~ Well, here's another chapter of this story. Hope you like!

Chapter 2

Instead of following her friends into their room, she went with Lantis into the garden. Both were quiet and waited for the other to talk. Hikaru cleared her throat. "Ferio says there was a problem with Cephiro. I did feel it, but it isn't why I was forced to go back here. Lantis, what is going on?"

The Magic Swordsman contemplated with himself whether he should tell Hikaru the real trouble. Shaking his head, he decided to stay silent, that is, until the red head grabbed his wrist. "Please, Lantis, if you won't tell me because of a promise you made, then tell me because as the former Pillar, maybe I could put it in the right."

"Hikaru," Lantis finally said, "No matter what you're going to do to help, it won't work. You can't bring a person back to life, and you won't be able to save one who will die. Isn't that what the last Pillar tried to do? She had much will, but she was unable to bring the dead back to life."

"Dying?" Hikaru asked, eyes wide with worry, "Who? Lantis, who's dying?"

Lantis looked on at Hikaru. "It's not of your concern."

The girl's eyes pleaded, and Lantis sighed. "I can't tell you, Hikaru, as much as I would like to, I can't. I'm sorry."

She smiled, understanding, "It's okay. Maybe that person will decide to say something."

I wouldn't think so, Lantis thought to himself. The two began to walk silently again, enjoying the gardens, which were much larger than before.

"Ferio," Fuu said, smiling, as her prince walked up to her. "I'm so glad to see you again."

The prince smiled as well, and hugged her. "I wondered when you will come and visit the ever prospering Cephiro."

Fuu frowned, "You said that there were monsters here. They are manifestations of the heart. What is happening to the people? Are they losing hope?"

"It's a bit because of that," Ferio admitted, "But…more of it is because this country wasn't really meant to run without a Pillar. It's like a place without government. No law is being followed, and the people wish for whatever their will pleases them to. So, if there are those who seek revenge on certain people, they use their will to conjure monsters for their use. This got out of hand, and now, these monsters are roaming all over the world."

Green eyes flickered, "How sad, to have Cephiro filled with monsters again. If Hikaru reversed her wish, and a new Pillar will be born, do you think Cephiro will go back to its completely wonderful self?"

Ferio smiled gently, "I don't have any knowledge in that. Only Clef knows about it."

"Well, then I'm going to have to ask him," Fuu said, smiling.

I'd like to see you try, Ferio said, shrugging and walking with her back to the throne room.

Umi stopped at the door to the throne room as she heard two voices conversing inside. One she could tell was Presea and the other was obviously Clef. "I don't see why you won't tell them, Master Mage. You are in need of help. Don't you see…?"

"Stop, Presea," Clef said, coughing, "I won't hear this anymore. I don't want them to worry about my condition. If I have to go from Cephiro this way, then let it be. It's time a new Master Mage will come to pass."

As she heard this, Umi could hold herself no more and rushed in, not minding the expressions of Clef and Presea. Blue eyes watered as she thought of what she just heard. "Clef, you're…"

Clef looked down, unable to explain. Presea cleared her throat and stood from her chair, managing a smile. "I'll leave you two."

"Presea," Clef and Umi spoke out. The smith shook her head and closed the door after her.

The two people in the room remained silent for a few minutes. Then, Umi began to speak calmly, "Is this true? About you leaving Cephiro?"

The Master Mage looked at her, sternly, "It isn't my choice. You don't know the reason why I must, but it is not fit for me to stay."

"Tell me the truth, Clef," Umi whispered, "You owe me that much for saving this world."

"It wouldn't matter, you can't stop it from happening."

"Stop what?"

"I'm dying, Umi."

"What?!" Fuu exclaimed, wide-eyed. She was standing, the doors wide open. Ferio looked at both Umi and Clef, and cleared his throat.

Clef turned his back on the three and looked up at the ceiling. "Ferio, please explain. You know better of my illness."

Fuu glanced at Ferio, eyebrows raised. "You knew about this?"

"I'm sorry, Fuu," the prince said, flushed, "He made us promise that we wouldn't tell anyone."

Umi felt faint. Her eyes lost her sparkle and she looked for a place to sit. Seeing her troubled expression, Clef conjured a chair for her, and she looked at him gratefully. "Ferio, Clef said to explain. What is happening in Cephiro?"

"Do you remember that disease that Eagle had before he was killed?" the prince asked, knowing that the two Magic Knights knew very well. "Clef's caught it, although we can't blame Eagle for spreading it to him. It must have been Lady Debonair's last power. To rid Cephiro of their Master Mage."

Fuu shook her head, sadly, "That is horrible."

Lantis and Hikaru walked in the room, with Hikaru puzzled at her friends' expressions. "Umi? Fuu? What's wrong?"

"Clef, you told them," Lantis spoke out, his voice booming, "Why?"

The Master Mage smiled weakly at the swordsman, "Slipped, Lantis. Umi heard from outside. Please, leave me…I need some rest."

Everyone nodded, and hurried out of the room, except for Hikaru, who looked up at the mage. "Clef, we're going to set things right. It'll be okay. Really it will. If I have to, I'll travel to Autozam and back."

"And that's where you're probably going to have to go," a voice from behind spoke up.

~ Yeah, really short, but I kind of ran out of ideas for this chapter. I'll try to make my next chapter longer, k?