--Written by Naki
What a...pleasant sensation... I feel as if I am floating...
He felt his feet touch the ground, however, but didn't hear the normal click of footwear upon it.
"Welcome."
He turned around to face the speaker. She stepped from behind a pillar.
"You're a new face here."
He turned around again to face a man with dark hair.
"Kantas, that's obvious," the first woman said.
"What be his name?"
A Giganto stepped out from the mists.
"That...is for him to tell."
Three others walked up. Two men and a woman.
The first woman who spoke introduced herself. "I am Nadia."
The man with dark hair spoke next. "I'm Kantas."
"Belsap," the Giganto said.
A figure walked up. "We are related. I am your ancestor. That is why we bear uncanny resemblances." He offered his hand to the newcomer. "My name is Martin."
The newcomer looked up to the duo that still stood in the shadows.
"We're missing one, Zieg," Nadia said.
"She'll show herself," the shadowed woman said.
The newcomer recognized the voice of the woman. "Rose."
The duo stepped out into the dim light. "Yes. Been a long time."
"Do something for me," Zieg said to the newcomer.
"Huh?" The newcomer said.
"It is not your time yet," Rose said. "The princess will see to it that you return safely."
Zieg continued. "If you see him, tell my son that I'm very proud of him, and that I miss him greatly."
The newcomer looked from Rose to Zieg quizzically, and then, the sights around him started to fade.
"As I said," Rose said. "It is not your time. Return to your friends and family! It is your future...we have given it to you once before...don't waste it on foolish actions."
Before everything was enveloped in white, Zieg's voice rang through his head once more. "Please...if you see him, tell my son that I'm very proud, and that I love him..."
"I don't get it," Lavitz whispered to Dart. "How can Erisi bring King Albert back?"
"Don't ask questions," Dart whispered back.
Erisi stood next to Albert, who lay motionless on a bed in Deningrad's inn. Her hands, spread apart, hovered over Albert's body. Her eyes were shut, and her concentration showed on her face.
Matthias stood next to her. He'd seen her do this once before. And that was a while back.
Erisi took a deep breath, and something astonishing happened. A soft white light poured from her fingertips on to Albert.
Dart gasped, and nudged Lavitz. He pointed to Erisi.
Twin wings of light protruded from her back.
"She's a Wingly?" Lavitz mouthed to Dart.
Dart shrugged, his eyes telling that he didn't know.
After a few moments, Erisi gave up.
"That should've done it," Erisi "If not, then I'll try again. I'm not gonna let Albert die like that."
As if on cue, Albert's eyelids flickered. With a slight groand, he opened his eyes.
"Albert!" Erisi said, smiling.
"Welcome back to the land of the living," Matthias smirked.
Lavitz rushed over to Albert and helped him into a sitting position.
"Are you feeling well, Albert?" Miranda asked.
"Yes, how are you?" Haschel asked.
"I'm fine." Albert glanced down at his bare abdomen. There was an irregularly shaped vertical scar next to his naval. He placed a hand on his back and felt a similar scar adjacent to his backbone.
"You'll have those scars forever, Albert," Matthias said. "You 'bout wore Erisi out."
"He did wear me out," Erisi corrected, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
Dart smiled. "You had us worried, Albert."
Lavitz nodded in agreement. "I won't let anything else happen to you, King Albert. I swear it!"
Albert grinned. "Thank you, Lavitz. But, just don't refrain me from fighting alongside you."
"I'd never dream of it," Lavitz said. "Besides, you were my star pupil."
"I was your only pupil," Albert said. Chuckles ripped through the room. "Let's get some rest."
Dart laughed. "Of course you'd feel tired, Albert."
Albert waved him off.
"He's right. I'm sure most of us are exhausted after that battle. Come on," Miranda said, heading for the stairs.
"Okay," Lavitz said, following her. As the others headed upstairs, Albert caught Dart's arm as he turned to leave.
"Dart, I have something important to tell you," Albert said.
"What?" Dart asked.
Albert grinned. "Your father told me to tell you that he's very proud of you, and that he loves and misses you greatly."