Allen, Selena and Aronic hurried after Van, passing the barracks quickly. He led them through the New Castle to a corner in the back garden by the barracks. The corner was tilted just so that it could fit about 3 people comfortably, and even though the people inside had a perfect view of the back gardens and courtyard, but nobody could see in unless they were looking for it. Van had built it himself, taking a private "sick day" with nobody realizing he was not in bed.
"Well, Your Majesty?"
"Van, Lady Aronic."
"Aronic," The healer said stubbornly. Van managed another weak grin.
Van considered then rushed into an explanation, "Three years ago, when I went to perform the right to become king by dragon slaying…" Van told Aronic what really happened during the Great War. "And then I had to send Hitomi back. How did you know? I've never told…any information can be used against Fanalia's peace," he concluded.
Selena was staring at Van and Allen couldn't seem to meet his eyes. This was the first time they had ever heard him speak about the Great War, and this was the first time they considered that maybe there was more to winning the war than they had suspected. Aronic stared at him with her large brown eyes wide, then gave herself a visible mental slap.
"All right, so your love, this Hitomi was sent home. Then what? What just happened in the great hall?" Aronic asked with innocent, but characteristic bluntness. Van's whole face flushed a deep red. He had not mentioned how he and Hitomi felt for each other.
"Well, it's obvious. I'm not stupid." Retorted the healer to Van who had now turned a deep mauve. Allen smirked, sure Van was going to pop a blood vessel.
"Somehow Dillandua found Hitomi. I don't know how. Something happened in our heads snapped / exploded. I can't explain…the bridge—that connected Gaea to Earth...no, that connected Hitomi to me, was broken. Somehow it hurt Hitomi. She was…it was like Gaea was pulling her one way, and Mystic Moon was pulling her back." Selena had backed up a step with a quick intake of breath when Van had mentioned Dillandua.
Allen noticed and said icily "Of course, it wasn't Dillandua, since Selena is here and not on the Mystic Moon."
"It was Dillandua," Van shook his head, sure of himself. " But different. It wasn't Selena, but it was Dillandua."
"So let me get this strait, Your—Van. This Hitomi and you are on different worlds, but you love each other. (Van flinched)" Aronic paused. "I think--- this love is different. It's too strong! You won't ever forget or move on to someone else, because there is no one else. Which could turn out to be a dilemma, considering somehow, Your majesty, you have to have an heir, and probably a political marriage." Van growled warningly, but Lady Aronic continued.
"It's just too powerful. You are literally the other half of each other. No one can live a half a person, and you can't forget, so this love is killing you both. It's set off the balance between the worlds, but Hitomi's power sets off the balance to any world so she can't stay here. It would mean catastrophe!
There's something about this girl. She's way too powerful to be a--- a human. But she is. She can change the future to anything. She can call or change anything to her will without realizing it. Her, and your, power is activated by your will. You won't be separated for long! You cannot lie about your will and you both want to be together. And, to top it all, this off balance must have resurrected you enemy, Dillandua, who should not be able to be subject to necromancy. Unless there is a HUGE new force we have to deal with, ten times worse than Dornkirk!" Aronic concluded.
By then Allen, Selena and Van were staring and had concluded that Aronic was extremely quick. It didn't occur to Van to question how quickly Aronic accepted such a bizarre story and concluded some details that he was sure he hadn't mentioned.
"Van," Allen asked blandly "Hitomi told you? You can talk to her?" Van looked sheepish and nodded. "Yes, but---"
"But what?" Selena inquired. She and Van had forged a special friendship because they were both veterans from the war. Sometimes you didn't need to use words to understand someone else.
Van looked up at the stones of the foundation of the small terrace they were speaking in. A bird suddenly started and flew away from its nest nestled halfway up the cobblestones, dislodging a rock from the wall. With a seemingly easy-motion, Van snatched the stone out of the air as it fell.
"I can hardly feel her. It's like a fire that's faded into a tiny spark. Empty. Drained." He said in grim alarm. " The connection between her and Gaea (and me) is broken." As if in afterthought, he added quietly, "She wishes that she would die."
He turned his head away and his fists clenched. They heard a crack and Van opened his hand. The dust that once was a stone fell to the ground and blew away.
"I'm not surprised," said Aronic. "We have some work to do" How could anyone break a connection that strong? Well…whoever has that kind of power won't keep quiet for long.