For all of you wondering where Jason went ... he's back! Whee....
Log 24: Jason Revisited
Keith was asleep in Kathryn's chambers - the quarters Tamara had given him used to be Darienne's, and the old queen's memories still strained him - when he heard something being slipped under the chamber's main door. He unfurled his wngs, took avellonis in his hands and walked to the door - Keith had slept standing up - finding an ivory envelope engraved with his name. Warily he opened it, finding a card painted with a hut he faintly remembered.
"Keith...." Kathryn sat up in her bed - she was still wearing her riding outfit. "What is that...?"
"A ..." - he flipped the card over - "Wildwings Device. Come here, Kathryn."
The sultana climbed off the bed, strapping Xariandagia to her belt, and shuffled to the god-angel's side. Keith handed the card to Kathryn; the girl read both sides of the card before she spoke.
"I've heard of the Merlins of the Wizard's Council," Kathryn whispered. "They have advised the Denbridgan royal family even before Guinevere was queen. And their gifts ... they're best if used immediately."
"I understand," Keith nodded. "Are you going to notify Derrik of your departure?"
Kathryn shook her head. "If you just got this, I think that Derrik must have been informed of us leaving. We should go." She flipped the card so the reverse side faced her. The text was in Avalonian script, written with an unsteady hand. "Hmmm...." She took Keith's hand in one of hers. "It says to raise the card with the picture facing away from you and say 'Wildings Device, activate'-"
A flash of light burst out of the card, and the room - and everything else - was dark.
That same evening, Jason returned home with a rope bag of shellfish slung over his shoulders. His uncle wasn't home yet, still attending a meeting of the Uminchu Union. Wearily he set the bag in the kitchen area, then walked into his room to change his clothes.
How long had it been since he found the angel? Jason had lost count of the days following Keith's - he couldn't bear to remember his full name - disappearance. Not departure - when angels left, they usually didn't return.
There was a knock at the hut's main door.
Jason ran from his room, throwing a shirt over his back. He threw open the door, only to stare in shock.
For before him was the angel he had found, accompanied by a young lady in strange clothing unsuitable for Mêristan's warm weather. Both the angel and girl were armed - the angel with the familiar staff, the girl with a sword strapped to her side - but in the girl's hands was a smoking card with the words "Wildwings Device" the only thing legible.
{Ashita wa Motto and ending animation plays....}
The special issue is coming after this! And after that are two more episodes! And then I have to write a few more ... more about those in the special issue! Whee!