left, and Matilda was engulfed in her ever so familiar silence and solitude. She faced her ceiling, every line and crack memorized long ago. Her hands covered her eyes and she cried.

Why did the world had to complicate such simple things? She only wanted to be with the one she loved, her friends by her side supporting her, she did not want her freedom to be taken – a life bound by rules. Why had she been cursed for trying to escape a fate not chosen?

"Matilda."

The ethereal voice startled her. Rubbing her tears away, she saw a being floating down from her ceiling towards her.

"Who might you be?"

The being, dressed in good silk clothes, hovered above her head. She saw a hint of surprise in his face.

"We haven't seen each other for quite some time, Matilda." He studied her face, seeing the same confusion and a struggle to remember. "Don't you remember me? My name is Selva."

The Priestess eyes widened. "Selva of the Four Winds? One of the Wisdoms?"

"Yes, I used to visit you when you were an infant. And I know you well."

Only when Matilda exhaled and her body relaxed, did she realize how tense she was. "Then you know about how Irwin took away my elemental powers?"

The Wisdom nodded. "Yes, I do. When an era is about to end, anything can happen."

Once again, Matilda's eyes widened. Her head struggling to see the Wisdom above. "The era's end? You can foresee the future, sir? What will happen to Irwin and Escad?"

The Wisdom noticed how Escad's name was added at the last second, and no mention of Daena. But that was not something for him to judge. Her decisions, her consequences. "The future is decided by those who will walk its path. You, Daena, Escad, Irwin, Elazul, Pearl, Larc, Sierra…"

"…And Rhea?" Matilda completed.

The Wisdom smiled, satisfied the Priestess powers hadn't abandoned her completely. "You thought so, too? I wanted to hear that."

The Priestess pulled a face. "I know what she is. I certainly doubt she has revealed it to anyone yet, but there is no mistaking it. Mana flows around her as naturally as she breathes. Oh, but I cannot say anything about what the Wisdoms have decided!"

Selva was impressed, still there was so much more than just what she was. "Olbohn the Warrior, Gaeus the Earth, Rosiotti the Beast, Tote the Tortoise, Pokiehl the Bird, & Selva of the Four Winds." He hovered to where she could take a good look at him. "You shall become the seventh member of the Wisdoms."

Matilda turned away, feeling not as honored by the invitation as she should've been. "Why choose me?"

"You are the one who will end this era."

"… Yes, my selfishness has caused chaos. I… loved Irwin." She faced the Wisdom straight in his droopy eyes. "Please allow me to die this way. It is for the world."

Selva frowned. "Matilda, you are allowed to love anyone you want. People fear to see the shadow they make themselves. But there is no such thing as shadows. You understand, don't you?"

"… All my life I've only seen the shadows."

"See only the future. The guilt you feel only locks your heart." Selva commanded the winds to part the clouds above in the sky. The sun shined once again, its light falling down from Matilda's ceiling and enlightening her chamber. "Open your heart, Matilda. Forgive yourself." Matilda held in her grief, tears gathering at the base of her eyes. "People will become free."

X

Elazul walked outside, Rhea waiting for him leaning against the temple wall. Arms folded, head tilted down, thoughtful – and angry.

"I understand why you didn't want to see her." He said, not looking in her direction.

The two-bladed warrior dropped her arms. "It's all about Irwin, isn't it?" The Jumi said nothing, but nodded. Rhea sighed, pushing herself away from the wall and down the slope. "Let's get the twins and Pearl and go home. You can rest at the house tonight and start fresh in the morning."

The Knight watched her move away from the temple, he had a feeling she wouldn't want anything to do with Gato in the near future. Not until Daena returned. "What will you do?"

Rhea held her pace. It took her a moment, but she faced him, lavender eyes more determined than ever. "I'm putting an end to this tale."

A/N: I know it took me a while to get this chapter out, but I'm actually having fun with this story again! I'm determined to at least have the Faerie arc written and closed, no matter how long it takes.