When the journey of the Sorcery Globe had ended, the party was sent back to Expel, and continued their lives as before.
That red-headed snoop named Chisato Madison traveled to Lacour, where she started her own newspaper called The Lacour Gazette.
The renowned pharmacist known as Bowman Jean returned to his hometown of Linga and began to expand his little business. He also approached his dear wife Nineh, with the desire to start a family.
Opera Vectra and Ernest Ravide had repaired their spacecraft once they returned to Expel and blasted off to Tetragenes. Ernest stopped running off on archeological assignments without Opera knowing and together they began to take their relationship through more serious steps.
The lone stranger that fought only on his own behalf, Dias Flac, returned to Arlia to pay his respects to the grave of his deceased family. Then he continued traveling, to Lacour for the Tournament of Arms, and also for a personal reason of his that would soon open up his heart to a young woman.
Treasure hunter Celine Jules had begun a romance with Prince Clother of Cross during the Sorcery Globe investigation. As soon as she set foot on Expel, she had the desire to bask in the warm loving glow of her Prince. Gathering family and friends, her wedding was held.
And yes, the heroes too, began to build a relationship.
Claude had decided to stay in Arlia. He cited Expel's peaceful environment and happy cities and people as his reason for staying. He had another reason though.......
And Rena had finally learned who she was and where she came from, and understood it all. Since that goal of hers was reached, Rena had another goal set up that she hoped in her heart would come true........
*******
"So you've decided to stay in Arlia?" Rena asked Claude as they sat together on the bridge in western Arlia.
"Yes," Claude answered quickly. "Arlia is such a tranquil village. Its people so happy and accepting of one another. The other cities of Expel are grand as well. Such a beautiful planet to grow up in."
"But what of Earth?" Rena sadly remarked.
"Pardon?"
"You would always talk of Earth. It is your home. Don't you want to go back to it. You will probably be needed to continue your father's work....."
At the mention of his father, Claude felt his heart heave. He desperately missed his father, as any child would. Claude felt his eyes begin to well up with tears and quickly turned away so that Rena would not see him cry. "They don't need me," Claude blurted out as he struggled to wipe away the falling tears.
"Claude?" Rena, concerned, edged towards him and held him. "I'm sorry I brought that up. Of course, you still miss him."
Claude said nothing but stared down into the murky river water below. He had wiped away all the tears, but as he looked at his reflection in the water, he saw the image of his father, and one single tear rolled silently down his cheek and dripped down to the water below, creating a spiral of ripples in the water.
"I'm sorry Claude," Rena tried to comfort him.
"No, I'm all right," Claude protested. "It's nothing."
"It is not nothing," Rena spat out. "Your father was a great man. Everybody admired him. His life, now, is gone. But you must realize that he is not completely gone. He will live forever in our hearts. We will never forget him and he will never forget us. And he is watching over you, knowing that you will make him proud."
Claude looked up and turned to face Rena. He was wide eyed, unbelieving of Rena's faith in his father, whom she had never met.
Rena took Claude's hands in her own and held them tight. "Never forget who you are, Claude Kenni. You are the son of a great man who accomplished much, and I know you will do the same." She smiled at him and solemnly nodded her head.
Claude looked back at the river, feeling ashamed. "How can you have so much faith in a person you have never met?" he asked her.
Rena then felt a deep pain as she remembered the image of her mother. She felt as if she would cry. She released Claude's hands. "I used to have no memories of my real mother. We took a risk with the investigation of the Sorcery Globe and through that, I finally realized who I was. I saw my mother in that record at the Heraldry Weapons Laboratory on Energy Nede. I have the faith that my mother loved me. I know that she did, and still does. She is in a world now, with those who have met the end of their physical lives. She's there, with your father." Rena tried her best to hold back the tears, but they came anyway.
"Rena!" Claude held her tight as if the world were coming to an end.
Rena just held him tight and continued to sob.
After a while, Rena accepted what had happened in the past and stopped crying.
"You okay now?" Claude smiled at Rena.
Evening was settling on the little village of Arlia and the two of them were all alone outside.
"Yes, I'm fine," Rena told him.
"You're right. They are watching us. We will always remember them." Claude agreed with what Rena had said earlier. "They will witness the great events of our lives. When we find love, and......." Claude trailed off.
Rena looked up at him and Claude lost concentration. Claude found himself to be staring at Rena intently, lost in her physical beauty. He examined her facial features, which were draped in her cream- white skin, smooth, and glowing in the moonlight. Her eyes blinked and exposed beautiful blue irises, as blue as the night time sky. Rena's hair curtained her forehead and head, and shone shades of violet, blue, and turquoise in the light, and nestled within the folds of her hair sat her precious gold crescent hairpin, and it too shone in the glowing moonlight. And her lips, were blazing a fire red, and begged to be tenderly kissed by a secret love. Rena's crimson lips parted and softly smiled, while her eyes, half closed, pleaded for a romantic moment.
"Yes, Claude?" Rena softly chanted in her heavenly voice.
Claude couldn't answer. He began to become lost in his emotions for Rena. He felt a strong attraction to her, and was sure it was love. He began to lean towards her.
"Rena, I....." Claude tried to explain what he felt for her, as he had been longing to do for a long time. His heart thumped wildly as he began to feel a passion for Rena.
"Claude," Rena began, "remember when, during our Sorcery Globe expedition, we became stranded on the continent of El?"
Claude, because words failed to come through him to answer, just nodded.
"Well, when you arrived in the colony of the refugees of the city of Eluria, I expressed how happy I was to see you alive by hugging you. And then I told you how I truly felt towards you. Do you remember what I said?"
Claude, still overwhelmed, remained silent and nodded once more.
"Yes, you remember. I had said that I didn't want anyone but you."
"Is there something you need to tell me about that?" Claude finally found the words.
"Yes." Rena looked down into the creek below the bridge. "I saw you, just now, as you looked at me."
Claude quickly snapped out of his trance and sat straight up.
"No one has ever looked at me that way before. You looked at me deeply Claude. My mother, Westa, told me to watch out when a boy looked at me the way you just did."
"What!? I mean, why? Is it bad? Cause I'll stop if it bothers you......."
"No! No, Claude. Its alright. It isn't bad."
"What did Westa tell you?" Claude scratched his head.
"Westa told me that when my father, her husband, looked at her that way for the first time, she realized that he felt deeply for her."
"So.......what does that have to do with me?" Claude pretended he didn't know what Rena meant. But he did know.
"Well, when she told me about it, I didn't understand what she meant, but now I know, because of what you just did."
Claude fidgeted nervously with the straps on his gloves, but didn't say anything.
"Claude, do you feel that way for me?" Rena asked him and looked intently into his eyes.
"Well, I........." Claude didn't look at her.
"Claude, I need to know. Because, well, I have those feelings for you." Rena searched Claude's face for a sign.
As Claude heard Rena gently say those words, he turned to face her, and their eyes locked. Once more, Claude found himself studying her face, but her eyes more so. Rena's eyes showed him her deep inner being, her feelings and emotions, and he finally understood her soul as it had been struggling to show him her being so many times before.
Without words, Claude tenderly clasped Rena's hands in his own, and leaned closer to her than he had never been before. He inched towards her face, as he wanted to present her lips with their secret wish.
"Rena, I'm sorry I've never told you or showed you how I felt. But I truly and deeply care for you, and now that we understand each other, I feel that we can become closer." Claude stared intently into Rena's baby blue eyes, and then began to close them as his lips gently brushed against hers.
Claude was filled with a passion for Rena that he had felt to a lower degree before, but now it was much, much stronger. The thought of his confession to her finally brought a relief down on him as he lightly encircled Rena's waist with his arms, and drew her in closer.
Rena too, felt a serenity as her mind was freed from a barrier of fear of what Claude felt for her. She felt a deep happiness, as she had learned that the youth she loved felt the same way. As Claude pulled her in close, Rena wrapped her arms around his neck, and allowed a single tear of joy to slide down her cheek.
During all these thoughts, the warm kiss continued, and displayed the romantic moment that they had been longing to share together for a long time.
After a twinkling of showing their passion for one another, the two released from the lip lock, and each took a deep breath. But they continued to stare fiercely into each other's eyes.
This time, Rena found herself examining Claude's appearance. Her eyes wandered over his tanned skin, that showed some small scars from childhood. She then explored his eyes, which were navy blue in colour, and gazed steadfastly into her own. Claude's sandy blond hair was frizzy, and dangled in wisps all over his head from his scalp. Lastly, Rena inspected her love's lips. They had been dry and chapped before their forbidden kiss, but now they were moist and warm, from feeling the heat of passion with their smooch.
"Whoa," Claude finally gasped.
"Claude," Rena, still in Claude's arms, continued to gaze upon him. "I truly love you."
"Rena, I feel the same. I love you," Claude pulled her in tighter.
"I wish we could be like this forever." Rena sighed happily. "But, we must go home before Westa worries," she pulled away from him.
"Oh, yeah," Claude remembered that it was evening. But at that time, night was falling.
"We must go back," Rena reluctantly said.
"Yeah." Claude stood up, but continued to hold Rena's hand.
Together they walked towards the eastern part of Arlia, where Rena's and the Mayor's houses were.
Claude walked with Rena towards her front door.
"Claude, words cannot describe how much love I have for you. I truly and deeply care for you." Rena wrapped her arms about Claude's neck and leaned in close.
"Yes I know. I wish I could say something that would show you how I feel. But I can't think of one word. Perhaps we should make some up......" Claude smiled.
Rena laughed. "If only we could," and she leaned in close to allow for their lips to touch for a goodnight kiss.
When they finally pulled away, Claude reached over and opened the front door of Rena's house. "Goodnight, Rena," Claude softly chanted in Rena's ear as she stepped inside her house. He brought her hand up to his lips, and tenderly kissed it.
With a warm loving smile on her face, Rena returned his farewell with a peck on his cheek. "Goodnight," Rena slowly closed the door.
Claude then turned and walked towards the Mayor's house. Because Claude had decided to stay in Arlia, Mayor Regis had offered to share his home with Claude.
Before he opened the door of the Mayor's house, Claude paused a ran through his mind the newly discovered images he had discovered. Images of Rena, of the throbbing passions he felt for her, and of the love she had for him which he finally knew.
But then Claude felt a fear. A fear of what would happen to the friendship that was between him and Rena. He had enjoyed the fun times they had together, and the times when they could tell each other anything.
"Will those moments change?" Claude thought to himself. "Will they change now because of our love? Now anything we do together is probably going to be related to or based on our love. There's nothing wrong with that, in fact I'm very happy that we feel the same way about each other. But will everything we do now be something to benefit our relationship?"
Then Claude felt a reassurance. He felt pride and encouragement to show all people how much love he had for Rena. "No, nothing will change. Our love will deepen our friendship. Now we can tell each other absolutely anything and it won't hurt our feelings of friendship for one another. We can do anything together and have love in everything we do. I truly love Rena, and nothing at all can change that."
With a satisfaction in his heart for what he had accomplished, Claude pushed open the door of the Mayor's house and entered.
"Where have you been all evening?" Mayor Regis's voice asked Claude. "You missed dinner."
"Oh, I'm sorry, sir," Claude apologized as he faked a yawn. "I'm really tired so I might as well just go to bed." He stretched his arms way out and the scratched his head.
"Of course," Mayor Regis smiled warmly. "Goodnight, Claude."
"Goodnight, sir," Claude replied as he walked up the stairs.
*******
Rena was very happy that Claude felt the same way for her as she did for him. She desired nothing more than to be with Claude for all her life. She truly loved him and hoped that some day, Claude would consent to Rena's wish and they could be married.
Claude too, was amazed that Rena had these strong feelings for him, and he loved Rena deeply. He had never felt these emotions for a girl before and felt that maybe this meant that the two of them were meant to be together. But he had no idea if Rena felt the same for him.
As Claude and Rena began to grow deeper in the relationship, the villagers made allowances for their love.
Westa was at first a bit afraid, but was comforted at the fact that the man Rena was in love with was someone she knew and was kind and caring. Mayor Regis accepted the romance, and encouraged the two to express their love in any way they could.
Three happy years passed with Claude and Rena loving each other strongly and truly. After that time, when Rena turned 20 years old, Claude decided that their love was strong enough to take the next big step.......
*******
Rena sat on the ledge of the bridge that crossed the small creek in western Arlia. For about 20 minutes she had sat there waiting, waiting for Claude. He had asked her to meet him at the bridge, but he hadn't shown up. Rena would have left, but Claude had said that it was very important that she meet him that afternoon, so she waited.
Rena saw that Lucia was playing with a toy sailboat in the river behind her.
"Be careful that you don't fall in," Rena warned the little boy.
"I am, Big Sister Rena," Lucia smiled at her. As Lucia stood up, he slipped and fell into the water.
Rena was instantly by his side as she pulled him out of the water.
"Are you okay?" Rena asked him as she tried to dry his hair with her cloak.
Lucia looked up at her, tears welling up in his eyes. "I scraped my knee!" Lucia wailed and buried his face in her cape.
"Now, now," Rena comforted the weeping child. "I can heal it." She leaned down and gently touching the wound on Lucia's knee, she willed the cut to be healed. Instantly the skin regrew and the bleeding stopped.
"Thank you, Big Sister Rena!" Lucia reached up and gave Rena a strong hug.
"Oh, your welcome, Lucia," Rena laughed.
"Lucia! Its time for supper!" a woman called in the distance.
"Oh, boy! Daikon Miso soup!" Lucia licked his lips as he hastily picked up his sailboat and ran off. "Thank you!" Lucia waved back at Rena.
Rena smiled to herself, then resumed her position on the bridge. She looked through the gates of the village, to the horizon, where the sun was setting.
"He'd better come soon," Rena thought to herself. "Mother is going to want me to come home for dinner."
Just then, Rena's eyes were covered by someone's hands from behind.
"Guess who," a familiar voice questioned her.
Laughing, Rena, with the hands still on her eyes, turned around to face whoever the person was. But she knew who it was. She felt the person's face, then inched towards it, and kissed it on the lips.
The person removed their hands, then placed them on Rena's hips and drew her close, but Rena kept her eyes closed, as she continued to kiss the person.
Finally, she stopped, pulled away, and opened her eyes.
"Aww.......it's no fun when you know its me," Claude complained.
"Here's a kiss to say I'm sorry," Rena leaned close and kissed him again.
"Have you been waiting long?" Claude asked her as he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her on the cheek.
"Only a few minutes," Rena lied. "So what's this important thing you had to discuss?" she looked intently into his navy blue eyes.
"Well," Claude pulled away and then leaned over the side of the bridge to look down into the rippling river water below. "Rena, today is the anniversary of that time 3 years ago when we confessed our love for one another."
"You want to celebrate it?" Rena leaned over the bridge as well and watched a fish swim up the shallow stream below.
"Yes, but in a different way," Claude began to fumble with something in his jacket pocket.
"Whatever do you mean?" Rena expressed a puzzled look on her face as she turned to face her lover.
"Well, we love each other deeply, Rena. With each passing day I feel a pain when we are parted. It aches me when we cannot be together. This throbbing desire I have to be with you becomes stronger every day. I feel that we should make some kind of a commitment to each other. I can't bear any minute that we are separated. Now, more than ever, I feel that I need to fulfill my urges to be with you forever. I cannot deny these feelings of earnest hunger that I have whenever you are near me. And because you are now 20 years old, I feel that together we can make that promise."
"Claude," Rena, still with the look of puzzlement on her face, asked earnestly, "can you explain to me what you are saying?"
"Rena," Claude looked up from the river and deep into her eyes. He raised his hand to her face, and gently stroked her cheek. Then he moved his hand to underneath her chin, and delicately drew her face towards his. He then compassionately planted a warm, loving kiss on her lips.
"Claude," Rena began to tremble with the cold air of the evening.
"I'm sorry I had come this late, Rena, but I urgently need to ask you something, now." Claude stood up and pulled Rena in close, sharing his body warmth with her.
"You can tell me anything, love," Rena pulled in very close and hugged him tight.
Claude took a deep breath. "As I had said before, I desperately need you by my side now more than ever, Rena." He deeply sighed and pulled out a jewelry case from his pocket. "I feel that now you are old enough to complete my life."
"Oh, Claude!" Rena gasped as Claude carefully stooped down on one knee.
"Rena, I was late because I had to quickly retrieve this from Salva." He opened up the small case, and turned it towards Rena.
Rena peered down into the box, and gulped. Inside was a gleaming gold ring with a beautiful diamond, in the style of an engagement ring.
"Rena," Claude swallowed hard and stared intently into her eyes. "Will you do me the honour of allowing me to become your husband?"
"Oh, Claude!" Rena knelt down beside him. Claude took the diamond ring from the box, and took Rena's left hand into his own. He picked out her ring finger, and placed the ring on it.
Rena began to daintily cry, but these were not tears of pain or sorrow, these were tears of complete joy. Rena's heart skipped a happy beat as she realized that her goal had been met. To keep the moment sacred, Rena said nothing, but leaned towards her love, and kissed him long and serious, love shining everywhere around them.
After a few minutes, the couple released from the kiss. Rena continued to sob, and Claude held her tight.
"I love you more dearly than life itself," Claude told her, and kissed her on the cheek. "I would wish for nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you."
Rena gently pulled away, so that she could look into his eyes. She saw total love and faith deep within Claude instruments of vision, and trusted that.
Slowly, Claude stood up, and held on to Rena tightly, as her body was quivering from the evening breeze and what she felt at that joyful moment. Rena struggled to keep her footing, she felt no balance - all she felt was the love she had for Claude.
Softly, Claude whispered in Rena's ear, "You haven't given me an answer."
Rena quietly whimpered.
"Rena? What's wrong?" Claude became worried.
"I'm just so happy," Rena managed to say. "My love for you is greater than words can describe. I just can't believe that you just asked me to marry you. But I have faith in our love and you, and my only desire is for us to be together forever. Claude, love of my life, it would complete my life were we to get married, and yes, I will marry you."
Rena collapsed into Claude's arms. Claude silently enveloped Rena in his adoring embrace, and Rena gazed passionately into his eyes. Love surrounded the two, who were finally engaged to be wed.
And there, in the early moonlight, the lovebirds shared an engagement kiss, one that they would cherish in their hearts and remember forever, as it was experienced between them, alone, in a moment that could never be ruined, a moment when they confessed their complete love for one another, and decided to make the commitment to be together for the rest of their physical and spiritual lives.
As they lovers continued to embrace and share the engagement kiss, Rena heard a familiar voice in the distance, calling her name. Rena began to pull away, but was so full of adoration for Claude and the magical moment, that she drew even closer to her love, and held tightly, as if the world were coming to an end.
The person calling came closer, and Claude saw the figure in the shadows. He tenderly loosened from Rena's embrace, and ended the passionate kiss. He turned to face the being who was calling Rena's name.
Still holding Rena's hand, Claude approached the person, and asked, "Yes, what do you want?"
"Forgive me, children," Westa apologized and then turned to Rena. "Mayor Regis and I were waiting for you two so that we could start dinner."
"Oh, Mother! I'm so sorry! I completely forgot!" tugging on Claude's hand, Rena ran towards her house. "We mustn't keep Mayor Regis waiting!" Westa quickly followed her daughter and Claude.
*******
"That was a delicious supper, Westa!" Mayor Regis praised Rena's Mother's cooking. "Your corn pottage always tastes devine!"
"Yes, thank you for inviting me to supper, Westa," Claude said. "It was all very delicious." He looked towards Rena.
Westa blushed. "Oh, it was nothing, really. You should taste Rena's shortcake. Rena, be a dear and retrieve it from the kitchen."
"There's dessert, too?" Mayor Regis marveled.
"Yes, Mother," Rena started to get up from her seat. Before she did, she reached towards her glass of orangenade, with her left hand, to drink the last of it. As she did, Westa noticed the light glint off a piece of jewelry on Rena's ring finger.
"Oh, Rena! What a beautiful ring! It looks like gold and diamond!" Westa stared at the ring.
Rena quickly drew her hand away, "Yes, Mother, it is a real gold and diamond ring."
Mayor Regis now became aware of the stunning piece of jewelry. "Rena, why are you wearing it on your ring finger?" he demanded as he scratched his head and pointed at it.
"It's an engagement ring," Claude piped up as he took Rena's left hand into his own and held it out so that the adults could inspect the ring.
"AN ENGAGEMENT RING!?" Mayor Regis and Westa inquired at the same time.
"Yes," Rena began, "Mother, Mayor Regis, Claude and I are engaged to be wed." Rena turned towards her future husband and hugged him close.
"Oh, Rena!" Westa stood up from her seat and reached over to embrace her daughter.
Mayor Regis extended his hand towards Claude, "You are so lucky to have Rena," Mayor Regis warmly shook Claude's hand.
*******
For the rest of the night, the dinner party discussed Claude and Rena's future wedding. They completely forgot about Rena's shortcake.
They planned out the wedding for the beginning of the next month, which didn't leave much time for preparation.
Westa told them that before they got married, they had to find a place to live. But that was going to be her gift to them. The carpenter in Arlia, Mr. Bossman, was in need of a nanny for his children, since he was often away from home, doing his work. Westa decided to take the job, and she could move into the guest room of Mr. Bossman's house. That way, Claude and Rena would have Rena's household to live in.
Many toasts of good fortune were dedicated to the newlyweds. But Rena felt that the most benevolent and touching speech was made by her childhood friend, Dias Flac.
"I have not been to Arlia for a long time," the swordsman began, "but I can now see what has been happening. Love surrounds you, Claude and Rena, never must you abandon that emotion. Love can sometimes be confusing, its often hard to see what it truly is as it takes many forms. We can only see this feeling with our hearts. Only our heart knows the secret of love and can define the sensation into our language, so that we can understand it. But even if we understand it, we never know it entirely. No one person can see love in its entirety. But, on this day, I think that two people have harnessed the power of passion. Claude and Rena can see love, in each other, as they have that feeling for one another. They are truly meant for each other. I hope that someday, I too may find happiness in a person, and that I can live my life with them forever once I am very sure that we were meant to be. Love is always everywhere, it picks its victims by fate. Claude and Rena, you are two of love's destined, and on this day you have confirmed that," here, Dias paused, and took a deep breath. He glanced over to where Claude and Rena sat, and for the first time since his family's death, Rena saw Dias smile. "With each passing day, starting today, you will grow closer to each other until your souls have connected to create one spirit. The future shows many new and important occurrences in you lives together. You will experience joy and sorrow, and a wide array of new and different feelings, but always you shall feel love," and with those last words, Dias sat down.
That red-headed snoop named Chisato Madison traveled to Lacour, where she started her own newspaper called The Lacour Gazette.
The renowned pharmacist known as Bowman Jean returned to his hometown of Linga and began to expand his little business. He also approached his dear wife Nineh, with the desire to start a family.
Opera Vectra and Ernest Ravide had repaired their spacecraft once they returned to Expel and blasted off to Tetragenes. Ernest stopped running off on archeological assignments without Opera knowing and together they began to take their relationship through more serious steps.
The lone stranger that fought only on his own behalf, Dias Flac, returned to Arlia to pay his respects to the grave of his deceased family. Then he continued traveling, to Lacour for the Tournament of Arms, and also for a personal reason of his that would soon open up his heart to a young woman.
Treasure hunter Celine Jules had begun a romance with Prince Clother of Cross during the Sorcery Globe investigation. As soon as she set foot on Expel, she had the desire to bask in the warm loving glow of her Prince. Gathering family and friends, her wedding was held.
And yes, the heroes too, began to build a relationship.
Claude had decided to stay in Arlia. He cited Expel's peaceful environment and happy cities and people as his reason for staying. He had another reason though.......
And Rena had finally learned who she was and where she came from, and understood it all. Since that goal of hers was reached, Rena had another goal set up that she hoped in her heart would come true........
*******
"So you've decided to stay in Arlia?" Rena asked Claude as they sat together on the bridge in western Arlia.
"Yes," Claude answered quickly. "Arlia is such a tranquil village. Its people so happy and accepting of one another. The other cities of Expel are grand as well. Such a beautiful planet to grow up in."
"But what of Earth?" Rena sadly remarked.
"Pardon?"
"You would always talk of Earth. It is your home. Don't you want to go back to it. You will probably be needed to continue your father's work....."
At the mention of his father, Claude felt his heart heave. He desperately missed his father, as any child would. Claude felt his eyes begin to well up with tears and quickly turned away so that Rena would not see him cry. "They don't need me," Claude blurted out as he struggled to wipe away the falling tears.
"Claude?" Rena, concerned, edged towards him and held him. "I'm sorry I brought that up. Of course, you still miss him."
Claude said nothing but stared down into the murky river water below. He had wiped away all the tears, but as he looked at his reflection in the water, he saw the image of his father, and one single tear rolled silently down his cheek and dripped down to the water below, creating a spiral of ripples in the water.
"I'm sorry Claude," Rena tried to comfort him.
"No, I'm all right," Claude protested. "It's nothing."
"It is not nothing," Rena spat out. "Your father was a great man. Everybody admired him. His life, now, is gone. But you must realize that he is not completely gone. He will live forever in our hearts. We will never forget him and he will never forget us. And he is watching over you, knowing that you will make him proud."
Claude looked up and turned to face Rena. He was wide eyed, unbelieving of Rena's faith in his father, whom she had never met.
Rena took Claude's hands in her own and held them tight. "Never forget who you are, Claude Kenni. You are the son of a great man who accomplished much, and I know you will do the same." She smiled at him and solemnly nodded her head.
Claude looked back at the river, feeling ashamed. "How can you have so much faith in a person you have never met?" he asked her.
Rena then felt a deep pain as she remembered the image of her mother. She felt as if she would cry. She released Claude's hands. "I used to have no memories of my real mother. We took a risk with the investigation of the Sorcery Globe and through that, I finally realized who I was. I saw my mother in that record at the Heraldry Weapons Laboratory on Energy Nede. I have the faith that my mother loved me. I know that she did, and still does. She is in a world now, with those who have met the end of their physical lives. She's there, with your father." Rena tried her best to hold back the tears, but they came anyway.
"Rena!" Claude held her tight as if the world were coming to an end.
Rena just held him tight and continued to sob.
After a while, Rena accepted what had happened in the past and stopped crying.
"You okay now?" Claude smiled at Rena.
Evening was settling on the little village of Arlia and the two of them were all alone outside.
"Yes, I'm fine," Rena told him.
"You're right. They are watching us. We will always remember them." Claude agreed with what Rena had said earlier. "They will witness the great events of our lives. When we find love, and......." Claude trailed off.
Rena looked up at him and Claude lost concentration. Claude found himself to be staring at Rena intently, lost in her physical beauty. He examined her facial features, which were draped in her cream- white skin, smooth, and glowing in the moonlight. Her eyes blinked and exposed beautiful blue irises, as blue as the night time sky. Rena's hair curtained her forehead and head, and shone shades of violet, blue, and turquoise in the light, and nestled within the folds of her hair sat her precious gold crescent hairpin, and it too shone in the glowing moonlight. And her lips, were blazing a fire red, and begged to be tenderly kissed by a secret love. Rena's crimson lips parted and softly smiled, while her eyes, half closed, pleaded for a romantic moment.
"Yes, Claude?" Rena softly chanted in her heavenly voice.
Claude couldn't answer. He began to become lost in his emotions for Rena. He felt a strong attraction to her, and was sure it was love. He began to lean towards her.
"Rena, I....." Claude tried to explain what he felt for her, as he had been longing to do for a long time. His heart thumped wildly as he began to feel a passion for Rena.
"Claude," Rena began, "remember when, during our Sorcery Globe expedition, we became stranded on the continent of El?"
Claude, because words failed to come through him to answer, just nodded.
"Well, when you arrived in the colony of the refugees of the city of Eluria, I expressed how happy I was to see you alive by hugging you. And then I told you how I truly felt towards you. Do you remember what I said?"
Claude, still overwhelmed, remained silent and nodded once more.
"Yes, you remember. I had said that I didn't want anyone but you."
"Is there something you need to tell me about that?" Claude finally found the words.
"Yes." Rena looked down into the creek below the bridge. "I saw you, just now, as you looked at me."
Claude quickly snapped out of his trance and sat straight up.
"No one has ever looked at me that way before. You looked at me deeply Claude. My mother, Westa, told me to watch out when a boy looked at me the way you just did."
"What!? I mean, why? Is it bad? Cause I'll stop if it bothers you......."
"No! No, Claude. Its alright. It isn't bad."
"What did Westa tell you?" Claude scratched his head.
"Westa told me that when my father, her husband, looked at her that way for the first time, she realized that he felt deeply for her."
"So.......what does that have to do with me?" Claude pretended he didn't know what Rena meant. But he did know.
"Well, when she told me about it, I didn't understand what she meant, but now I know, because of what you just did."
Claude fidgeted nervously with the straps on his gloves, but didn't say anything.
"Claude, do you feel that way for me?" Rena asked him and looked intently into his eyes.
"Well, I........." Claude didn't look at her.
"Claude, I need to know. Because, well, I have those feelings for you." Rena searched Claude's face for a sign.
As Claude heard Rena gently say those words, he turned to face her, and their eyes locked. Once more, Claude found himself studying her face, but her eyes more so. Rena's eyes showed him her deep inner being, her feelings and emotions, and he finally understood her soul as it had been struggling to show him her being so many times before.
Without words, Claude tenderly clasped Rena's hands in his own, and leaned closer to her than he had never been before. He inched towards her face, as he wanted to present her lips with their secret wish.
"Rena, I'm sorry I've never told you or showed you how I felt. But I truly and deeply care for you, and now that we understand each other, I feel that we can become closer." Claude stared intently into Rena's baby blue eyes, and then began to close them as his lips gently brushed against hers.
Claude was filled with a passion for Rena that he had felt to a lower degree before, but now it was much, much stronger. The thought of his confession to her finally brought a relief down on him as he lightly encircled Rena's waist with his arms, and drew her in closer.
Rena too, felt a serenity as her mind was freed from a barrier of fear of what Claude felt for her. She felt a deep happiness, as she had learned that the youth she loved felt the same way. As Claude pulled her in close, Rena wrapped her arms around his neck, and allowed a single tear of joy to slide down her cheek.
During all these thoughts, the warm kiss continued, and displayed the romantic moment that they had been longing to share together for a long time.
After a twinkling of showing their passion for one another, the two released from the lip lock, and each took a deep breath. But they continued to stare fiercely into each other's eyes.
This time, Rena found herself examining Claude's appearance. Her eyes wandered over his tanned skin, that showed some small scars from childhood. She then explored his eyes, which were navy blue in colour, and gazed steadfastly into her own. Claude's sandy blond hair was frizzy, and dangled in wisps all over his head from his scalp. Lastly, Rena inspected her love's lips. They had been dry and chapped before their forbidden kiss, but now they were moist and warm, from feeling the heat of passion with their smooch.
"Whoa," Claude finally gasped.
"Claude," Rena, still in Claude's arms, continued to gaze upon him. "I truly love you."
"Rena, I feel the same. I love you," Claude pulled her in tighter.
"I wish we could be like this forever." Rena sighed happily. "But, we must go home before Westa worries," she pulled away from him.
"Oh, yeah," Claude remembered that it was evening. But at that time, night was falling.
"We must go back," Rena reluctantly said.
"Yeah." Claude stood up, but continued to hold Rena's hand.
Together they walked towards the eastern part of Arlia, where Rena's and the Mayor's houses were.
Claude walked with Rena towards her front door.
"Claude, words cannot describe how much love I have for you. I truly and deeply care for you." Rena wrapped her arms about Claude's neck and leaned in close.
"Yes I know. I wish I could say something that would show you how I feel. But I can't think of one word. Perhaps we should make some up......" Claude smiled.
Rena laughed. "If only we could," and she leaned in close to allow for their lips to touch for a goodnight kiss.
When they finally pulled away, Claude reached over and opened the front door of Rena's house. "Goodnight, Rena," Claude softly chanted in Rena's ear as she stepped inside her house. He brought her hand up to his lips, and tenderly kissed it.
With a warm loving smile on her face, Rena returned his farewell with a peck on his cheek. "Goodnight," Rena slowly closed the door.
Claude then turned and walked towards the Mayor's house. Because Claude had decided to stay in Arlia, Mayor Regis had offered to share his home with Claude.
Before he opened the door of the Mayor's house, Claude paused a ran through his mind the newly discovered images he had discovered. Images of Rena, of the throbbing passions he felt for her, and of the love she had for him which he finally knew.
But then Claude felt a fear. A fear of what would happen to the friendship that was between him and Rena. He had enjoyed the fun times they had together, and the times when they could tell each other anything.
"Will those moments change?" Claude thought to himself. "Will they change now because of our love? Now anything we do together is probably going to be related to or based on our love. There's nothing wrong with that, in fact I'm very happy that we feel the same way about each other. But will everything we do now be something to benefit our relationship?"
Then Claude felt a reassurance. He felt pride and encouragement to show all people how much love he had for Rena. "No, nothing will change. Our love will deepen our friendship. Now we can tell each other absolutely anything and it won't hurt our feelings of friendship for one another. We can do anything together and have love in everything we do. I truly love Rena, and nothing at all can change that."
With a satisfaction in his heart for what he had accomplished, Claude pushed open the door of the Mayor's house and entered.
"Where have you been all evening?" Mayor Regis's voice asked Claude. "You missed dinner."
"Oh, I'm sorry, sir," Claude apologized as he faked a yawn. "I'm really tired so I might as well just go to bed." He stretched his arms way out and the scratched his head.
"Of course," Mayor Regis smiled warmly. "Goodnight, Claude."
"Goodnight, sir," Claude replied as he walked up the stairs.
*******
Rena was very happy that Claude felt the same way for her as she did for him. She desired nothing more than to be with Claude for all her life. She truly loved him and hoped that some day, Claude would consent to Rena's wish and they could be married.
Claude too, was amazed that Rena had these strong feelings for him, and he loved Rena deeply. He had never felt these emotions for a girl before and felt that maybe this meant that the two of them were meant to be together. But he had no idea if Rena felt the same for him.
As Claude and Rena began to grow deeper in the relationship, the villagers made allowances for their love.
Westa was at first a bit afraid, but was comforted at the fact that the man Rena was in love with was someone she knew and was kind and caring. Mayor Regis accepted the romance, and encouraged the two to express their love in any way they could.
Three happy years passed with Claude and Rena loving each other strongly and truly. After that time, when Rena turned 20 years old, Claude decided that their love was strong enough to take the next big step.......
*******
Rena sat on the ledge of the bridge that crossed the small creek in western Arlia. For about 20 minutes she had sat there waiting, waiting for Claude. He had asked her to meet him at the bridge, but he hadn't shown up. Rena would have left, but Claude had said that it was very important that she meet him that afternoon, so she waited.
Rena saw that Lucia was playing with a toy sailboat in the river behind her.
"Be careful that you don't fall in," Rena warned the little boy.
"I am, Big Sister Rena," Lucia smiled at her. As Lucia stood up, he slipped and fell into the water.
Rena was instantly by his side as she pulled him out of the water.
"Are you okay?" Rena asked him as she tried to dry his hair with her cloak.
Lucia looked up at her, tears welling up in his eyes. "I scraped my knee!" Lucia wailed and buried his face in her cape.
"Now, now," Rena comforted the weeping child. "I can heal it." She leaned down and gently touching the wound on Lucia's knee, she willed the cut to be healed. Instantly the skin regrew and the bleeding stopped.
"Thank you, Big Sister Rena!" Lucia reached up and gave Rena a strong hug.
"Oh, your welcome, Lucia," Rena laughed.
"Lucia! Its time for supper!" a woman called in the distance.
"Oh, boy! Daikon Miso soup!" Lucia licked his lips as he hastily picked up his sailboat and ran off. "Thank you!" Lucia waved back at Rena.
Rena smiled to herself, then resumed her position on the bridge. She looked through the gates of the village, to the horizon, where the sun was setting.
"He'd better come soon," Rena thought to herself. "Mother is going to want me to come home for dinner."
Just then, Rena's eyes were covered by someone's hands from behind.
"Guess who," a familiar voice questioned her.
Laughing, Rena, with the hands still on her eyes, turned around to face whoever the person was. But she knew who it was. She felt the person's face, then inched towards it, and kissed it on the lips.
The person removed their hands, then placed them on Rena's hips and drew her close, but Rena kept her eyes closed, as she continued to kiss the person.
Finally, she stopped, pulled away, and opened her eyes.
"Aww.......it's no fun when you know its me," Claude complained.
"Here's a kiss to say I'm sorry," Rena leaned close and kissed him again.
"Have you been waiting long?" Claude asked her as he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her on the cheek.
"Only a few minutes," Rena lied. "So what's this important thing you had to discuss?" she looked intently into his navy blue eyes.
"Well," Claude pulled away and then leaned over the side of the bridge to look down into the rippling river water below. "Rena, today is the anniversary of that time 3 years ago when we confessed our love for one another."
"You want to celebrate it?" Rena leaned over the bridge as well and watched a fish swim up the shallow stream below.
"Yes, but in a different way," Claude began to fumble with something in his jacket pocket.
"Whatever do you mean?" Rena expressed a puzzled look on her face as she turned to face her lover.
"Well, we love each other deeply, Rena. With each passing day I feel a pain when we are parted. It aches me when we cannot be together. This throbbing desire I have to be with you becomes stronger every day. I feel that we should make some kind of a commitment to each other. I can't bear any minute that we are separated. Now, more than ever, I feel that I need to fulfill my urges to be with you forever. I cannot deny these feelings of earnest hunger that I have whenever you are near me. And because you are now 20 years old, I feel that together we can make that promise."
"Claude," Rena, still with the look of puzzlement on her face, asked earnestly, "can you explain to me what you are saying?"
"Rena," Claude looked up from the river and deep into her eyes. He raised his hand to her face, and gently stroked her cheek. Then he moved his hand to underneath her chin, and delicately drew her face towards his. He then compassionately planted a warm, loving kiss on her lips.
"Claude," Rena began to tremble with the cold air of the evening.
"I'm sorry I had come this late, Rena, but I urgently need to ask you something, now." Claude stood up and pulled Rena in close, sharing his body warmth with her.
"You can tell me anything, love," Rena pulled in very close and hugged him tight.
Claude took a deep breath. "As I had said before, I desperately need you by my side now more than ever, Rena." He deeply sighed and pulled out a jewelry case from his pocket. "I feel that now you are old enough to complete my life."
"Oh, Claude!" Rena gasped as Claude carefully stooped down on one knee.
"Rena, I was late because I had to quickly retrieve this from Salva." He opened up the small case, and turned it towards Rena.
Rena peered down into the box, and gulped. Inside was a gleaming gold ring with a beautiful diamond, in the style of an engagement ring.
"Rena," Claude swallowed hard and stared intently into her eyes. "Will you do me the honour of allowing me to become your husband?"
"Oh, Claude!" Rena knelt down beside him. Claude took the diamond ring from the box, and took Rena's left hand into his own. He picked out her ring finger, and placed the ring on it.
Rena began to daintily cry, but these were not tears of pain or sorrow, these were tears of complete joy. Rena's heart skipped a happy beat as she realized that her goal had been met. To keep the moment sacred, Rena said nothing, but leaned towards her love, and kissed him long and serious, love shining everywhere around them.
After a few minutes, the couple released from the kiss. Rena continued to sob, and Claude held her tight.
"I love you more dearly than life itself," Claude told her, and kissed her on the cheek. "I would wish for nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you."
Rena gently pulled away, so that she could look into his eyes. She saw total love and faith deep within Claude instruments of vision, and trusted that.
Slowly, Claude stood up, and held on to Rena tightly, as her body was quivering from the evening breeze and what she felt at that joyful moment. Rena struggled to keep her footing, she felt no balance - all she felt was the love she had for Claude.
Softly, Claude whispered in Rena's ear, "You haven't given me an answer."
Rena quietly whimpered.
"Rena? What's wrong?" Claude became worried.
"I'm just so happy," Rena managed to say. "My love for you is greater than words can describe. I just can't believe that you just asked me to marry you. But I have faith in our love and you, and my only desire is for us to be together forever. Claude, love of my life, it would complete my life were we to get married, and yes, I will marry you."
Rena collapsed into Claude's arms. Claude silently enveloped Rena in his adoring embrace, and Rena gazed passionately into his eyes. Love surrounded the two, who were finally engaged to be wed.
And there, in the early moonlight, the lovebirds shared an engagement kiss, one that they would cherish in their hearts and remember forever, as it was experienced between them, alone, in a moment that could never be ruined, a moment when they confessed their complete love for one another, and decided to make the commitment to be together for the rest of their physical and spiritual lives.
As they lovers continued to embrace and share the engagement kiss, Rena heard a familiar voice in the distance, calling her name. Rena began to pull away, but was so full of adoration for Claude and the magical moment, that she drew even closer to her love, and held tightly, as if the world were coming to an end.
The person calling came closer, and Claude saw the figure in the shadows. He tenderly loosened from Rena's embrace, and ended the passionate kiss. He turned to face the being who was calling Rena's name.
Still holding Rena's hand, Claude approached the person, and asked, "Yes, what do you want?"
"Forgive me, children," Westa apologized and then turned to Rena. "Mayor Regis and I were waiting for you two so that we could start dinner."
"Oh, Mother! I'm so sorry! I completely forgot!" tugging on Claude's hand, Rena ran towards her house. "We mustn't keep Mayor Regis waiting!" Westa quickly followed her daughter and Claude.
*******
"That was a delicious supper, Westa!" Mayor Regis praised Rena's Mother's cooking. "Your corn pottage always tastes devine!"
"Yes, thank you for inviting me to supper, Westa," Claude said. "It was all very delicious." He looked towards Rena.
Westa blushed. "Oh, it was nothing, really. You should taste Rena's shortcake. Rena, be a dear and retrieve it from the kitchen."
"There's dessert, too?" Mayor Regis marveled.
"Yes, Mother," Rena started to get up from her seat. Before she did, she reached towards her glass of orangenade, with her left hand, to drink the last of it. As she did, Westa noticed the light glint off a piece of jewelry on Rena's ring finger.
"Oh, Rena! What a beautiful ring! It looks like gold and diamond!" Westa stared at the ring.
Rena quickly drew her hand away, "Yes, Mother, it is a real gold and diamond ring."
Mayor Regis now became aware of the stunning piece of jewelry. "Rena, why are you wearing it on your ring finger?" he demanded as he scratched his head and pointed at it.
"It's an engagement ring," Claude piped up as he took Rena's left hand into his own and held it out so that the adults could inspect the ring.
"AN ENGAGEMENT RING!?" Mayor Regis and Westa inquired at the same time.
"Yes," Rena began, "Mother, Mayor Regis, Claude and I are engaged to be wed." Rena turned towards her future husband and hugged him close.
"Oh, Rena!" Westa stood up from her seat and reached over to embrace her daughter.
Mayor Regis extended his hand towards Claude, "You are so lucky to have Rena," Mayor Regis warmly shook Claude's hand.
*******
For the rest of the night, the dinner party discussed Claude and Rena's future wedding. They completely forgot about Rena's shortcake.
They planned out the wedding for the beginning of the next month, which didn't leave much time for preparation.
Westa told them that before they got married, they had to find a place to live. But that was going to be her gift to them. The carpenter in Arlia, Mr. Bossman, was in need of a nanny for his children, since he was often away from home, doing his work. Westa decided to take the job, and she could move into the guest room of Mr. Bossman's house. That way, Claude and Rena would have Rena's household to live in.
Many toasts of good fortune were dedicated to the newlyweds. But Rena felt that the most benevolent and touching speech was made by her childhood friend, Dias Flac.
"I have not been to Arlia for a long time," the swordsman began, "but I can now see what has been happening. Love surrounds you, Claude and Rena, never must you abandon that emotion. Love can sometimes be confusing, its often hard to see what it truly is as it takes many forms. We can only see this feeling with our hearts. Only our heart knows the secret of love and can define the sensation into our language, so that we can understand it. But even if we understand it, we never know it entirely. No one person can see love in its entirety. But, on this day, I think that two people have harnessed the power of passion. Claude and Rena can see love, in each other, as they have that feeling for one another. They are truly meant for each other. I hope that someday, I too may find happiness in a person, and that I can live my life with them forever once I am very sure that we were meant to be. Love is always everywhere, it picks its victims by fate. Claude and Rena, you are two of love's destined, and on this day you have confirmed that," here, Dias paused, and took a deep breath. He glanced over to where Claude and Rena sat, and for the first time since his family's death, Rena saw Dias smile. "With each passing day, starting today, you will grow closer to each other until your souls have connected to create one spirit. The future shows many new and important occurrences in you lives together. You will experience joy and sorrow, and a wide array of new and different feelings, but always you shall feel love," and with those last words, Dias sat down.