Both Are Infinite: Book One

by Thiriel

Almost a year!!!!! BRI Book I has finally been finished =) Thousand thanks to all my supporters! Hope you continue to read the sequel, and get more people to read Book I!

4. Soul of My Soul

Gaea Regained Hi again! Wow, I received some really generous reviews! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I can't believe people actually enjoyed my writing. This just makes my day ^_^ What I hope for right now is a wider readership, so please, please spread the word and tell your fellow esca. lovers about "Both are Infinite"! When I receive 100 reviews, I'm gonna open a bottle of champagne! Btw, in case you don't know, I posted a series of poems to promote the story – some of the poems you have already read in the chapters but I've also included some new ones which won't be in the story. Check those out, if you like love poems. This following chapter is really long and it's slow in the beginning, but I promise many nice romantic moments, so enjoy. Don't forget to tell me what you think!

IV. Soul of my Soul

1 Meanwhile

We two will rise, and sit, and walk together,

Under the roof of blue Ionian weather,

And wander in the meadows, or ascend

The mossy mountains, where the blue heavens bend

With lightest winds, to touch their paramour;

Or linger, where the pebble-paven shore,

Under the quick, faint kisses of the sea

Trembles and sparkles as with ecstasy, -

Possessing and possessed by all that is

Within that calm circumference of bliss,

And by each other, till to love and live

Be one…

Percy Bysshe Shelley, Epipsychidion

The central star of Orion's Belt, Alnilam, lies about 2000 light years from Earth and burns 30,000 times brighter than our sun. It is a young blue supergiant star, the largest compared to Alnitak and Mintaka, the other two stars of the belt. Near Alnitak is the fascinating Horsehead nebula, consisting of dense, cold clouds of gas too opaque for light to pass through. Above the belt, lying at 400 light years from Earth, is the red supergiant star, Betelgeuse, with a luminosity of 10,000 suns. Betelgeuse and Bellatrix together form the "shoulder" of Orion. Diagonal from Betelgeuse, south of the belt is the blue supergiant Rigel, with the light of 40,000 suns. Betelgeuse and Rigel are two of the brightest points in the winter sky.

A little below the belt is Orion's sword. Near the middle of the sword lies a swarm of stars, embedded in a gossamer haze. All around the trapezium formed by these stars are twisted skeins of bright gas mottled with patches of dark dust. This is the Orion Nebula, the night jewel. Through the telescope, it appears as a fabulously detailed tumult of ghostly traceries and pinpoint stars. In the middle are two vast ocean- green clouds forming gigantic wings, reminiscent of Alcyone.

In Greek mythology, Orion was a giant and a hunter, born of Poseidon. He loved Merope, princess of Chios, but her father, King Oenopion, opposed their love and blinded Orion as a punishment. Orion sought the help of Hephaestus who gave him Kedalion, a guide who took him to the sun god, and his sight was restored by the dawn. Afterwards, he lived with Artemis on Crete. Eventually, Apollo grew jealous and devised a plan in which Artemis accidentally killed Orion. Bewailing his death, she placed him among the immortal stars.

"Orion", or "Sahu" in ancient Egyptian, originally meant "Union of Three".

……….

Sunpillars are naturally possible – Hitomi knew this. At either dawn or dusk, whenever the faint sunlight reflects off a distant ice crystal at a certain angle, a pillar of light will emit from the sun disc and tower towards the heavens. What she didn't know and thought she would never know, was why there were these unnatural sunpillars, such as the one that first transported her and Van to Gaea five years ago.

She winced a little and tried to sit up. Her arm was cut during the fall. The pillar had been so turbulent this time. Yet like Atlantis, it remains elusive. In sudden daunt and disappointment, she was strangely reminded of how she, in spite of all her visions and dowsing, had never really figured out why or how the pillar of light occurred. It is surely beyond Van and her; it transported them, bound them as if it were a god. Nor did she ever clarify whether Dornkirk was Isaac Newton. Ever if he were, why would the scientist who studied gravity and the solar spectrum be tied with Atlantis?

The cloud of confusion so shadowed her fragile being that she scarce had energy or time to realize her surrounding until the wound stung her senses once again. She struggled up and insipidly observed the forest clearing she was in. The bird songs and light wind seemed so unfamiliarly peaceful that she was somehow haunted by them. An extraordinary aura was present in the place, like an invisible and completely foreign deity, and she shuddered in its presence. One can never be used to the unknown, no matter how often it appears. This was not Gaea. She glanced up at the sky through the small clearing. It was so brilliantly sapphire, more like a painting than a work of nature. No Earth was in sight.

She crossed her legs and sat hunchbacked, with her left hand pressing the oozing wound on her right forearm. Her carry-on backpack had been transported with her, so she used it as a pedestal to lean against. She had no knowledge of how she was hurt, of where she was, of what happened on the plane. Nothing appeared on the tabula rasa of her mind, no clue, no word, and not even an emotion, for everything had been so colossal that it belonged to an emotion never before named by humans. Bereft of substance, she filled the void with tears.

The illimitable spirit of the human heart that she used to live by and had taught to others, was certainly murdered – if a great spirit can die. She was unsure whether the tears were for herself, her family, humanity, or maybe Van – for being a mere imaginary character created by a desperate mind. He had receded into the chamber of antenatal dreams, and she marvelled at how she ever had the imagination to create such an animated world called Gaea.

But now, assuming her perception was intact, she was in a foreign land for real. Courage was of no consequence, neither was belief. She still remembered how her grandmother, and even Folken, had declared – so naively it now seems – that it will be all right, if she believes. Would there were someone to say it now! She immediately scolded herself for weakness and dependence upon others. There wasn't Van, Allen, her father; there was just her, and Death. With incredible slowness she staggered up but her knees failed her and she collapsed again. For some time, she just sat, weeping or groaning once in a while. Eventually she decided she'd better go find shelter before dark, so she attempted to stand up. However, weakness of mind could not produce strength of body, so she began to fall. Just before she hit the ground, a pair of strong hands caught her from behind and helped her up gently.

Without looking up at him, she began to cry convulsively.

"Hitomi, hey, what's the matter?" he embraced her with his Atlantean arms, and surrounded her with his strength, as he had always done.

She clutched him with shivering hands and gasped upon confirming how tangible, how real he felt. His hands ran up and down her back, and her senses proved it wasn't just wind brushing her. He smelled like fresh fields of grass. "I'm so, so sorry, Van. Please forgive me."

"What? It's not your fault we're here. We'll figure this out, don't worry."

"No," she pulled away a bit so she could see his face. "I…I…thought you were…not real."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

She slipped out of his arms and went to sit beneath a tree. He followed. "Remember the Numen. Well, after I was taken, I was in a coma for two months. When I woke up, you weren't there anymore, so I thought everything had been a dream. I just…" At this point, the thought of her family flooded in and she buried her face in her hands and sobbed. For her, those weren't tears, but drops of blood.

"Hitomi!" he supported her by the shoulders. While she was on Gaea, it was her undying and unconquerable faith that emancipated him from his fears and limitations. His world had been the pendant hanging from her neck. Can the tower on which all depended really collapse? Awkward and agitated, Van did not know what to do except wait for her to speak. His mind did not even have room to process the immeasurable event of meeting her again.

After certain frozenness, she disclosed everything. Silence followed, as Van tried to fight off her war for her. But he couldn't because it already became a part of her. He was chilled by the realization that she had become just like him: stained, shattered, stormed, asking for really so little. The birds and flowers were cruelly indifferent to their suffering.

"Hitomi," he secured his hands on her shoulders, turned her towards him and welded his eyes into hers. "Look, I understand your pain. Escaflowne knows your pain. So do Allen, Orion, Merle and thousands of others. You're never alone. When I think of my parents, of Folken and Balgus, I know that the pain will never go away. Their death is yours too, but you can't run away, can't break apart, and can't barricade your own soul. You must be great – you taught me that." The withdrawn and sulky Van just burst forth in a glorious torrent of expression.

Her tremour was soothed. She gazed at him, towards that face which, like an angel's, extolled the Hope of all Hopes. "I'm so scared, Van. All the nightmares are recurring. What am I to do from now on?"

"Nothing and everything – if you remember that greatness is both behind and before you. We'll find a way out together."

For the moment, tragedy seemed surmountable, so she smiled ambivalently at it. "You're so different now, Van," she said as she placed her arms around his neck, "Different but real." Nothing could ever be more real.

He reached out to hold her, but noticed her wound. He was surprised that he did not see it before and that she did not mention it. "Hitomi, you're bleeding!" Before she could respond, he had already begun to press his handkerchief on the wound to stop the bleeding. "What happened?"

"I must have been cut during the fall."

"Yeah? The light was fast and violent this time. I was taken up by my feet and nearly dropped on my head! I fell not far from here, and then I heard someone crying. I followed the sound and found you. I can't describe…" he lifted off the cloth and they both became dumbfounded with daunt.

"What the…" the cloth and his hand were soaked in blood, but there was no cut on her arm.

"It disappeared. Van, what did you…"

"I didn't do anything. It's not like I know magic."

"It wasn't me."

"No," he stood up, "It's this place," he announced grimly and inspected their surrounding with suspicion.

"You feel it too? Something doesn't feel right or…familiar. Actually, it feels rather…nice."

He peered again at the trees, grass and sky. "Too nice. C'mon," he held out his hand and pulled her up, keeping his arm around her as they walked out into the woods, hoping to find a path.

A breeze danced around them, invisible and ineffable, born out of the same nature as the rustling of wings heard by hopeful Love in the depth of dreams. Van was not frightened or shocked, but curious. For once, he felt he could re-experience the vision of the child and observe the world with wonder. This was what exploring the Fanelian forest with his brother felt like.

Hitomi allowed herself to lean wholly on him and she smiled girlishly upon realizing how prosperous, fortunate and queenly she felt to be thus protected. While she was drunk in the ecstasy of the moment, Van observed how the abundant woods became sparser. This was a sign that they were approaching the edge of the forest. He marvelled at how the sturdy young trees rose obelisk-like into the glowing energist that was the Ionian sky. The blades of grass undulated with the wind along the foot of the trees, and their green feathers were starred with golden sunlight. When he looked forward, the grass flowed into plains and hills of swaying emerald, leading and extending the Way of Nature.

"Wow, it's so beautiful here. Have you ever seen anything like it?" Hitomi exclaimed and gently slipped out of Van's arms so she could run into the field. She flung open her arms, turned her face towards the zenith and twirled, twirled until she felt intermingled with the sylvan scene around her.

A crescent smile, approaching a laugh, appeared on Van's face. She looked like a sylph, gathering all her airy spirits beneath her butterfly wings. He ran to her and she fell dizzily into his arms. She leaned back and smiled up at him, her eyes recalled a pure, cerulean sky, windswept of the clouds of tragedy. She stroked his cheek with the back of her right hand. Van was startled and became tense and red with embarrassment. His face appeared rustic against the perfect background, she thought, but it was so real, so ravishing, radiating life and virility. Suddenly, her eyes shot passed him to some strange object. Van sighed gladly at being relieved of the attention. However, so intent was her gaze that he had to turn around and see what was behind him. They saw a flock of sheep flowing over the hilltop, and behind them skipped a shepherd.

Van silently gestured for Hitomi to step a little behind him. They cautiously approached the foot of the hill. Amid the calls of the flock, they distinguished the jolly whistles of the shepherd, who was already halfway down the hill.

"Halloo, there!" the shepherd, who had noticed them for some time, hollered out. Van still walked over slowly, but when the man suddenly ran down towards them, he halted, and Hitomi bumped into him from behind. The three stood in awkward silence, interrupted only by the bleating of the sheep.

"Ha, Ha, Ha!" the man laughed suddenly. Van was alerted. "From the looks of yous, methinks you be outsiders."

"So what if we are," Van responded sternly, but not without astonishment at the fact that he not only understood the man but spoke his language as if it were his mother tongue.

"So nothing." The shepherd shrugged his shoulders and then approached them. Alarmed, Van pulled Hitomi closer and gripped the hilt of his sword. With arms behind his back, the short, stumpy fellow walked around them and examined them from top to bottom, at times frowning or nodding.

Hitomi returned the man's actions with the same fervent marvel and curiosity, whereas Van grew more agitated. Despite the lack of malice or prejudice in the shepherd's manners and countenance, Van despises any examination, especially ones made on his appearance, which he himself takes to be too inconsequential to need any comment or refinement.

Upon the third circle he made, the shepherd poked childishly at Hitomi's backpack. As she was somewhat startled, Van's impatience allowed him no more room, so he hastily unsheathed his sword. "What do you want?" he enunciated roughly.

"Oh, nothing," the shepherd smiled dumbly, "just wanted to see what young lady had. So you do be foreigners. By the by, what be this shiny being?" he pointed eagerly to Van's sword.

"It's…" Van paused in disbelief of the man's ignorance, "a sword."

"Oh, odd title. What's it do?"

"Well, it…" Van glanced at Hitomi who was equally baffled, "it wounds or kills people…for defence."

"But why would you want to do that?" without waiting for a reply, he reached over for the open blade. Before Van could pull the sword back, the shepherd had already ran his bare hand down the sharp side. "No!" Van yelled a minute too late.

As the man lifted off his hand, Hitomi gasped, not because he was injured but because the blade still shone bright silver, with no trail of blood at all. "See," the man flexed his perfect, ample hand, "No hurt. You lie, no being can harm."

As Van and Hitomi stood in incredulity mixed with awe, the man laughed again and said in a full, trumpet-like voice, "Me be Cyprus Varon, shepherd of these hills and valleys. What be your name, lad?"

"I'm…" he lapsed a little, "Van Fanel of Fanelia."

"Ah, so it's Mr. And Mrs. Fanel!"

A pool of mauve immediately flooded over Van's face. "No, she's not…"

"I'm not…" Hitomi blushed coyly and even inched a little away from Van.

Cyprus observed their bashfulness with amusement then chuckled heartily. "Well, it be only a matter of time. A matter of time."

"My name is Hitomi Kanzaki," she finally announced with a smile.

"Ah, so you be from this Fanelia also?"

"No, I'm from Earth."

"Odd titles yous have. Never heard of. Perhaps it be a star and you be star people. Ha, Ha, Ha."

"Well, you could say that. Both Earth and Gaea are planets in the sky, although," she looked up, "you can't see them from here."

"And what be this Gaea?"

"It's the world I came from," Van explained, calmly now. "Fanelia is my country. There are many others."

"Coun-try, Hmmm…" Cyprus frowned pensively, "no understand. But, no matter, we've time to talk. Now, let Cyprus be first to welcome yous to Serenus!"

"Serenus?" Van and Hitomi exclaimed simultaneously. Before they inquired further about a world neither of them knew anything of, Cyprus made another bizarre comment. "Yous know, methinks you'd have beautiful children!"

Hitomi laughed a bit and Van received an image of Valorick and Hermione that made him cough sheepishly. After composing himself, he half- stuttered, "S-so, can you be k-kind enough to show us the way to a v- village, where there's food and shelter?"

"Why, no need!" Cyprus came over and slapped Van on the shoulder, "yous come stay with Cyprus. Cottage be beyond that hill," he pointed to the west that the setting sun illumined gloriously. "Come, come, it be nice."

After beckoning them forward, he led the way, gathering up the grazing sheep and continued with his song. They followed obediently, as if mesmerized by a sublime power, for there is something in the shepherd's rounded figure and dainty walk that suggested radiance within.

A little physical distance developed between Van and Hitomi due to the recent blunder. However, they became inspirited by the immediate splendour of the arcadia. As they climbed on top the hill, over which lay Cyprus's valley and cottage, they beheld the orange disc of the sun skirting the horizon, diffusing a perpetual radiance that shimmered the gently undulating turquoise river. Tiny dots of silver and gold were already revealing their diamond light in the faintly lilac firmament. To the strangers' wonder, these stars of Serenus's heaven were not stationary like the ones above Earth or Gaea, but were literally dancing around. At times they twirled in a cluster, at times they reached over to encircle the sunpillar that was newly born from the dusk. This strange land surpassed all hitherto explored worlds in beauty and magic. At a distance, snow- capped peaks and precipices towered like ancient castles toward some fantastical world, the home of another race of creatures. Van kept his head up during the whole walk, and felt he could cease to venerate all beings save the Omnipotent who has created all good that was here displayed in their full magnificence and poetry. What may not be expected in a land where everything that is, gives eternal light?

Hitomi never thought she'd know awe that elicits no terror, but serenity. Yet while Van's vision did not falter from the scene, she was somewhat reigned back to earth. As she carefully watched her steps while descending the hill, she could not help but feel a poignant and destructive desire to throw herself off the hill and dive away from everything. Seeing the pensive and ecstatic Van, and the jolly shepherd, she refrained from disclosing her woes, and instead imprisoned her heart with hellish thoughts that stood in gross juxtaposition to her present environment. She wondered if such beauty prognosticated peace, or if it merely served to delineate and mock her misery.

After arriving at the cottage, which consisted of a main living/eating room, a bedroom and a storage space, Cyprus speedily set to work. He first cleared the dining table and benches, and invited his guests to sit while he heated the stew and removed his necessities to the barn where he was to sleep. The only bedroom has been courteously allotted to his special guests, with all the linens changed and extra pillows added.

Over a simple country dinner by candlelight and open windows, they conversed about the wonders of each other's respective worlds. What haunted Van and Hitomi was the uncertainty of whether it was Cyprus who was ignorant and alien, or they themselves.

The first abnormal thing they noticed upon sitting down to dinner were the gold and silver plates, cutleries and cups. It was baffling to see how a poor, simple shepherd could have the means to obtain such riches, and use them for the most commonplace purpose. During the course of the meal, many fascinating facts were learned about Serenus, all of which Van later recorded briefly in his journal, for the sake of using Serenus as a model society:

"Upon disclosing my status as king, Cyprus stared in confusion and bewilderment, inquiring after the nature of such a position. He subsequently told us that they have absolutely no authorities on Serenus, nor are there any boundaries that distinguish one country from another. Everyone is a big family, and naturally all is treated with equality. He therefore thought my job a futile yet intriguing one. He went on to explain that each person on Serenus, regardless of occupation, obtains living necessities by going to the markets to trade goods. They have no currency whatsoever, no money, only goods. Even precious material like gold or silver are considered to be of the same status as rock or wood, and therefore employed for common household or agricultural purposes. Diamond, being a strong gem, is often used to build hospitals and schools. On a higher plane, Serenus is even more wondrous. When he asked about our homelands, we lamented the war, chaos, hatred, disease, and poverty etc. that so plague mankind. However, Cyprus frowned in child-like perplexity. Hitomi and I were stupefied to learn that he, and all other inhabitants on that planet, have utterly no knowledge of war, doom or even death. After we narrated the occurrences of the Destiny War during which we met, Cyprus laughed amiably at how any creature could contemplate anything other than love and goodness. It seems he has no notion of evil or hate. Pestilence and illness have never contaminated the fair grounds of Serenus. This is why Hitomi's wound was healed miraculously and why my sword did not injure Cyprus. With the total absence of conflict, one does not die until one willingly resigns life with a peaceful state of mind. Otherwise, one remains immortal. Hitomi and I speculated we may be in some dream-land. It all seems so simple, yet I cannot help but sense a mystic aura about the place."

After a long and engaging discourse, during which fruit was served, Cyprus began to entertain his guest with jokes about his beloved sheep, all of which he has named. While Van was not yet unrestrained enough to participate in the freedom of open laughter, Hitomi enjoyed the jokes thoroughly, as if relieved of all previous pains. At times, she'd even wink at Van and nudge him a little to try to get him to laugh. When they were clearing the table, Van suddenly heard the sound of a heavenly melody, floating from somewhere outside. He pulled Hitomi to the window and they listened to the aerial loveliness.

"Those be moonlings," Cyprus interrupted their indulgence.

"Huh? Moonlings?" Hitomi blinked curiously.

"Little things, like fairies, they sing when the moons be full."

"You have fairies here?" her eyes widened in amazement. "Van, isn't it fascinating? They have magical beings!"

"You walk! Look at moonlings!" Cyprus gestured towards the door.

Excitedly, Hitomi grabbed Van's hand and they ran out. On the wide meadow in front of the cottage, glittered small firefly-like things that flew in circles and sang the enchanting serenade that enraptured the soul. Once again, Hitomi dashed out into the open. The moonlings seemed happy to see a friend and danced around her. She began to spin but when she looked up at the sky, she halted.

Van came to her side, and together they stared in awe and terror. Stationary among the moving stars were Earth, hanging behind the pale moon, and a little further off, the green-blue Gaea. In between them was a large magenta whirlpool, gyrating in the dark – it was a spiral galaxy, a gateway between two worlds.

"Van, do you see that…"

"Yeah…"

"Strange…yet so beautiful."

"So are we in a different universe you think?"

"No, Earth and Gaea look too close for us to be that far off. Probably just a different galaxy."

"I never knew a spiral existed between Gaea and the Mystic Moon." They viewed in long silence, the moonlings singing in the background.

Hitomi suddenly heaved a pitiful sigh. "Earth…"

"Hitomi," Van looked down at her and gently placed a hand on her waist. "You miss home, don't you?"

"I…" her gaze switched to the ground.

"You're worried. Want to go back? We'll go together."

She looked up at him with a sickly pale complexion. "How can we do that?"

Van immediately took off his necklace and held the blazing pendant in his right palm. "We don't have the energist but this will probably do. Here, give me your hand." She placed her hand uncertainly over the rosy stone. "Now close your eyes, Hitomi, and wish. Wish with everything you've got." In each other's arms, they squeezed their eyes, and wished desperately, faithfully. But it was ineffectual – no blue column shot down. Earth and Gaea still hung above.

"How come?" Van stared suspiciously at the pendant. "Why didn't it work?"

Hitomi backed away from him and looked almost on the brink of collapse. "The power of our wishes…it didn't…Oh, well, maybe we're meant to stay here a little longer." She turned and ran towards the cottage, driving a path through the moonlings clusters.

"Hitomi!" Van yelled after her but he did not follow. He stood and looked towards her direction, feeling a pang of guilt for being somewhat happy that they did not succeed in returning.

By the time he had finished contemplating and had returned to the cottage, everything was calm. Cyprus had already retired to the barn. He gingerly walked to the bedroom and knocked gently. "Hitomi?"

"Come in," she answered in a small, weak voice.

He entered and saw her lying on the ground, with pillows and a quilt, curled up against the wall. "Hitomi, what are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" she retorted with some annoyance.

"Why are you sleeping on the ground? The bed is for you."

"No, it's okay. You're a king, you shouldn't sleep on the ground."

"I always sleep on the ground. I'm used to it. Now sleep on the bed!" he voiced a command, though not with severity.

Seeing that she only curled up tighter, he advanced and picked her up. Before she had time to struggle against his strength, he had already settled her into the soft bed.

"Van," she looked up at him with so soft a countenance that it weakened his legs and he immediately sank to the ground.

"It's okay, don't mention it. Just get some rest. You need it. Goodnight." He blew out the candle and snuggled up inside the cover.

Just before he was about to glide into the calm oblivion of sleep, he was stirred up by the sound of muffled sobbing. Looking up, he saw Hitomi with her back towards him, burying her head beneath the covers. Softly, he slipped onto the bed and placed a hand nervously on her back. Much to his dismay, Hitomi was startled with fright and withdrew as far as possible to the other side of the bed.

"Hitomi, what's the matter?" he said with a hurt expression. She clutched the sheets tighter and continued to shiver. "You know that I'd never hurt you, and I won't…" he looked down with blushed cheeks, "…touch you, that way." Insecurely, he opened his arms and beckoned her with his heartening eyes.

The comfort and love offered to her at that sacred moment at once enraptured and tortured her. While she dived into his arms and cried, she felt herself so unworthy of such paradise. She disbelieved that the humanity which flows within her could ever rise above a cruel fate. But his embrace, although it did not remove her grief, subdued and tranquilized it, replacing her previous nihilism with new life.

"I understand, Hitomi, I understand," he stroked her hair as he laid down, her head upon his chest.

After an interval of listening to Van's rapid heartbeats, she finally said in a thin, brittle voice, "It's been another fateful day, hasn't it?"

"Maybe, I guess. I don't think I have any notions about fate anymore. I just have this uneasy feeling about time becoming distorted, or about something that's going to happen. But I don't know anything. I don't even know why or how we got here. And what happened to that…Numen anyways? What was his name again?"

"Avalantis," Hitomi responded briskly and flatly, expressing a wish to evade the subject.

"Well, anyhow, everything will fall in place eventually. I hope." Van did not intentionally seek the harbour of Hope, nor did he believe that he could ever be capable of Hitomi's powerful faith. But he was newly optimistic from the spirit he acquired just before he resolved to go find her. Therefore, he had courage enough to save her who has once saved his soul, and he allowed himself and her the ease and openness to make their stay on Serenus as far removed from their experience during the war as possible. Perhaps the peace and hope will not last, but no matter – he was there, holding her, as he knows he will always do.

With that, the racing in his heart of hearts was soothed. Hitomi settled into him, placing her arm over his stomach, and she was soon lulled by the rhythm of his steady heart. It seemed to pump out waves of vibrant warmth and emotions, and sounded as a knell announcing their reception of true repose, the first they've had in a long time.

……….

The straight and majestic parade of morning light flowed into the restful space of the small room, awakened by the melodic chirping of Serenusian skylarks. Hitomi's hair looked golden in the light, and she lay softly breathing. With full-revitalized ease, she opened her eyes towards the window and smiled, somewhat unconsciously. The space where Van had slept was empty but the warmth seemed to linger. Thinking he must be in the living room, she quickly got up, cleaned herself at the basin and dug through her backpack in which there were a few articles of clothing. In all her down-to-earth air and tom boyishness, she never tried hard to appear physically attractive to Van. He would love her either way, but for her own indulgence, she put on a white tank top and a red knee-length spring skirt, all for the sake of observing his reaction.

After taking some time laying out her possessions on the cabinet, making the bed and fixing a thing here or there, she walked out the room, as if into a new life. No one was in the house. Anxiety set in and she hurried outside, fearing Van's presence had been but a dream again. When she turned the corner to get to the barn, she beheld him, chopping wood in front of the barn. She hid in the corner and observed him.

The translucency of the morning sky lent a view of Gaea, round and silver, hanging directly above where Van stood. He concentrated on splitting the wood with an axe, and had no hint of the pair of glistening emerald eyes captivated by his rough and unkempt appearance. When they met yesterday, for the first time in five years, she felt she scarcely knew him. He had grown much taller, but retained the same slender frame, so sturdy as she touched him. In a few hours, she has recaptured the cascade of his hair, the motion of his limbs, and the trace the wind had left on his body. The boyish wildness was still there, but a mature potency settled in, augmented by his greatness of spirit and mind. He stood, she noticed, not consciously heroic, with long strong legs that extended from his slim, sculpture-like torso, which she gazed at with embarrassment, since he was not wearing a shirt. As he raised the axe above his head, every muscle in his arms became tense and quivering and his focus on the piece of wood sharpened. Hitomi was in awe, and was allowed a glimpse into the complex magnificence of the human body.

Panting and perspiring, Van suddenly stopped to take a break. As he set down the axe, he turned towards her direction and saw her, without noticing the bright red cheeks and widened eyes. "Oh, Hitomi, you're up. Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah," the redness intensified as he approached her, still with no shirt on. "So, wh-what are you doing?"

"Oh, just helping out by chopping fire wood."

"Do all kings on Gaea do this?" she smiled, approving his hardworking spirit.

"It would be nice if they did. I just try to do what I can."

A minute of silence followed where Van was still trying to catch his breath, and Hitomi simply stared at the ground, until she finally contrived to ask, "Have you had breakfast?"

"No, not yet. At dawn, Cyprus took me to the market. I didn't want to wake you up because you were so tired. Cyprus has already gone out with his flock; he didn't have time to fix breakfast. He said he won't be back till dusk. Well, I have to tell you all about the little village…"

"Okay," she interrupted and suddenly ran back towards the cottage. "Tell me while I fix you breakfast!"

Before he could respond, she has already begun to take the pots and pans off the shelf, only to realize, with some concern, that since there was no microwave or ready-made food, her cooking would probably be unpalatable. But seeing Van's eager expression, she immediately set to work on the corn, investing a new, previously unneeded faith in her kitchen skills.

The whole situation felt funny. From the chopping to washing, to heating, she never once paused or faltered from reaching the goal which has so long laid undisturbed in a special place: to cook for the man she loves. She tucked in her chin and smiled sheepishly at the thought. Can happiness be this simple? Can all the wishes of one lifetime amount to one's own family?

While Hitomi was busy stirring, wiping by the stove, Van went inside the bedroom, put on his shirt, cleaned his face and then sat reverently on the bed. Her aura surrounded him. The neatly folded corners of the sheets, the still wet towel, the bottles, the brush on the table…these glowed with her life, the life of the ordinary, everyday Hitomi, the one he wanted to live and die with. The order of things, though fixed in haste, was just right, and endowed the space with the freshness and simplicity that he always thought suited Hitomi well. He got up and examined her things. They were objects from the Mystic Moon, so he did not know most of them. One object especially intrigued him: a round, glass-covered disk, with two bands coming out of either side, and two small black lines in the middle. His autumn eyes swirled around the dark arms of Time, wondering if they could be moved to a position where they'd be in exact opposition, an infinite radius apart, or to where they'd be united and placed upon one another. Time's Hermes…

"Van! Breakfast is ready!" Hitomi's cheerful voice pierced the sphere of his speculation. Her announcement was followed by a laugh.

"What's so funny, Hitomi?" he asked as he came out.

"Oh, nothing! Here," she set the plates down and was convinced that the redness in her cheeks would never disappear.

"By the way, what's this?" he held up the object of his fascination.

"Oh, that's my watch. It stopped ever since I got here. We use it to tell time."

"Tell time?" it was not so much of a question as a skeptic judgement. "Like a sundial then. Interesting how man thinks himself capable of knowing Time. Anyways, let's eat." Like a hungry child, he grabbed the spoon and tasted the first sip of the soup.

Hitomi sat opposite him and peered at him hopefully, only to observe his squinted eyes, wrinkled nose and lips, and colored complexion. "Oh, no!" she gasped with alarm. "It's horrible, isn't it? I must have added too much salt!"

"Mmm…" he was still trying to swallow. "It's o-okay, really."

"No, it's not. Oh, I'm so sorry, Van. You must have wonderful food at the castle everyday."

"Actually, no," he looked up, his eyes moistened because of the salt. "Nestor keeps a tab on my diet."

"Well, that's good. At least you eat well. Here, let me try," she took a sip and immediately began coughing. "Oh, God! It's disgusting!" While she was gulping down water, Van picked up his bowl and drank it all in one breath.

"Oh, no, Van! Oh, God! Why did you do that? You don't have to, really."

"It's fine," he squeezed his eyes. "I want to finish everything you've made for me."

A silent interlude followed in which paramount bliss was achieved. The space between them circulated with profound ease and beauty, brushing them as feathers touch the water.

Looking at each other's red, swollen faces and watery eyes, they suddenly burst into laughter simultaneously. For the first time since his childhood, Van experienced the release of this kind, and he was surprised to find how unencumbered, how airy his body could feel.

"Van!" she clasped her hands in zeal. "You laughed, Van, you laughed." Their loud laughter calmed into smiles. "I thought I'd never hear it. I'm so glad, Van. For you to be happy, that's just so…" she reached over, his hand met hers in the middle.

For either of them, perfection could never be simpler.

"So, looks like your cooking was successful after all."

Her eyes laughed through the joyful tears. "Here, let's just eat the bread, beans and carrots. So, anyways, I've been meaning to ask you a thousand questions about Gaea."

"Oh?" Van felt somewhat queer and uneasy, since Hitomi has never asked him commonplace questions, nor did he think himself very capable of holding an interesting conversation.

"Yesterday was a chaos of emotions, so we didn't really have time to talk. I'm glad we do now. You see, for the past five years, we've had such a strong connection. You were…" she slowed down and continued solemnly, "everything and everywhere for me. But I realized that we never really talked about ordinary stuff, like Fanelia, your friends, politics etc."

"Okay, so what do you want to know?" he smiled, as if more curious than she to hear what he has to disclose.

"Let's see," she glanced sideways, and the playful air of the old Hitomi filled her animated expression. "Well, you told me a bit about the reconstruction and about Orion. Oh, but first I must know more about Allen and Millerna."

"Well, okay, Allen…" he gulped upon remembering what last took place with Allen. "Well, about three years ago, there was a big…story about him wanting to marry Millerna, even though, supposedly, Princess Eries loved him too." Hitomi's eyes glowed with amazement. "And, um, Millerna had to divorce Dryden. Now that's not exactly tradition in Gaea, so there was a big controversy. Allen asked me to go to Palas – I think I told you this – to act as legal advisor and witness. So I went, and eventually the divorce was settled and they got married. Of course, Dryden must have felt…well, I don't know how he felt because he never told me. He seems afraid of me or something, even though he did help with the reconstruction and did bring Nestor to Fanelia. But anyways, I imagine it must have been pretty hard for him. King Aston passed away a few months later. Eries gave up her right to the throne and resigned herself to a convent. So Millerna became queen, and Allen is now…King of Asturia."

"Wow!" Hitomi mumbled through her food. "From knight to king. Good for him. I'm happy for him. Hey, doesn't Allen have a little sister who used to be one of Zaibach's commanders?"

"Oh, yeah," Van looked down and stirred the beans uneasily. "Selena. Yeah, she…used to be Dilandau, you know…the red guymelef. Well, she's, she's good now. She'd a duchess and she seems happy living with Allen and Millerna. I haven't seen her that many times, so that's all I know." He resolved not to tell her about the "incident" that took place with Selena. It would be too difficult to explain the entire cause and effect of the story. He had hope that by the time he should return to Gaea, he would no longer be the vector of Selena's heart.

"Continue, Van. Tell me about Orion and Fanelia."

He looked up with brightened countenance. "Right. I've told you a little about Orion. He's great, really. I don't know what I'd do without him. He's like…another brother. And Fanelia, we're doing well. Sometimes there are problems, mainly economic. Poverty still exists so there can be thefts and riots. In terms of foreign relations, the Alliance is holding up well. There has been no major political conflict, just some arguments over money distribution. Even Zaibach is doing pretty good. We really hope this will last. I really do." He cast his eyes down in thought, and contemplated the counter forces of war and peace.

"Fanelia's reconstruction was terrific, a problem here or there but nothing too serious. It looks beautiful now. We have a canal, new trees, new houses built out of stone and brick, and a new castle. I really wish," he looked at her with aching hope, "I wish you could come and see it, and meet Orion as well."

"Van," she reached over and squeezed his hand. "I wish so too. But right now, we don't' even know how to get back."

"So, we'll find a way. Don't worry. We've had greater dangers than this." He resumed eating.

A moment of silence ensued but it was not awkward or numbing, rather poetic. Hitomi searched her mind for more questions and came across the one point of intense curiosity that she has so long kept. Yet the sensitive nature of the question held her back until she resolved to ease into it.

"Politics must be stressful, huh?" she asked casually.

"It can be, but it's my duty. I shouldn't complain."

"Van," she leaned forward and inhaled deeply to gain strength. "Have you had any…proposals?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" he looked alarmed.

"Oh, you know, marriage proposals. Or did anyone kiss you or anything?" she winked playfully.

"Oh, um…well…no. None that I know of." He blushed boyishly. "Besides, why would anyone want to marry me, other than for the status? Hitomi, you know I'd never…"

"I know, I know." She interrupted with a smile and went over to sit on his lap. Van became tense with agitation and certain helplessness. "I'm not questioning your fidelity. If you had fallen in love with someone else, I'd have known anyways. It's just that I'm curious, and also, you're a king, and a…" her cheeks were flushed, "a handsome one. Surely someone must have…"

She noticed his incredibly startled and roseate expression, showing embarrassment more unbearable than her own. "Oh…has no one ever told you that?"

"Well," he answered under his breath, "maybe, but I don't really know. Actually, my mother did. But you've never…"

"It goes without saying." She got off his lap and tapped the tip of his nose playfully. However, a twinge arose deep inside her. Despite all the love she holds for him, it hurt her to realize that he still felt doubts about the truth and constancy of such immense love, that he was not always aware that he is loved. He should have felt loved throughout his life, and nothing could justify the lack.

In extreme nervousness, Van resumed cutting his food; the knife and fork clattered against the plate. Hitomi observed how carefully Van divided the food into tiny pieces before consuming them. The image of the often rough and laid-back young man, who cared little for etiquette, was incongruous with impeccable table manners. "Van, your plate is so neat. You even cut the bread, why?"

"Oh, it's because when I was little, I was a messy eater. Mother always had to clean up after me. She told me a little prince should be polite and have good table manners. I didn't want to disappoint her so I tried, by cutting everything into neat pieces. It sort of got stuck as a habit." His previous embarrassment calmed into a sad smile, reflecting on his travel back in time. Before he could decide whether or not to tell her all about it, she has already proposed a walk in the woods, to pick some berries.

Hand in hand, and holding small baskets, they set off to explore the arcadia that is Serenus.

The daylight was already approaching noon, lending a clear view of the environment. Down the small valley in which Cyprus lived, ran a meandering silver belt of a river. On the right side of the river, lay a wood that flowed over the eastern hill and connected with the forest of the next vale where they had first been transported. The left side of the river was a hill that escalated into a small cliff that enabled a waterfall to flow from a large river in the upper plain, to the small dale, collecting into a pool before joining with the narrower river. Beyond the wood, the water gushed out to mingle with the dazzling sea, blanketed with white, warm sand.

A gentle zephyr swept across the sky, quickly dispersing the loitering clouds that hugged the dome with their softness. Holding Van's hand, Hitomi ran, and they streamed down with the wind, towards the forest. Languor quitted their limbs for now, weariness left their brows and existence never felt so winged, so transcendent, as if they ceased to exist inside human bounds entirely. They instantly understood that it was thus to live, to rise above self and world, even if it be ever so transient. In both of their hearts rang the resolution to live in pulses stirred by kindness, by deeds of great rectitude, moments of joyful calm that amount to hours, days, years, lifetimes, eternities. Therefore mortality is rendered irrelevant. To live thus is paradise: to make the undying music of the soul. They traversed the ground, hand in hand, mind in mind, as Adam and Eve, the parents of humanity, roamed the garden of Eden, ere they begot the destructive knowledge of good and evil…

Their awareness of each other increased alongside their observation of the environment. Hitomi smiled quietly when she saw that Van was no longer wearing his girdle, and had left the sword in the cottage, relieving himself of the burden of violence and conflict which had been a nemesis created by his own seared soul. She had prayed for this day, the day when Van lived as a truly free being, unshackled of the past.

Meanwhile, Van was agitating himself with the view of Hitomi, a magnificent combination of youthful vivacity and refined beauty. Her hair had always been kept at the same length, the long bangs held back by a pair of glittering butterfly clips, allowing a full display of her delicate and pale face. Her child-like and natural features have been rendered more majestic by her recent sufferings. She possessed a solitary charm that neither her past nor her future can effect. Her taut body has settled naturally into womanhood, with slender white legs that stretched down from a proportional body framed with fitting clothes. All 5'5 of her sent Van into a riotous, aching fancy of which he felt embarrassed. It would yet be a while before he acknowledged the existence of "desire" in himself.

As they entered the tranquil wood, Van stopped short, and pulled Hitomi towards him. "Hitomi, I…" he proceeded slowly. "I can't believe I actually found you. I mean, I was really resolved to go to the Mystic Moon with Escaflowne. But I was just taken here, to you. It's so…" Hitomi wrapped her arms around him, and placed her head on his chest. There was no need for such phrases as "It was a miracle" or "We are meant to be together." Words of this kind are promises after all, and promises are, like the line "I love you", often uttered in half confusion and half deceit, with no faith in the heart as the source of constant light. The crescent of joy bloomed into a full circle.

With the calm born out of each other's embrace, in silence, they noticed the song of woodland birds, so melodic that it seemed to play an actual composition. They advanced further. The sense of the divine niceness of the place that they felt uncomfortable about at first, had now entranced them, making their hearts its home. Sunlight was scattered by the foliage which, blown by the wind, played a dance of shadow and light on the scintillating grass, so lush and evenly cut for a wild forest. Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, Hitomi caught a glimpse of a moving object. They turned hastily and beheld a gentle, glowing creature. Its ivory framework of four sturdy limbs gave it graceful balance. Its coat of immaculate white diffused a beam that collected into the horn on its forehead, a sharp moonlit tower above its soft, wondering eyes. Upon its sculptured body, brushed with its silver mane, were furled two gigantic white wings, the radiant agents of magical flight. It noticed them also and in all majesty, bowed its head before dashing off into the forest. Hitomi immediately began a rhapsody of expressions, marvelling at the heavenly creature that is both a unicorn and a Pegasus. Van then understood what mythological creatures are, since dragons were for him common inhabitants of Gaea.

They strolled a little further before coming across a rich verdure with a small opening into the azure zenith, and encircled by berry bushes. With their baskets, they set to work plucking the magical fruits that bore the extraordinary colors of gold, silver, sea blue and lilac, glowing beneath the radiant sun. After completing their task, they came to the centre of the verdant dell and sat back against back, eating the succulent berries that melted sweetly in their mouths. Hitomi surveyed the sylvan surrounding and her previous speculation about its surreal and mystic nature led her into a meditation, an attempt to order everything into a coherent whole. Van contemplated the same thing but because of the mysterious and soul-shaking "travels" he experienced lately, he dismissed the idea that this was a dream. Too real, all too real. He was glad.

Hitomi finally spoke in a low, steady tone, as if fearing the place itself might overhear. "Van, do you suppose, perhaps that…this is…paradise?"

"Paradise? As in the perfect world?" he swallowed hard upon the conclusion, the same one he has ventured to make in his own mind.

"Yeah, the perfect world. It can't be heaven, because we're not dead. It must be…perfect, at least in comparison to where we came from. Wait," she jumped suddenly, "maybe all this is deceptive, maybe there is some secret evil that we just haven't encountered."

"I don't know though. When I was at the market this morning, I didn't notice anything unusual, or bad. Everyone is just like Cyprus. They're simple, kind people. Not only did they not fear me, a foreigner, they even greeted me and welcomed me. Cyprus was telling the truth, there is no money. They just exchange goods and no one is ever greedy. Their items are simple also, just household or farming material. I didn't sense hypocrisy, and you know how I am, I just don't feel danger here. All there is, is a sense of magic and mystique, but given everything we've seen so far, that's not surprising."

Hitomi took a moment to gather her thoughts. "I trust your instincts, Van, and I trust my own intuition. So," she inhaled deeply, "this must be paradise."

"Hmm…" Van grunted slightly. "How pathetic our homelands seem by comparison." He grieved upon the thought that his beloved Fanelia may never reach the state of perfection. Like the elusiveness of the chosen few who live under Love's wings, some worlds are mysteriously given a heavenly state, while others burn and wither under the yoke of evil. Human nature comes closest to explaining the enigma.

"You know, on Earth, we have all these myths and stories about paradise. It has many names, like Eden, Utopia or Arcadia. Then there's Hyperborea, a myth from the ancient civilization of Greece. It's about immortal beings who inhabited a land inaccessible by land or sea, a world of everlasting bliss and spring, where no disease, toil or warfare ever inflict the Hyperboreans' peace. Sounds rather like Serenus."

Van mused upon the myth. She loves the Mystic Moon, he realized sadly. For all its bad, it will always be her home. Ever since she undertook archaeology, her passion for the history of her world heightened and the glory of lost civilizations flowed in her veins. She belongs there. Not on Gaea, not with me. Yet the two are not completely separate worlds – Atlanteans from the Mystic Moon created Gaea, therefore they're forever connected by the same power source, the same blood. He tried to comfort himself with this thought, but it was ineffectual, because he was convinced that she would go home in the end.

Hitomi sensed his despair with a strange certainty about the reason. "Van," she reached backward for his hand, "Why are you feeling this way? Let me ask you this: did you believe in paradise before?"

"Not really," he answered weakly. "At least not as a physical place. I've always thought paradise is a state of mind. Like when someone is happy, paradise is there. Or when I'm with you…" he turned around and gazed at her.

"Exactly my sentiment!" she turned and leaned on his shoulder. " So paradise is really everywhere because you are. We really can't be separated. Serenus is like a representation of what we feel." They adjusted their bodies a little so that embrace became the most natural, the primary position in life.

"Van, you know, when I was on Earth for the past five years, I've missed you so much, all the time. I was in a lot of pain. I know you were too. I really wish I could have stayed in Fanelia with you, but I…" she stopped to wipe her tears. "Oh, I just remembered, I wrote a poem for you about a year ago, and I found it this morning in my bag. Here, read it," she reached in her pocket and handed him a small piece of paper, folded over three times. With religious care, he opened it and read:

Love's Immanence

Vast though the sky may be, I still see thee,

Amid the gilded glow of our setting star;

I hear thee in the breeze upon the sea,

And thy soul reaches to me from afar.

Away we soar, in the deep calm of night,

Towards the world that hangs with constant wings

In luminous clusters of surreal light,

Where enduring souls hear the aeon sings.

Now I think of thee, in silence forlorn,

And from thy wings, there floats down a feather,

A promise that till no stars are reborn,

By the sunpillar, we are together.

Van held his breath as the words entered his soul. "Hitomi, you're obviously better at poetry than I am," he tried to laugh a little to release the pain. "We will always be together." It was voiced as both a question and an affirmation.

"Why can't things just…" she looked up at him and implored for something. He wondered what power could make those deep and wistful eyes blaze forth in such a fire; she wondered the same about his immense eyes.

"Van, can you do me a favour? It's kind of a weird request, so if you don't want to, I'd understand."

"Okay, what is it?" he answered gently, hoping it would be within his ability.

"Well, it's just that I really want to," she stood up and proceeded carefully, "I want to see your…wings…again."

"Huh?" for a moment, he stood dumb in shock and confusion, doubting whether anyone could ever really love draconian wings, which were symbols of destruction and mutations of nature.

"Look," there was desperation in her voice, "I know what the Gaeans think about draconians, but I don't…"

Before she could explain further, Van suddenly stood up, took off his shirt and unfurled his expansive ivory wings. They shone with such immeasurable luminosity and perfection that Hitomi gaped in admiration. The sunlight became almost blinding against the whiteness. Their pendant glowed in unison. He stood before her, as he did five years ago, with some shame, some hurtful memories and a need to expose himself to her, or perhaps even to make himself vulnerable, and hoping she'd justify all his weaknesses for him. Single feathers flew in fairy lightness, but she sensed the sadness in them. She walked up to him and with trembling fingers, touched his wings, and felt a certain power flow from her fingertips to her entire body.

"The feathers, they kept Hope alive, for all these years. They showed me that you are always there. Life has been so unfair to you, Van. You deserve so much…my angel…" she began to choke on her tears.

With no more doubts, no more cares, Van drew her in and embraced her till he thought the tight proximity must have been suffocating her. He then led her into the shade and they rested against a tree, her head upon his chest. Thus, they fell asleep. His wings closed in around them, blanketing their intermingled bodies.

If any fairies tiptoed by this quiet dell at this time, they would behold the most extraordinary sight. They'd see two fair beings, couched in each other's arms, beneath a whispering dome of leaves, in the scented air. They lay calmly breathing, dreaming of the future joy of their aurorean love. These fairies, who have travelled through all the worlds in the universe and knew all mystic things, would think the winged boy to be Eros, the god of Love, the only deity with angelic wings because Love alone can take flight. Enfolded in his arms, slept his Psyche - the butterfly, the soul.

Gravity, the universal force, upholds the planets and stars, binds all things in place, produces space-time, and draws one to another. It is a manifestation of Eros, who gives cohesion to all places and reason for all things to be. Unknown to most mortals, Eros has two brothers, born of Venus: Anteros, the god of unrequited love, and Pothos, the god of desire and sexual energy. Because of what they represent, they have retreated into myth or into the hearts of foolish and infidel men. The fairies would never mistaken Eros for his brothers. He is the primary god, the first to be created after earth and sky, born out of the golden, pure air of dawn. His love, the Olympian Psyche, a mortal destined for immortality, once heard in her dreams the echoes of Love and sought for him in the sky. When through the stormy season of human suffering she has gone, iridescent butterfly wings sprouted from her back and she soared with Love to Serenus, leaving behind Anteros and Pothos to rule the earthly. Those who follow in their flight may crash to the ground, and will suffer immensely, but they must fly on, even in death, for Eros will fold his healing wings over them, and Psyche will give their souls endless resurrections. Eventually, a new world will be born.

……….

By the time Van and Hitomi woke up, the sun was already brushing the horizon. They gathered their baskets, and exited the forest, in time to see the first unveiling of the evening star. It hung in the silent depth of space, burning at an immeasurable brightness, surging forth its silver flames through eternity. As they approached the cottage, they heard the rolling of wheels from above. They looked up and beheld the most stunning and dramatic sight: a flying chariot, pulled by four silver dragons with diaphanous wings, and in it stood a moonlit lady, cloaked in a shimmering gown. Hitomi shook Van's arm in daunt, and he nodded in response. The land lying before the chariot was in faint light, but once the chariot passed over it, a gauzy shroud of black immediately fell upon it, and the stars, planets suddenly became bright in the darkness above. The metaphysical had become the tangible; the poetic became the literal.

No word could express their awe, so they gaped for a while before entering the cottage. Cyprus was already hard at work by the stove. In dread, Van noticed that Cyprus was using his sword as a cutting knife.

"Hey! That's the royal sword!" he grabbed it back despite feeling the humour in all this.

"Sorry, lad. Good knife! Where's yous been? It be dark out."

"We got berries for you. Oh, and we saw a chariot in the sky!" Hitomi said, still laughing at Cyprus's desecration of the sword. The way Van sat cleaning the blade with a cloth was even more hilarious, since it reminded her of something positively Freudian.

"Ah, yes, that be Goddess of the Night. Well, now be night. Dinner soon. You go clean up. Waterfall and river be good places for bath. You, lad, help cook!" Cyprus threw some vegetables onto Van's lap.

"Hey, but I don't know how…"

"You'll be fine, Van." Hitomi went over, laid a hand on his shoulder and tapped his cheek. "If you can fight in battles, surely you can cook a meal! Well, I'm gonna go take a shower by the waterfall."

"Oh, do you want me to come with you?" he stood halfway out of his seat.

"No, Van!" she yelled with a laugh, ridiculing his perfect candidness. "Van, I'll be taking a bath, of course you can't come." His face reddened. "Besides, it's really safe here, so don't worry, just do your cooking." He looked up with child-like eyes and watched her go into the bedroom, then reluctantly began peeling the cabbage. As Hitomi went out with her towels, she could have sworn she heard Van mumbling complaints under his breath.

After a short while, Cyprus concluded that Van messed up more than he helped, so he dismissed him. With flour all over his hands, shirt and face, Van grumpily grabbed a towel from the room and set out for the waterfall.

By the glimmer of the huge "moons" and the beams that draped down from the stars, Van walked easily along the bank until he reached the cliff where the waterfall was. Some trees, bushes and rocks gathered around the pool into which the cascade poured. At first he approached with caution, fearing he would stumble across Hitomi in an "inappropriate" situation. When he got closer, he noticed there was no sound of someone taking a bath in the water. Suspicion and anxiety arose. He pushed away a branch in order to see better, and suddenly saw someone leaning motionless against a rock. A bush blocked the body so only the back of the head was visible. But from the hair, he knew it was her.

Fear stomped like a destructive demon in his mind, and despite feeling weak unexpectedly, he darted forth. As he reached out to touch her head, he yelled pitifully, "Hitomi!"

The body jolted and turned around. She lay completely with no clothes on; the water shone a waving light onto her white body. She screamed upon seeing him just standing there and staring at her with gaping mouth. "Van! What do you think you're doing? Go away!" she pulled her clothes in front of her. "You scared me! I was just resting and thinking. Why didn't you make a sound?"

"I-I," a distorted and tortured expression was discernible on his face, even through the crimson shade. He continued stuttering as he backed away, his eyes still fixed on her, interrupted by successions of short, quick blinks. "I'm…I'm…sorry. I-I," suddenly, his foot slipped on the wet ground and he fell backwards into the river. The splash of the water was followed by Hitomi's laughter.

"Oh my goodness, Van, are you okay?" She speedily went over, with her clothes already back on. "Look, you're all wet!" She bent down and studied him, sitting waist-deep in water, his wet hair dripping down strings of dew onto his flustered face.

"Awww, you look so adorable like this!" she giggled.

"I'm soaked," he grunted through his bangs.

"Here," she reached her hand down to help him up, as she had always done. She then began drying him with her towel.

In bashfulness, Van quickly grabbed the towel away. "I-I can do it myself."

"Van, I don't mind, you know, that you saw me. It's better you than anyone else." She inched closer to him. "Besides, I'm as good as yours."

His eyes widened in disbelief, not so much at her statement but at the shuddering discovery that deep in his mind, he has often wished for her to say this, for this moment. That menacing intensity called desire began pounding within him and the heat burned him until he felt he was melting to the ground. As she came up to him, he backed up until he was against a tree.

Hitomi was no less awkward than he at new and intimate things. She surprised not only him, but also herself. She was forward, only because it was with him – there shouldn't be any questions with him, not with the one. She desired his touch, his warmth, yet she somewhat abhorred such lust born out of adolescence. She always felt chastity a thing to be cherished. But it was irresistible. They held each other as they've never done before. He kissed her cheek and her neck. However, at the moment before complete immersion, he resisted.

"Hitomi, I…I can't…we just," he pushed her away gently. "It's just that…" he fixed his shirt and sighed wretchedly.

She was hurt, not because he resisted, but because she shared his pain. "I know. If it happened, we'd never be able to say good-bye again, right? Our bond would be so much stronger that it would kill us to be apart." He nodded slightly. "It's okay. You did the right thing."

He felt ashamed to look at her. How loving she had been to be willingly intimate with his unworthy self, and how magnanimous she was in thus forgiving his stupidity. "I'm sorry, Hitomi." He thought she would do the womanly and sensible thing by turning away in anger, but instead she held his hand and led him clear of the trees and bushes.

"Look, Van," she pointed upwards, "the stars are dancing. I've always wanted to go stargazing with you. Remember, we had a dream about that once. Come on!" She laid the towels down on the riverbank and beckoned him to lie down beside her. He half-fell on to the ground, and realized that the soil, like the water, had been lukewarm. The fragrant evening air and the amphitheatre of heaven quickly dissipated his previous blunder.

"You know, on Earth, there's this painting we have by an artist named Van Gogh. It's called 'The Starry Night' and it looks just like this. It's my favorite." Van turned and saw the glitter in her eyes, the delight in her voice. He reached for her hand. They will remain forever linked in the middle.

Around Earth and Gaea, the so-called Serenusian moons, was a halo of iridescent luminosity. The gossamer clouds swept the starlit dome with their tranquility. Some stars had multiple colours. One was coloured like the energist and its light rained through the plumes of night like a shower of roseate dew. Van fixated on another star, reminiscent of the singular glow in Hitomi's eyes.

The green star burned its emerald beams that sprinkled splendor down on to the grass. It is the spirit that guides the other stars through their celestial journey. Constellations from near and far call it the loveliest lodestar. It sometimes rides the mists of evening and dapples the lakes with its light. Sometimes it wanders into people's dreams or smiles down upon a vale as it did now.

"See that star right there?" Van pointed to his lodestar. "It reminds me of you."

"Really? It reminds me of Fanelia. Such beautiful green."

"Well, too bad, I saw it first," he said boyishly. "I'm going to name it after you."

"What!" she giggled.

""Yes, from now on, that will be our very own star. It'll be called star Hitomi."

She turned over and leaned on him. "Awww, Van, so you can be romantic," she said half-jokingly and tickled his stomach.

"Hey, stop that!" The star seemed to drop down a little, and thanked them, thus making itself a beacon of…

"Van?" she whispered into his shirt, uncertain if he'd be irritated with so many questions in one day.

"Yeah?"

"Do you miss your family?"

Images flashed before him and he held his breath. Hitomi could hear his heart racing vehemently. "Of course," he exhaled. "My mother, father, Folken and Balgus. Sometimes I'm scared that they'd forget me. I feel insecure about our family history, you know, the conflict with Folken. And I swear mother always loved him more. When he disappeared, she couldn't bear it. I promised her I'd be a good king but I just wasn't enough." He winced a little.

Hitomi recognized his disclosure and sadness as signs of inner strength. "Van, I'm sure that's not true."

"Well, maybe. But in the end, I'll always miss them, until we can be together again."

"Will we?" she saddened suddenly and sighed. "When I left Earth, my mother's and brother's lives were hanging in the air. But now I feel that," she clutched on to Van, " they're together with my dad, in heaven. I'm not with them…"

He felt her tears seeping through his shirt. All the beauty and laughter of the day did not erase her pain in the end. He held her close and stroked her hair, but he was conscious that the agony may be chased away temporarily but it will remain steadily.

"I wonder why," she said with a lapse of tone, "why it had to happen to us. I miss them so much, as I had missed you. I miss Yukari too, and my home. I even miss Folken. Why do I always have to be missing someone? I found you but I lost them. The bad fate never stopped, did it, Van? It didn't stop with Dornkirk. It'll go on forever, wouldn't it?"

Despair once seemed insurmountable, fate ineluctable, but having seen his family again after their deaths, he knew he must have faith. "Hitomi, it's not like that. I don't know exactly what fate is or why things happen, but it isn't all that hopeless. They're just in a different world; perhaps they're even better off than we are. What if we're the ones who are dead? But anyways, we will be together again, I know it. The two of us found each other, didn't we?"

"Deep down, I know you're right." Her sobbing ceased. The black hole had been fanned away by angel wings and she was no longer in danger of being consumed. "Yes, of course, they'll always be here. Seeing the stars, I feel their presence, somehow."

"I do too. I guess…it's Love"

"Yeah. Not death. But I still need time though, to cope with all this."

"Of course you do. Even eternity takes time."

She closed her eyes and breathed into him. The aroma of the meadows that diffused from him gave her the strength to hope and believe. On the shore after the tempest, when all is lost except a little life, Hope alone rises above and sows the seed of Love.

"There's this poet," she finally remembered something she wanted to tell him, "named Shelley, from a country called England. Well, he once wrote 'Fate, Time, Occasion, Chance and Change: to these all things are subject but Eternal Love.' The lovers in the story are rather like us – their love ended hatred and a war. They…" her thoughts faded off into unexpected tranquility.

"Eternal Love…" Van mused upon the idea and inhaled deeply. "Hitomi, I…"

"Shh," she placed a finger over his lips, "I know you do. Surely you and I are beyond words. Besides, we should let Eternity just exist and let it remain mysterious."

In stillness, together they gazed at two central stars that danced around one another, forming an orbit in the shape of the infinity sign.

They are binary stars, twin spheres of light, which orbit each other perpetually. They dart magnetic might into the central heart which they share, the point at which they're bound by mutual gravity. Their light mingles and blends into one luminous whole, and every movement they make in their orbital dance is in harmonious unison, inspiring all other stars to follow in their celestial path. The clear space they hang in is stirred by soft music echoing from the deep, and washed by azure oceans of youthful air. At times, one of the stars passes in front of the other, and with this stellar eclipse, the two distinct spheres mingle, transfigure and become one.

Van and Hitomi looked up at the star stuff and were conscious that they themselves were composed of star material also. They felt moved to be at one with the cosmos, to have the heavenly by their side. Van's mind focused on the past and future he had seen, on the near and far. He felt they were descendants of some endless lineage. Hitomi knew that even stars can die, but they can always be reborn out of the same material that burst from them at their deaths. Even if they do vanish eventually, their lifespan of billions, billions of years is eternity enough for humans. Such relative permanence felt so real, so reassuring. And even if all else fades, the universe itself remains infinite and everlasting.

Gravity binds the binary stars together. It is gravity that enables the moon to orbit the Earth, and the Earth in turn to orbit its Sun. Time also, depends on gravity.

……….

Orion sat in solitude at the edge of the tiny tree house he and Van built for Merle. He had a full view of the city. He mused upon the amphitheatre that is his homeland, playing its repertoire of lively citizen life. Children splashed water in the straight, shimmering river, the flowing vein of Fanelia. Merchants hollered in the market, women gossiped in the shops, labourers sang on the worksite. He looked towards Fidell, on top the Fanelian Hill and imagined Merle to be roaming the schoolyard with her students. He recalled his childhood spent in the forest beyond the hill, wild days when he hunted with his guardian, Centurion, and played with his hound, Draco. There was so much life back then as there was now. In the face of such vitality, one could doubt whether death existed at all.

He lay himself down on the balcony of the tree house and studied the moving sky. Are you out there, Van? It has been two days, and anxiety began arising in his caring heart. He knew Van was safe and that he had found her but he yearned for the return of his dear friend. Van is more than a friend. Orion saw and loved in Van a hero, a king, a philosopher, a genius. He held faith for many people but what he had for Van borders on a religion. All of Gaea – at least, most of Gaea – shared the same sentiment. Van is the soul of Peace, the life of Life.

Grey clouds began crowding over Fanelia, obscuring the blue serenity behind. Rain trickled down, like watery serpents wept by some gigantic creature. One drop fell directly into Orion's right eye, stinging him irritably. He has always felt ambivalent towards rain. He could never decide whether it cleanses the earth, leaving it wet and fresh, or whether it washes everything away, including the good. A deluge soon followed.

Just when he was about to turn inside for shelter, a stout soldier came sprinting and yelling. "Commander! Commander!"

"What is it, Strom?"

"We've," he tried to catch his breath, "we've received an emergency message from Asturia. Nestor bids you go at once to the conference room."

Alarmed, Orion swiftly jumped down from the tree and rushed nervously into the room, where all the lords of the Fanelian council stood in great chaos, discussing agitatedly.

"General Orion," old Nestor came up with woeful eyes. "An express message just came from Asturia for the king. But he's gone to the Mystic Moon, hasn't he?" He began pacing. "Oh dear, oh dear. We didn't dare open a personal letter of the king's. But it's stamped with a red seal, which means trouble. It means war, sir. We thought you should open it, since you're the General of the Army, Commander of the Samurais and the king's closest companion."

Without a word, Orion stomped towards the trembling Nestor, ripped the letter from him, opened it and read aloud:

"Dear Van,

An old friend desperately needs your help. A few hours ago, Palas was attacked by strange looking guymelefs. They don't look like Zaibach ones. They bombed our harbours, destroyed our storehouses, and barricaded our perimeters. Some of my people have managed to escape to the mountains and journey over to you via the highway. The rest of us are stranded here. The royal family will soon be imprisoned. Please send help. You're our only hope.

His Majesty, Allen Crusade Schezar."

"Oh, heavens!" Nestor fell into a chair, and the room arose in a tumult of fright, exclamations and questions.

Orion crumbled the paper in his fist and unforeseen fire burned within him. "Silence!" he commanded and the room died into stillness, disturbed only by the chattering of someone's teeth. "I know the king isn't here, but that does not mean we're not going to help our ally in need. Don't panic and listen up. You can either go with my plan or sit and do nothing. Here's what we're going to do."

He placed both hands firmly on the table and commenced his string of orders with authority. "Nestor, get someone to send a message to all our allies, and inform them of our situation, get them to send information and back-up. Then I want you to go with Lord Perrin and Lord Kailan to evacuate the citizens of Fidell into Palladium. Set up tents in both cities. See to it that everyone is alerted and that they stay inside buildings. Lord Ethedon, begin gathering food and medical material and make the main lounge of the palace the central emergency station. Lord Ansias, start allocating the royal fund for all necessary provisions. The rest of you are responsible for keeping order and please…help the people. Captain Galas!" he called out towards the hall, and in came a soldier. "Galas, begin recruiting new soldiers. No coercion, you understand? Take them to Fidell after the citizens have been evacuated. Train them there. Use all weapons. Now send Commander Strom in."

An austere looking samurai ran in and saluted Orion. "Listen, Strom, I want you to order all the garrisons out to guard our borders. Take all the archers. If there's anything unusual, send a message to Nestor right away. But first, you must prep all the warriors and melef units. I'll be leading them into Asturia. Go!"

Orion seemed to have shouted all this in one breath thus he felt somewhat faint. He took charge, because he had to. He had to. Nestor staggered up to him with weary steps. "Don't worry, Nestor, Van will return soon. Everything will be alright." Everyone was too confused and scared to disobey orders, so the council disbanded. They all hurried to their task, leaving the room in grave stagnancy.

Orion's' blood raced within him. Will it be all right? All his philosophy of hope and courage was now called into a life-death challenge. For the first time, he doubted if his faith was strong enough to begin with. His blue eyes blackened as he opened a window, and stared hatefully at the ominous clouds that draped as if in mockery of the sorrow-soaked earth beneath. He pressed his damp cold hair down with his hand that trembled as if it were palsied. He finally decided that he hates rain. Before running out, he yelled to the thundering sky, "Van, where are you? Come back! We need you! Come back!"

……….

"Orion!" Van bolted upright on the riverbank, as if waking from a nightmare. Cold sweat ran down his gaunt, wan face that looked spectral due to his fright.

"What's wrong, Van?" Hitomi sat up and stroked his arm.

"It's Orion. Something's wrong in Fanelia. Hitomi, I just know it. He sent me this really strong feeling." Van stood up and paced around feverishly. She followed in a fluster, gathering the towels up as she did.

"What am I to do, Hitomi? I don't know what exactly is going on? Wait!" he halted and held her by the shoulders. "I hate to ask this but I have to: can you do a reading?"

"No, I'm sorry, I don't have my Tarot cards with me. Oh, wait, I do have the Ra-Maat cards. I was studying them. Maybe we could try those."

'C'mon!" he grabbed her hand and pulled her forward, sprinting towards the cottage. Cyprus was warned not to disturb tem. As Hitomi was setting up the bed for the reading and digging the deck out of her bag, she explained: "They're from ancient Egypt, one of the oldest civilizations on Earth. The Tarot came from these. Ra is the sun god, Maat the goddess of truth and justice. They'll guide us. Here, give me your hand, and concentrate."

They closed their eyes and sought the strength of their cosmic allies. The pendant swung in rhythm. Hitomi whispered an ancient Egyptian blessing she learned and called out to the remote but immanent spirits. Finally, they entered her psyche and she began shuffling the cards in a rush, picked some out and laid them in a pattern.

"Okay, here goes. I'll be completely honest with you." She inhaled deeply. "There are thirteen cards, divided into past, present and future. In the past…hmm, I think this mainly describes who you are. There has been great loss and destruction in your past, radical and sudden events that forced you to grow stronger. In dealing with these problems you often acted impulsively but in the end, your instincts proved to be trustworthy, which is why, here, you get the card of Osiris, the king of gods. He represents inherent fairness, honor, and leadership. You're someone who is private and firm in public but affectionate at home." She flashed a smile at him. "Okay, in the present, there's…oh boy…the Beginning card, that's not necessarily good. It means our road is ill defined and we should take caution. The Burden card – there are great responsibilities and emotional demands. Oh, the…the Karma card…at the very centre…"she looked at him anxiously. "It means the past will return, things will be as they were written and what we do now will affect out future." She stopped and sighed.

"It's okay, go on. You can do it."

"I'm sorry, it's just…things don't look good. My old readings with the Tarot always came true, and I don't want this to…"

"It won't. We defeated it before, remember?"

'Well, yeah…I guess. Okay, here goes again. The Choice card, we face many possibilities that will affect our and other people's lives; much is demanded of us. The Scale card, the card of cause and effect, again it involves judging rightly and making an important decision. Now, moving on to the future. Ramses, the card of uncompromising authority – we will encounter someone who will unjustly force their rules upon us. The Death card, don't worry, this isn't bad. It means that there will be an end and a new beginning. It's the card of truth. The Patience card – we will encounter ambiguous and negative situations but we must not let others tell us what to do and must wait for the right time to come. Okay, the last card…the card of Twin Souls, it means…Love. Well, it's not all that bad"

She fell back against the bed frame and implored for an answer in his face. But he expressed nothing except a blank stare at the cards that lay at his feet. A chill sent both of them shivering. Can divination be real anymore? Can fate still conquer? What will happen when the past returns and meets the future? Van frowned in consternation. In spontaneous resolve, he jumped down from the bed, seized her hand and hurried outside, ignoring Cyprus's friendly concerns.

He stopped in front of the cottage and held the pendant fiercely. "Hitomi, we're going to try again. Gaea needs us. We're going back together. We have to. Escaflowne, please help us. Now, wish!" She held him tight as he raised the pendant above their heads. Nothing.

In fury, he sprouted his wings, carried Hitomi in his arms and aimed to soar through the atmosphere and fly to Gaea. But an invisible force held its insurmountable grip on him and he beat his wings in vain. "What the heck's going on? Something's pinning me to the ground!" Finally exhausted by the futility, he let Hitomi down and fell to the ground, hanging his head in despair.

"Van, calm down. Maybe…"

"Lad!" Cyprus came running out with zeal. "You be a draconian? Me love wings!"

"What!" Van and Hitomi yelled simultaneously.

Van walked forward and asked in a dragon-like tone, "How do you know about draconians?"

"Why, they live in forest by White Mountains, in Myst!" he pointed to the northwest. "Good folks. Only a few though. They be friends with Ispano clan. Ispano come from spiral up there," he pointed to the gyrating magenta galaxy that served as a gateway between Earth and Gaea. "They trade with us. If you want home, draconians help you. I take you tomorrow. Half-day ride – we get flying horse in market. Draconians have Numen, very powerful."

"What did you…" Van proceeded with a sense of horror, Hitomi wanted to turn away from the impending truth. "Did you just say Numen?"

"Yes, yes. Calls himself Aleph Avalantis."

~ End of Part IV ~



Here's a little preview of what's to come in the next chapter: Van and Hitomi meet the Numen, who reveals to them secrets of their past lives in Atlantis, as well as their future destiny. He introduces them to a female draconian who has lived since the beginning of time – she played an important role in Van's past. A difficulty occurs between Van and Hitomi because of what the Numen told them. The female draconian helps them return to Gaea.

Hope you continue reading!