PART TWO: MELISSA'S DECISION

It was raining the next day. It rained hard against the cobblestone streets and roofs of the houses, inns, and temples. Inside the tavern, Merrill and Genie sat at their usual table, eating and drinking in silence.
"Good afternoon, girls," Melissa greeted, sitting down at the table.
"Good afternoon."
Merrill looked outside.
"I haven't seen Louie at all today, have you Melissa?"
"No, I have not. And I haven't really been looking for him either."
"Neither have I," Merrill said. "But he's usually shown up to bug us by now."
She faced Melissa.
"Now Melissa, I can't say I don't think Louie is a moron, but I believe you were a little harsh yesterday."
Before Melissa could reply, Genie spoke.
"Harsh words are sometimes good for a person. Helps them grow a backbone and become tough."
Melissa smiled gratefully.
"Thank you, Genie. I…"
"But I wouldn't have gone so far as you did, Melissa."
"What?" Her silken voice sounded surprised.
"Yeah, I mean you told the guy you didn't want to see him anymore. And that he wasn't your champion," Merrill agreed.
"That's because he isn't," Melissa stated firmly.
"But didn't your god grant you a holy vision? A vision that said Louie was your champion?" Genie questioned.
Melissa averted her gaze.
"I believe my god, Mylee, may have been sending me a vision on who my champion was not…or else perhaps Mylee made a mistake…"
Merrill shrugged.
"Well, don't get all worked up over I, Melissa. Louie wouldn't make a very good champion, anyway."
Melissa nodded.
"And he's probably forgotten everything I said yesterday. I bet he never even gave it a second thought."

"Louie? Louie? Are you in there?"
Iya knocked repeatedly on his door for several minutes before simply turning the doorknob and opening it.
"Louie? You really shouldn't leave your door unlocked like that."
Louie was lying in his bed on his stomach, face buried in his pillow. Iya closed the door and stood beside his bed, looking down at him.
"Louie? Is something the matter?"
"I think Melissa's mad at me," he muttered.
Iya sighed and crossed her arms.
"So what is else is new?"
She sat down on the bed.
"What'd you do this time?"
"I don't know."
She sweatdropped.
"Of course you don't…why did I even ask?"
Louie rolled over so he was on his back and stared up at the ceiling.
"But this time is different, Iya. She told me she didn't want to see me anymore."
Iya shrugged.
"Well, can you really blame her?"
Louie and Iya locked eyes in silence.
"You're really no help, you know," Louie stated.
Iya winked and smiled.
"Heh!"

"Don't get all worked up over it, Melissa. Louie wouldn't make a very good champion any way."
Merrill's words repeated themselves in Melissa's head. She stood at her window watching the rain fall down.
"She's right. Louie couldn't handle the responsibility…perhaps Mylee just…didn't see that."
She touched the window lightly.
"Yes, that is what I believe. To think otherwise would be…against my will."
"Melissa?"
Melissa turned from the window to see Jenny walking into her room.
"You wanted to speak with me?"
"Yes, Miss Jenny."
She clasped her hands nervously.
"It's about Louie…I've decided that he cannot be my champion."
Jenny didn't seem too surprised.
"Oh, have you now?"
Melissa swallowed.
"Yes. Miss Jenny, Louie is…well, he just isn't…"
She stopped and sighed.
"Relax, Melissa. It's only natural for you to have a little doubt. Louie is, after all, quite a special one."
"Yes…quite. But Miss Jenny, he doesn't really have the…the qualities of a valiant champion."
"The qualities?"
Jenny sat down in Melissa's chairs and laced her fingers together under her chin.
"So Melissa. What makes you think that Louie would not make a champion?"
"Well…he's always finding some way to mess up our adventures. When he uses magic, half of the time he doesn't know what he's doing…"
"Well, of course. Louie is, despite what he might believe, a beginning magician."
"Yes… He broke his magic wand being completely irresponsible. And he's presumptuous. And he always wants to fight…"
"Isn't that what a champion does?"
"Yes. But, Miss Jenny, a champion knows when the right time is to fight. Louie feels he can fight wherever and whenever he wants."
"I see."
Jenny closed her eyes.
"Melissa?"
"Yes, Miss Jenny?"
"What did Louie do after his wand broke?"
Melissa glanced outside.
"He got a new one," she answered.
"And if I recall correctly, Louie did everything in his power to obtain a new wand. Am I correct?"
"Yes, Miss Jenny."
"And didn't Louie fight your ex-fiancée Conrad in a duel, even though you volunteered him for it, and he did not want to fight?"
"Yes, Miss Jenny… It's just…I don't know what to do with him."
Jenny opened her eyes and looked at Melissa.
"Did you ever do as I suggested earlier?"
Melissa's eyes widened and she sweatdropped.
"No, Miss Jenny, I have not!"
Jenny chuckled.
"Well, there you go."
Melissa felt her face burning.
"Miss Jenny…you can't be serious… That would be completely against my will!"
"Oh, would it?"
Melissa stared at her, not sure of what to say. Jenny stood and turned to leave.
"Miss Jenny!"
Jenny stopped and turned to smile her enigmatic smile at her.
"Melissa. I do believe Louie is your champion, as Mylee has shown you. There is something between you two that neither of you can truly see just yet. Work with him. He can be your valiant champion, but first you must honestly believe he can."
"But…"
"Just think it over, Melissa."
Melissa watched Jenny walk out and close the door behind her. Melissa sighed and sat down on her bed, holding her head in her hands.

End of Part Two