This chapter is dedicated to all of the readers and reviewers of both the Thai and English version, for without their support, I wouldn't have written the story and translated it to the end.
A little side note here: I've changed the name of the hero from Al to Zaron, as I will link this story (and the next Suikoden IV story I will write) to Leona's "Emotions of the Heart." His name is also changed in the first and second chapters along with some revision and recorrection at some points, mainly in grammar and spelling.
Motherland
Chapter III: Gentle Dawn
Even though secrets are lost in our eyes,
We will never unfasten our arms from each other
Yasashii Yoake, by See-Saw
The large, pale full moon appeared above the shadowy cliffs and Ruins of Obel, overlooking the harbour of the kingdom in a serene, peaceful sleep, yet there was a person treading on the wood planks alone absent-mindedly.
As he saw the lights from a patrol ship reflected ahead on the water surface, Lino En Kuldes stepped to the end of a pier and waited for it.
The truth he learned from Snowe this afternoon was very much a shock for him, but he merely kept everything to himself while continuing working as usual. It was only until in the evening that he found some time for a thoughtful walk, after warning Setsu for complaining when he saw his reaction that what Snowe had told him could not be a good thing for sure, and arguing with him for a while about going for a walk alone at the harbour. The caretaker of the Royal Palace of Obel finally gave up, but he still convinced Akaghi and Mizuki to guard the king with their lives, even though that was already the duty of the two ninjas.
The lights from the patrol ship drew nearer until it came to land, and the patrol soldiers along with Desmond and Princess Flare came down and bowed to him. The King of Obel casually waved to them.
Flare was the first one to ask her father; "What are you doing here, father?"
Lino forced himself a faint smile.
"The sky's beautiful tonight," he answered, nodding to the silver moon in the sky, then turning back to his daughter. "So I came out to take a walk, and decided to wait for you."
"I see," Flare answered casually, hiding the realization that her father had something tospeak toher. "May I keep your company?" At his nod, she turned to Desmond and the soldiers behind. "Return before us, and tell Setsu that my father and I will return shortly."
"Yes, Your Highness," Desmond answered as he bowed before they walked away from the harbour.
"How strange that Setsu let you go for a walk alone like this," Flare remarked when they were alone, which made Lino chuckle.
"Well, we had an arguement of some sort, but you know that Setsu never wins when it comes to refusing me. By the way, what about you?" He turned and looked into his daughter's marine blue eyes. "How is the patrol this time?"
Flare lowered her face.
"Well, the waters were peaceful, and we didn't find anything suspicious." Her voice still showed some disappointment, even though she tried to hide it.
"Hmph..." responded the older man. "Don't strain yourself too much. Think about your health for once."
"Yes, Father..." she replied softly.
There was silence for a while, among the constant sound of waves crashing the shore.
Then finally, Lino said again after a moment of thinking.
"Flare, do you remember when Merric and you were young?"
"Merric...You mean my younger brother?" She looked surprised. "I guess I can't remember much about him."
Because he and Mother passed away so soon... Flare couldn't help but think.
"I figure as mush," said Lino. "You were so small, back then..."
"And why are you asking me now, if I may ask?" she questioned.
Lino was silent for a moment, then he spoke.
"Snowe visited me today."
"Snowe...One of Zaron's friends in from Razril?"
Lino nodded.
"He told me that Zaron was actually the lost Merric."
Flare's eyes widened in shock.
"...What? But how could it be possible?"
"He told me that Zaron was an orphan helped from the sea and adopted by his father, and he also brought me a shirt; it was the shirt Merric wore on that day, the shirt your mother made for him. I could never forget it," the King of Obel said calmly. "Maybe this was why I felt so familiar tohim. At first I thought it must have been because he was about the same age as Merric, and he had that rune like your mother, but I wouldn't have imagined..."
"If it were true..." Flare lowered her head and said softly. "If that were the truth, then fate had played too much tricks on us..."
"Flare..." Lino called her, but she refused to look up, still fixing he gaze on the wooden floor in silence for a few moments. Then she spoke;
"Father, please order the preparation of the IL MARE for me. I'll depart tomorrow at dawn."
"Flare! Don't tell me you're going to..."
Flare nodded even when the question was not yet finished.
"Knowing that he's my brother, I can't give up even more."
"Flare," Lino said worriedly. "I know you're determined about this, but don't do anything that exceeds your limit."
"Is that mean we should leave Zaron like that?"
Her father bowed his head.
"No, Flare, it's not that I don't want to see him return. If possible, I'd rather go out and search for him myself. But I don't want you to be tooconcerned about him. I don't want to say this, but we have to accept that there is almost no chance that we would find him alive and safe."
"But there's still hope, isn't there?" Flare asked. "I'm not giving up that hope, not until I find him, or hear that the rune is with someone else."
Lino could only look at his daughter silently, raisinga hand to touch her shoulder.
"I really have to go, Father," she insisted. "Zaron is one in our family. If we don't search for him, then who will? And as you have to take care of the kingdom, I'll take care of finding Zaron for you. At least I believe I can do it, and I will do it, for all of us."
"I know," the King of Obel sighed. "I know I can't stop you. You're as strong-willed as you mother."
He let go of her shoulder, and placed one of her hands in his both hands.
"But you'll have to be careful anyway. I don't want to lose you."
"Don't worry about me," Flare said reassuringly. "You're not going to lose me. And if possible, I won't let us lose Zaron and Merric again as well."
How long has it been? Zaron couldn't help but wonder as he continued to follow the glowing white light deep into the depth of darkness, past the memories of many people who had once borne and died because of the Rune of Punishment. Even before the Queen of Obel and the man who died at the ruins there were countless others, until the beginning of the world.
But thena light that shone most brightly like the exit of the tunnel appeared before him, with a towering figure surrounded by an ethereal, white radiance.
The boy looked up at the figure before him in awe. It looked like an angel with white wings spreading behind its back, yet it also looked frightful at the same time with its head and right arm missing.
"You are..." Zaron said in wonder. "...the one I saw when I used the power of the rune at El-Eal...?"
At that time, everyone saw only a stark red light that blinded everything in sight, but Zaron also saw this winged figure soar into the sky with the light that destroy El-Eal fortress, before he lost consciousness, and completely forgot about what he had seen.
O, The child in the vortex of destiny... The boy heard the headless angel's voice echoing in his mind. I am the incarnation of the Rune of Atonement and Forgiveness, or by which name you mortals call as 'The Rune of Punishment.'
Zaron remained silent, waiting for the Incarnation of the Rune to continue.
Ever since this world was born, and my twenty-six brethrens and I were born from the war between the Sword and Shield, foolish mortals have always craved for the power ofus True Runes. They fight, slaughter, and massacre one another for our power. I do not wish to be a tool for their selfish ends, so in order for them to use my power, my bearers will have to accept the 'atonement' placed on them, and pay for it with their lives.
But even so, mortals like you have never learned. They still seach for me and hunger for my power as did to the other True Runes. The number of my bearers grows as I asked for more 'atonement' when they used more of my power, regardless of those who used my power to destroy, or protect, countless through time, until I totally forsook the other side of my power: the power of forgiveness.
However, then I found you, who continued on your path unwaveringly for people around you even though you had to bear more burden of atonement from me. I had watch your deeds all the time, like I had done to other rune bearers, whose souls you released from my grip. You were the one to convince me of the power of forgiveness, which has been lying dormant within me all this time, through your act of forgiving the one who had borne malice toward you, out of your pure heart.
It was then I realized that if you, one of the mortals I used to think all of them were evil and hungry for power, could forgive even the one who had hurt you, and could sacrifice your life for other people, then why can I not forgive a mortal with such a good heart as you?
So, the time for atonement has ended, and now, the time for forgiveness for you shall begin...
"Does that mean, I will not have to bear this rune again?" the boy asked.
The figure before him was silent for a moment before replying;
If I were to be separated from the present rune bearer, that means there will have to be another mortal to bear my rune after you, and he will have to face the atonement from me again, just as Leknaat, the exucutor of balance has told you.
Zaron lowered his head, speechless.
Within my power of forgiveness, what I can do for you is return to you the life energy I had taken from you in the atonement state. Henceforth, you will survive, and you will live an eternal life, as do the bearers of other True Rune.
But from now on, you can never let my rune fall into another hand. You should know the reason well.
The boy couldn't refuse and nodded.
"I've seen enough of its power. If such immense power were to fall into the hands of someone like Graham Cray..."
That's correct, replied the Incarnation of the Rune. That is why I want you to continue bearing my rune, for I am certain that you will never choose to use my power for destruction.
I bid you farewell, and I wish you the best of luck, the child who has won against destiny...
Both the figure resembling a headless angel of the Incarnation of the Rune of Punishment, and the realm of darkness around him faded away from his vision, melting into a pool of warm, gentle light.
The first thing he heard were cries of seagulls. Zaron had to blinked a few times until he found out that the light before his eyes was sunlight. Azure blue sky spreaded before him instead of the various-coloured sky at dusk. A seagull that was nibbling at his supply hurriedly flied away as the boy sat himself up. He turned around, looking at the sight of the ocean and the small boat among the waves in puzzlement, before he realized that the pain that had taken hold of him was now completely gone.
But still, he knew without having to take off his glove in confirmation, that the Rune of Punishment was there on his left hand. He would live on, and it would be a life with out ending.
Zaron stood up as he saw an enormous ship sailing past before him from afar. He recognised it at once from the colours of the canvas and the size of the vessel; it was the IL MARE. Although he did not know how long it had been, this was probably the last time he could see this ship. He decided at once that he couldn't return again. If he were still somewhere around in these waters, the romours about Rune of Punishment would spread from around here with the news of the victory of the Serpentarius against Kooluk army, and then the islands that had just recovered from the war might have to face more powerful countries that hungered for the rune's power, like Harmonia, which wouldn't let the chance to get their hands on a True Rune slip away if they had enough information that the rune bearer was in this land.
So, for a brief moment, the boy waved his hand to the ship that had been like his home for the previous months, biding a silent farewell. Then he sat down again and picked up the two oars.
Meanwhile, on the IL MARE, Princess Flare was standing on the deck, leaning against the gunwale and letting her gaze wander toward the horizon. Desmond and some Obel soldiers were stationing on various spots of the ship. Nico yawned in the crow's nest, while Wendel was being on watch instead, looking around through a scope.
"I can't believe Her Highness, telling me to keep watch night and day like this. She should know that all people need a good night's rest," he complained, stretching himself.
"Yeah, you admit yourself that you can't keep watch night and day, yet for the last couple of days you didn't even agree to take turns with me," retorted Wendel. Nico immediately turned back to her.
"Hey, I can't trust your abilities yet. If you think you're that good, why don't you find Sir Zaron yourself!"
As she didn't reply, Nico continued tauntingly.
"See? You can't do it, right?"
"Are you sure?" she turned back and told him victoriously. "See for yourself."
The smirk on her face turned his expression into a surprised one. He hurriedly looked through the scope. And then he turned to the captain of the ship and shouted, without even paying attention to Wendel's voice.
"Your Highness, I've found Sir Zaron's boat!"
"Hey! That's not fair! It was I who found it first!"
"Which way?" Flare shouted back.
"On the starboard side!"
"And how's Zaron?"
Nico turned back to the scope again before he stuttered.
"H-He was...Oh no!...Rowing away from us!"
The answer made the princess frown for a moment, before Desmond, hearing their conversation, ran to ask.
"T-Then...w-w-what shall we do, M'lady?"
"Prepare a boat for me, now!" she replied without having to think.
Soon after, Zaron paused as he heard a familiar voice shouting behind him.
"Zaron, wait!"
He turned to see Princess Flare standing up on a small boat and raising her hands to her mouth as she shouted to him, while the Obel soldier that was rowing behind her warned.
"It's dangerous, Your Highness! Please don't stand up like this!"
The princess just glanced back at him for a moment. Then she turned and shouted to Zaron again.
"Zaron! Please come back!"
Instead of complying, the boy shouted back.
"I'm fine, don't worry about me. Please give my best regards to His Majesty, along with my apologies for not going back!"
"What are you saying?" asked Flare. However, Zaron just grabbed the oars and continued to row away again without listening, so she turned to the soldier, who had his hands full of rowing. "Can you go faster than this!"
"This is as fast as I can go, Your Highness!" replied the soldier.
She turned her gaze back to the small boat, which was gradually getting far away from them, her brows furrowing in thought for a moment before she said grimly.
"Then hold onto the oars tightly, and keep watch of the boat."
Zaron didn't hear those words, but what he heard in the next second was a loud splash that caused him to abruptly jerk his head back. What he saw was Princess Flare swimming straight toward his boat, while the soldier on her boat screamed in panic.
"Your Highness! What are you doing! It's too dangerous!"
"Just do as I say!" the sharp tone of her voice immediately silenced him, but it was then that the salt water splashed fully on her face, and taken her unprepared.
Zaron clenched his teeth, hesitating just for a moment before he swung the oars again, but in the opposite direction of moving ahead.
It didn't take long before he reached Flare and pulled her up on his boat. She was still coughing breathlessly from nearly drowning.
"Are you crazy!" Zaron shouted at her face uncontrollably. "What if I just went on and let you drown to death!"
"...I know...that you...would...never...do that..." Flare answered between her coughs.
The boy turned away and sighed.
"You seem to know me too well."
Flare pursed her lips in a half-smile as she saw his reaction.
"Don't you know that you're always so predictable?"
"But I can never predict what you're going to do," he replied calmly.
The older woman lowered her face and said softly;
"But at least you can predict why I'm looking for you, can't you?"
Zaron sighed again.
"I have to tell you that I'm not thinking of going back to Obel, or any island around here."
Flare suddenly looked up at his answer.
"Then I have to tell you that I won't let you leave just like this, Zaron, no--I mean Merric."
The name he heard made the boy turned to meet her gaze uninvoluntarily.
"We-- I mean my father and I-- already know, and I know you do, too."
Zaron evaded her gaze, remaining silent.
"Why didn't you tell us?" she asked sharply.
"What good would it do to you if you knew?" the boy retorted. "Knowing that you would have to face the loss again, and regret it even more?"
"But now you're safe, aren't you?"
"But what good would it do to you if I returned? The rune that is still with me might cause you further danger. Knowing that you're my sister, and he's my father, how could I bring myself to do that?"
To his surprise, Flare suddenly raised one of her hand, but his body was still, calmly waiting for it to come down.
Buther handdidn't come down as a slap as he thought at first; it landed as a gentle touch on his cheek.
"Silly boy..." she said softly, tears brimming in her marine eyes. "Don't you know that since youare oneinour family, we want you to stay together with us, protect us and be protected in return, and share both happiness and sorrow with us? Isn't that what we had seen from Father and Mother?"
He was shocked when she suddenly embraced him tightly, as if she would not let him leave again.
"So, let's go home together, Zaron..."
Finally Zaron reluctantly followed Flare onto the IL MARE. Then she suggested him to take a bath and get some rest, waiting for the ship to land at Obel, adding;
"I'm not thinking of taking you back like a prisoner, but at least you should go see Father so he can be relieved that you are safe. Then it's up to you what you would do after that."
Soon after, Zaron stepped out of the bathroom in a set of new clothes, which had been stored in his bedroom closet. He was so surprised that even though he had left the IL MARE for a while, his bedroom was still kept clean and tidy, prepared to welcome its owner's return anytime.
The boy came up on the deck again after meeting Desmond, Nico, Wendel and some Obel Soldiers who had fought together with him against the invasion of Kookuk, and this time, the sight of a woman in white dress that was leaning against the gunwale and looking to the sea caught his eyes, mesmerising him to stare still.
Mother...
It was when the figure turned to him and called his name that he recognised it was actually Princess Flare.
"Zaron, over here."
He nodded and stepped beside her, stealing a glance of her as she turned to look at the sea again. At this moment Flare looked so different, yet so nostalgic for him. Her blonde hair, which had always been tied up in a ponytail, was now let down on her shoulders. And some moisture still left in it caused her tresses to look somewhat wavy, very much like their mother's hair in his memories, especially when they also wore the same-looking white dress.
"I think this is the first time you see me wearing this dress," Flare's words caught his attention again.
"Um..." Zaron nodded slightly.
"Do I look...strange?"
"Actually, you look splendid," he replied before lowering his voice. "Just like Mother..."
Flare smiled back faintly, but there was a sad look in her smile.
"I'm glad to hear that."
She turned to the glittering water surface and raised a question.
"I guess you want to know how Father and I knew."
Then, as Zaron nodded, Flare told him how Snowe and Jewel had journeyed from Razril to inform Lino En Kuldes, bringing with them an unexpected evidence, which surprised the boy very much.
"I wouldn't have imagined Snowe finding out and telling you two," Zaron remarked.
"Father told me that there was a reason why he absolutely wanted us to know," Flare continued. "But that was the reason he could tell you alone, Zaron."
"I see," he replied thoughfully, even though it was clearly written on his face that he didn't know that reason.
"If you want to know, you should go and ask him yourself," Flare told him. "I'd just had Desmond sent a nasel bird to tell Father that we had found you. If Snowe were still in Obel, then you two could meet there. Father told him and Jewel to stay in Obel for a while before going to Na-Nal."
"Is that a way of coercing me into returning?" Zaron asked whilehiding a smile. Flare couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, it's up to you to think. Actually, it's just a way that I think can make you willing to returning home," she turned to meet his eyes. "But as I've told you before, I'm not forcing you. if you don't want to stay after we've reached Obel, you can leave and go anywhere, anytime, but at least..."
Her voice softened as she turned her gaze away.
"Please don't make Father and I sad, thinking that we would never meet again, like the last time."
"I won't," Zaron answered calmly, keeping his thoughts at the moment with himself.
If I were to leave this time, I would tell you two not to worry, before we parted ways...
Then they didn't say much to each other, and just let their gaze wander silently to the vast ocean as well as their thoughts, until evening fell, and Desmond came to inform Princess Flare that dinner was ready.
A while after they finished the meal, Zaron and Flare walked along the corridor in the ship to their bedrooms.
But as they were walking past Flare's bedroom door, she stopped and said to younger boy;
"Oh yes, Zaron, there's something I want to give you. Wait here."
Then she opened the door into her room and closed it behind her, leaving Zaron waiting alone outside.
After a while, she opened the door and came out, with one hand crossing behind her back as if to hide something.
The boy was going to ask when she spoke first.
"Close your eyes."
He complied. While seeing only darkness, he could feel that she took his right hand and turned his palm up, before putting something with a cold, smooth surface on it.
"Now, you can open them."
He opened his eyes and stared at the ornate, lacquered wooden box in his hand with widened eyes. He recalled this priceless keepsake from his memories even before Flare explained to him.
"It's Mother's music box, the one I used to write to you to listen to it together with me. Back when we were children, Mother often played it for us as lullabies."
"Thank you," Zaron replied as he looked down at the music box he was holding with utmost care.
Flare smiled gently before she turned and started to enter her room. But then she stopped, turning and calling him softly;
"Zaron...?"
"Yes?"
For a long time he patiently waited for her to speak, but his older sister remained silent, looking away as though she refused to look him in the eyes.
But then, at last, she turned to give him another smile, and said;
"Goodnight, Merric."
The boy smiled back warmly in return.
"Goodnight, Sister."
Then Flare nodded in response and disappeared into her bedroom, and Zaron continued on his way to his own bedroom with the music box in his hand.
The sweet, soft melody from the music box still went on from reality into the realm of dreams as Zaron found himself in a strange, white emptiness. However. it was not totally empty; there was also another presence: a woman standing with her back to him. He vividly remembered even the gesture when she slowly turned to him, but with a smile on her face this time.
"Merric..."
"Mother," he responded as the woman stepped towards him, until she was standing just before him.
"You've grown so much," she raised one hand to touch his face, but then stopped still. "I've been watching you all the time, here in this Rune. I didn't think that, apart from you, I would meet Flare and your father again."
Zaron could only look at his mother silently, at a loss of words. Elze sighed before she continued.
"But this will be the last time we can meet..."
"Why?" Zaron immediately asked in surprise.
She replied him with a sad smile.
"It is time, Merric; I have to go with the currents, like the other souls you've freed from the Rune."
The boy bowed his head silently.
"So, the Incarnation of the Rune gives us a chance to meet, one last time," Elze explained softly.
Zaron summoned his courage and spoke;
"I...I want to tell you that...I love you, Mother..."
She noded in reply.
"I love you, too, and I love Flare and your father as well," she answered with a smile, even though there were tears in her eyes. "That is why I would like you to give love to the other two people I love in my place, for I don't have another chance. Oh, no, please don't cry, my dear."
Elze's fingertips softly traced the trail of tears on her son's cheek.
"Love them, and cherish them as well as other people you love, so you will have no regrets with the boundary of time and human lives."
Zaron's eyes widened as he saw the figure of the woman before him faded slowly, and the touch on his cheek was gone. He reached out his hands, trying to hold her, but the only thing he could feel were warm ashes, raining down on the ground. The last thing left was the gentle voice that whispered softly in his ears.
"Touch, and embrace your family that is waiting for you out there, in my place."
"...I will, Mother," he could only replied as he knelt down, scooping some of the ashes up in his hands lovingly. A drop of his tears fell down on them. Then they, too, were all gone, along withthe pure, white realm around him.
Zaron opened his eyes to the sight of his dim bedroom, and the melody of the music box. The boy wiped away his tears in silence, and closed the lid of the music box on the chest of drawers beside his bed.
As he couldn't force himself to sleep anymore, soon Zaron left his bedroom and came up on the deck where the early morning sky was still full of stars, and there were only faint streaks of vermillion light at the horizon. However, he wasn't the only one seeking solace from theview of the sky and the sea at this time.
Flare, now with her hair tied and wearing the usual outfit, turned to him as soon as she heard his footsteps.
"You woke up so early," she remarked.
"Same goes for you," replied the boy.
She smiled to him and continued to speak.
"We'll probably arrive at dawn. Why don't we watch the sun rise over Obel together, Merric?"
Zaron nodded, yet remarked.
"Somehow, I feel a bit strange when you called me by that name."
Flare replied him with a slight smile.
"I just want to get used to it," she said softly, looking up at the sky. "Since it's the name Mother gave to you..."
"I've already known that from her memories," the boy replied as he looked up as well.
He was wondering if he should tell her about the dream he just had, but in the end he decided to keep it to himself. After a moment, Flare spoke again.
"Father have sent a reply that he will be waiting for you at the harbour. Everyone on the IL MARE who is now in Obel, including Snowe and Jewel, will come as well."
He nodded in acknowledgement before asking;
"Who are now in Obel at this time?"
"Hmm..." Flare paused in thinking for a moment. "Setsu, but you probably know that. You don't have to care about him; he's as bad-mouthed as before, and his gut's still sticking out as usual. Tov and Haruto are now working on a new ship for Father, but Louise has left, leaving Desmond feeling down for quite a while. No one knows where she has gone.Doctor Yu and Carrie are going to open a free infirmary. Ramada has recovered, and he's going to open a new business. Akaghi and Mizuki are now working as Father's bodyguards. And then there are Jeremy and Trishtan who have entered the army. Helga is working as a woodcutter. Oh, yes, Lo Fong's moved here as well. And then the last person is..."
She paused again, but now intending to make him more curious.
"Who is it?"
Flare's smile widened as she answered.
"Well, it's Millay. She's moved here too."
At her answer, Zaron anxiously turned his face to her and asked;
"Why did Millay move to Obel? Don't tell me Reinbach II didn't stop hunting for her?"
He was very surprised when his sister giggled and remarked.
"No, it's not like that at all. You seem to care so much about her, by the way."
Zaron turned his gaze away and stammered, thankful for the dark sky that hid the heightened colours on his face.
"W-Well, she's kinda like my bodyguard, sort of..."
"Well, no one will blame you if you admit she means more than that to you," she said jokingly, but the boy fell silent, reminiscing on that thought.
From the time they used to spend together, he had a vague feeling that there was something special about Millay, for him. Yet he always shook it out of his mind before it further evolved into a deeper feeling, since he knew that it was virtually impossible; how could you love someone and ask if they had the same feelings for you, when you knew that you didn't even have much time to live?
But now, perhaps, he would think about it again. With a True Rune, he had all the time in this world, but she was a mortal with a limited life. Only time would tell.
Seeing that he wasn't going to say anything, Flare sighed and answered his question, bringing him back from wandering thoughts.
"Millay said that she wanted to be a soldier in Obel because she wanted to protect the land you once saved," she took a glance of her brother's side profile and couldn't help but smile again. "And I guess that she wanted to meet you again as well, since it was the place you should return."
"I see," Zaron forced himself to answer as calmly as he could, hiding his gladness as he fixed his gaze to the horizon.
Now the sun had risen higher in the sky, spilling golden rays through the spaces of the clouds and lighting up the large island the ship was sailing closer. The Kingdom of Obel was just ahead.
"We're reaching Obel soon," Flare remarked softly.
"Yeah..." the boy responded. Then he was taken by surprise when she suddenly buried her face into his shoulder, holding onto one of his arms.
"I'm sorry," she said through her sobs. "I was just...so glad to have you with me. And then the tears just started coming out of their own."
Zaron was speechless and still for a few moments as he looked down at his sister, recalling his mother's voice in the dream.
Touch, and embrace your family that is waiting for you out there, in my place.
So his hand came up and gently touched her shoulder. Flare lifted her face up and looked into his eyes in surprise. The sight that was waiting for her was her brother's warm, gentle smile.
"I'm glad to have you with me, too."
She returned the smile and moved out of his arms, turning to the Kingdom of Obel, where the IL MARE had now gotten closer enough for them to see the harbour crowded with people. Cheers of happiness echoed on and on while some of the crowd jumped and waved for the returning hero to see. Lino En Kuldes, Snowe, Millay...and many other people he knew were waiting for him at the end of the pier, with their gazes fixed at him. Their expression was one of the most happiest.
Zaron looked around at everyone he knew with a smile from his heart. No matter what would happen, from now on he had decided to live for the people he loved, and his family. Regardless of what awaited him in the future...
Standing beside him, Flare took hold of his hand and squeezed tightly, with a soft whisper that he was the only one to hear.
"Welcome home, Merric."
The boy glanced at her for a moment. Then he replied as softly, under the golden beams of the gentle dawn that shone upon them.
"I'm home..."
Here, back to my motherland.
Searching for eternity, you are a frivolous dreamer
Clinging to unreliable dreams, where are you going?
Searching for the key to open twilight, I cry
Unable to reach the moon's shadow, where am I going?
Even though secrets are lost in our eyes,
We will never unfasten our arms from each other
Pale moon of January hides the colours of the sunrise
Beneath a never-ending night, there is still a gentle dawn
Because the heaviness of love closes in painfully
The heart of mine no longer cried for freedom
When shining things existed only in dark places
I gazed out the small window into the distance
Pale moon of January sinks into infinity
Beneath a never-ending love, there is still a gentle dawn
Pale moon of January hides the colours of the sunrise
Beneath a never-ending night, there is still a gentle dawn.
Yasashii Yoake, by See-Saw
- THE END -
A/N: And this is the end of the story in my opinion. I hope you enjoy it. :) I would like to thank for every encouragement and comments I've received from both Thai readers and the readers here, actually, thanks to every readers.
And I would like to reply to our new reviewer, ChickLovinThesbian; thank you very much for your advice about the improvement, it is very helpful. I realize that the story heavily dialogue-based, and features less description about setting, which I have to admit that the hardest part of writing in English or translating Thai into English for me is descriptive paragraph, plus there are not many settings here except for on ships, in the sea, and in some towns (at the harbours overlooking the sea, too...) I guess I was afraid that my descriptive style would turn out awkward, but I would try to practice more with the next story.
There are some elements in this story I would like to mention. This may be a bit lengthy, so if you don't like reading long notes, you can just go past this paragraph to some little 'gifts' at the end, because the note is mostly about where I get some ideas and elements for the story from.
Motherland is the name of the 3rd ending song of the anime Full Metal Alchemist. It's a song that gives a very warm feeling, telling you that you're not alone, and there is a place you can return to. I would highly recommend listening to this song, as well as other FMA songs.
- The name Al, which I used to give to the hero in this story, comes from a character in FMA, too. Actually, it was the name of Dark Master's favourite character, and also the name he gave to the hero as he played SIV.
- The name Merric is found on babynames website, and it's a Welsh name that means 'the ruler of the sea,' as Queen Elze mentioned in the story. When playing the game, I named my hero Kaiou, which is a Japanese name with the same meaning. In the Thai version I used Kaiou as the prince's name, but after I found the name Merric, I replace Kaiou with this name for the English version simply because Merric En Kuldes sounds more fitting than Kaiou En Kuldes.
- The first scene with Lino watching the full moon on the pier is inspired by the opening movie of SIV.
- The idea of the Incarnation of the Rune of Punishment comes from the hero's 4th level spell: 'Everlasting Mercy,' which features the headless winged figure. But the will of the Rune and the reason why it allowed the hero to live on is my own invention, loosely based on the information Leknaat gave us in the game. (A small fact about this spell is that its original name in Japanese is literally translated as 'Eternal Forgiveness,' in correspondence to the 1st level spell: 'Eternal Ordeal/ Atonement.' Actually I don't know much Japanese, but I learned this from Dark Master.)
- When the Thai version of this chapter is posted, I get two out of three comments that mentioned the Obel soldier was just too weak and should be fired because he couldn't catch up with a boat rowed by just a boy. It's just a funny side note, though. However, I never think that an ordinary Obel soldier would be stronger than the hero, plus the hero had just had a "goodnight's rest" (or should we say hibernation, since he had been sleeping for over a month ;) ) while the rune was adjusting itself to the Forgiveness State, and returning his life energy.
- Flare is one of my favourite characters. I first thought that she and the hero would be a nice couple, from a few scenes they were together, how she was worried about him when he used the rune's power in Obel, and the notes she put in her comment box, inviting him to listen to her mother's music box TOGETHER. But that was before I saw the scene with Lino in the night before the last battle at El-Eal, and reached the conclusion that the hero must be her lost brother, although it was just highly speculated, and I don't think Konami will ever confirm it so people can believe it one way or another. So in this chapter, Flare seemed to love him at first, but then she managed to get over it and accept the truth that they were related. You may notice that she seemed to have something she wanted to ask him as Zaron, but changed her mind and called him by his real name instead, as away of convincing herself that he was her brother. I guess I picture their relationship to be somehow similar to that of Kira and Cagalli from the anime Gundam SEED.
- The spoken lines of Flare and Zaron at the very end comes from Japanese culture, and might be inspired by FF X-2's ending. I think it would be fitting for the hero to say that he is now home, back in his motherland, after he had left for fifteen years.
- I guess ending the story as soon as they reach Obel is the happiest ending possible for it. I think the hero will have a hard time with his rune, as did Tir with the Souleater. Even so, I still had some unwritten scenes left in my head, like Lino drinking with the hero, or the hero talking to Millay. I may write some of these up as one-shots...but just maybe... It's just as Zaron's thoughts: only time will tell.
- Lyrics translation to Gentle Dawn I've originally found at has been changed in some places so the meanings are closer to the original lyrics in Japanese, according to Dark Master's advice.
And here's a little something I would like to give to all readers: links for two pictures from the first and the last chapters of the story. Actually I didn't draw the first one, but I got the hero's image from the official artwork, adjusted the colours a little, and found a background that would suit my story.(And I'm using it as my wallpaper right now.)As for the second, I was inspired by the fact that Suikoden IV has no ending picture, so I took the liberty to draw this for my 'good ending.' I hope you like them. :)
www.realmfantasy. 1hwy. com / seaofdusk. jpg
www.realmfantasy. 1hwy. com / gentledawn. jpg
(Since the URLs don't come up properly, I try spacing them and see if they are understandable. If you would like to see the pictures, copy the links and remove all the space. I hope they will work that way...)
