Chapter 1- Promises Made
Time heals all wounds, but the process brings pain from the waiting. Elena knows of this pain all too well. A year has passed since the end of the war of Darkness. The people have moved on, the world has healed, but her heart feels an emptiness nonetheless. Thinking to herself Elena remembers the point when this emptiness came to be, the day Ryudo left on his journey. "You left so suddenly, without telling me why. I could only hold my faith in the bond between us, that you would return. But what if something had happened to you, an accident, temptations, or just growing tired of myself." These thought plagued her everyday, yet she managed to continue her songs undaunted. "I will make everyone happy, that is my joy and my reason for living. Yet, you gave me something else to live for, myself, my own happiness. What makes me happy and gives me more joy than my singing; you do, Ryudo." As she retires for the night, one thing remains on her mind, one question she wishes answered, "Will he come back to me?" She questions her thoughts, "Yes, you will return to us, to me. I have faith that you will, and I promise to never lose that faith, Ryudo."
Across the land somewhere unknown to others, Ryudo kneels beneath a tree upon a hill. Here he has lain to rest the sword of light, the sword of the people, the sword of the heart. "Goodbye, Granasaber" he states, paying his respects to the blade that clove the darkness from the world. This is the journey he had left on, the quest to end his life as a Geohound. As much as it pained him to end this purpose in his life, he had to do it, for he now had a new purpose, a new reason to live. "If I could not end my desire to use the sword, I would not be worthy to be with you. Where are you now I wonder? Are you safe, or are you in pain? Will you have moved on after my departure, or will you be waiting for me? Either way, I am coming back, my duty is fulfilled and I have a promise to keep. The promise I made to you that day long ago." In his mind, Ryudo remembers the warmth he felt as he held Elena in his arms. "Please...share your strength with me." And he did, he held her close to his heart, keeping her safe and giving her comfort. Sealed with a kiss, he made an oath "I promise, I'll definitely be back." While this had meant his promise to return from the trial of his heart, it now held deeper meaning. "Elena, I'll be back soon." And with those words Ryudo descends the incline as a golden sun sets amidst the purple sky of twilight.
