Chapter Seven: Never Understand
Sitting down in a comfortable position on the couch in the central lobby of my new home, I prepared for the spell to warn Lord Pent and everyone else back in Elibe. Though they will probably take it seriously, I fail to see how Nergal thinks he's still a threat. He was at the start, but as the army got stronger... Nergal wasn't a problem anymore. Even if he has returned, the army in Arcadia, will make quick work of his army. His Morphs are no longer strong enough to stand up to Lord Pent! That is, of course, assuming Nergal's armies can even get as far as Arcadia. The Archsage's spells are still in place. Arcadia is safe. Nergal would be a fool to attack when there are dragons in Arcadia as well. I chuckled at the thought. Nergal's armies would be caught in a tempest of sand, and if they got past that, they'd face the famous tactician of the Campaign of Fire. Nergal doesn't stand a chance. Yet still I will warn them, just to be safe.
I began the chant. I had practiced it in abundance before I left Elibe. I could almost let the chant roll off my tongue. A slight rush of wind met my face as the portal opened in front of me, to only transport sound and light. No physical matter would pass through it. The portal opened up in a small garden, and beyond it were endless waves of sand. In the middle of the garden was a frail orchard haired girl, Florina, her flying steed nearby. Near her was her older sister, Fiora. Lord Pent was talking to them about matters of finance in Ilia.
"I believe it's a adequate plan of release," I heard Fiora say. "But are you sure about going to all this trouble for Ilia Lord Pent?"
"If it's not my job then I will make it my job," said Lord Pent. I smiled at what he said. "I will not let your people suffer if I can do anything to stop that."
"That is...very kind of you...L-Lord Pent..." shyly commented Florina.
I saw Lord Pent peer over the two Pegasus Knights. Fiora and Florina turned around and noticed my 'presence.'
"Erk!" I heard all of them say. Lord Pent ran up to the portal.
"You weren't supposed to contact us for a week," my master said. "What's wrong?"
"Good day to you Lord Pent," I greeted him. "I've acquired some disturbing news that I felt I should tell you. Nergal has returned. He's somewhere in this world. I wanted to warn you. Nergal is threatening to send troops to Arcadia. Thought I'd let you know."
"Erk! You say this as if it's not big news!" Lord Pent told me.
"Well it is big news but I don't think Nergal is a threat anymore." I explained to Lord Pent. I had to try and calm him down. Nergal was very powerful, but he was still only one person. Now I find it silly how we acted about Nergal.
"Is Nergal weaker now Erk?" Lord Pent asked me.
"I don't know," I told my master. "Nergal SAID he was more powerful but I don't believe him really. Even if he is more powerful Arcadia has you Lord Pent, so there is nothing to fear. That and the dragons of Arcadia will not let Nergal's forces wander in so easily."
"That is true Erk, but none the less I will warn the people of Arcadia. Fiora, will you please go inform the Lycian Lords of Nergal's return on Pioneer 2?"
"Yes my Lord," said Fiora, whom I noticed seemed distraught.
Lord Pent then turned to Florina.
"Florina would you please go get Louise and Serra?"
"Yes Lord Pent," replied Florina. She turned to me before she left to go to her Pegasus.
"Sir Erk," she thus addressed me.
"You don't need to call me Sir," I told her.
"Are I...right... are you sure N-N-Nergal c-can't get us?"
"He will try but he will fail. His morphs aren't that powerful. They weren't in the first place. The morph foot soldiers can be defeated easily. You have my word that the only thing you need to fear is-"
"EEEEERRRRRK!" The sound shot forth from somewhere like the call of the fierce warriors from Durban's Western Isles. The voice was a vicious and malevolent pitch. It was as if it predicted Armageddon. The cry signaling the comith of the most horrible thing that man has ever known.
"Serra..." is all I could muster to say.
A horse galloped into view of the portal I looked through, bearing Serra and Sain. I was confused why Serra was riding Sain's horse. When the horse stopped, Serra jumped off and Sain fell of his horse.
"You could have asked to me to ride you here on my horse," I heard Sain say. "Dearest Serra, why did you want to come here with me so badly as to jump on my horse and take the rings? Does it have anything to do with the letter I sent you?"
"Erk!" Serra shouted, looking at me with fire in her eyes.
"Miss Serra," I heard Florina say sheepishly. "I was just about to get you..."
"There you are Erk! How could you just leave like that without even telling me?"
"How'd you know I was here?" I asked her.
"Hannah the fortune teller told me you were here. She told me that you made contact and I rushed here with St. Elimine's speed behind me. I'm surprised at your behavior Erk. All I wanted to do was spend time with you and what do you do? You send yourself to some new word! Just to get away from me! That was SO mean of you Erk!"
"I didn't leave you because I don't like your company," I told her calmly. "It's your chatter that hinders me so. And even then I didn't leave you because of that. I wanted to explore the new world."
"That's no excuse Erk! You just ran off. Not even Matthew is as mean to just disappear to another world!"
She was beginning to get on my nerves.
"I wanted to learn more and study more. I left those I cared about to pursue my dreams, in some way I may benefit them as well. Do you understand that Serra? Does it matter so much for you to be angry with me when I also want to help you? In fact, I would have taken you with me if I was sure that you wouldn't get hurt. I think you'd love it here. There are many... pretty things to see. But there is something strange and evil at work here. Nergal has returned, and there is something more powerful then he is, that is controlling him. He calls it 'The Master.' It's best for you to be here. Where you are safe. Do you understand Serra?"
She didn't answer right away. She just stared at me.
"Nergal?" she asked me with fear in her eyes. "That...s...not poss...ible..."
"Are you scared? I thought you were the one that wanted to 'hit him where it hurts' with the judgment of St. Elimine."
"And your not scared that Nergal is back? Or are you just saying that to try and scare ME? Erk there are better ways to get attention from me without having to scare me...hehehe... you should know that!"
"Nergal is back. And I don't fear him because I've seen mightier things then him in the world I'm currently occupying."
"And what is this 'Master' of Nergal's?"
"I wish I new. Well I think that's enough talking. I should be going now. I've warned you, and now I must now be getting back to work."
"OH NO YOU DON'T ERK! We're not done here yet!"
"Very well, what else do you have to say?"
"That your mean...and uh...mean...uh..."
"At a loss of words are we?"
"That's enough you two," said Lord Pent standing between Serra and my portal. "This should be a joyous occasion. Don't you wish to hear about the new things in the other world?"
"Joyous when he's insulting me and tall scruff and scary is returning?" asked Serra.
"Tall scruff and scary?" I said. Where did she come up with that?
"You two just calm down okay?" Lord Pent told us. "Since Nergal is threatening Elibe again it is very inappropriate for you two to fight like that."
"He started it!" shouted Serra.
"Actually that was you," I told her.
"It doesn't really matter who started it," continued Lord Pent. "You both were fighting for no reason. I'm surprised by both of your behavior. First you Erk."
I turned my attention to Lord Pent. Me? Why Me?
"I told you that Serra wouldn't take your absence lightly, and you left anyway without saying goodbye. You were not handling the situation well during the quarrel earlier either. You need to understand that she is mad at you because she was afraid you might get hurt and that she wouldn't be able to help, the same reason why you left without her. You were afraid you might not be able to help her unless she remained here where she is safe. Which you have revealed is not all true."
Did he mean that? Did I really not handle the situation well? Was leaving Serra behind the wrong thing to do? Lord Pent continued on.
"You said that you didn't want to hurt her feelings, and then you said that her talking annoyed you. Though she is talkative, you don't talk enough. I know that you don't need to communicate with a lot of people Erk. But remember that some people might want to talk to you, and pushing them away only makes them upset. In addition, that is not how you make them stop talking to you. Ignoring them doesn't work either. Just listen to what they have to say, and then they won't need to talk to you again for a while. However, you shouldn't try and get rid of Serra in the first place. Do you understand Erk?"
I didn't really understand all of it but I nodded my head.
"Now Serra," said Lord Pent turning his attention to her. "I know that Erk left without saying goodbye, but he did have you in mind when he left. He didn't want to get away from you. If he knew for sure you'd be safe with him, he would have taken you. Like Erk did just awhile ago, you misunderstood Erk's motives. So just calm down."
Lord Pent turned his attention back towards me. Was he going to discipline me more?
"Erk, how is the other world? I know you said the planet is dangerous, but as long as a person doesn't go down to the planet how safe is the world?"
"I don't think there are many dangers onboard Pioneer 2," I answered. "But I don't think that it's a good idea for Serra to be here anyway. She'd just be worried whenever I went down to Ragol myself."
"And that's better then not knowing if your okay anytime while your there?" Serra shouted at me. "At least then I'd know you were okay when you got home! While I'm here and your there, I don't know when you go down to Raghoulwhatever! I don't know when you get back! This isn't any better! I'd much rather be there now let me go there!"
"S-Serra," I managed to stutter... She was right. I wasn't doing her any good. Maybe I should have brought her.
"And what would you do while you were here? Waiting for me to get back from Ragol, you'd be bored. You'd then pester me on my break, and then I'd have to go back down to Ragol tired. You'd then continue to complain."
"Gahhh! I did it again! Why must I say those things!" I chastised myself.
"And how am I better off here? At least I'd get to talk to you! I have nothing to do here either!"
"You have Matthew, Lord Hector, and everyone else to complain to. You have many people you can complain with! You don't need me to help."
Serra's face began to glow bright red with embarrassment and anger. I just couldn't stop insulting her.
"Stop being mean! I don't have anything to do here! It's too hot to complain! There's hardly anything to do!"
"Too hot to complain? Your complaining now!"
"SHUT UP!"
Serra dropped to her knee's and buried her hands in her face. I looked over to Lord Pent, who merely glared at me with a 'this is your problem' look. I saw him and Florina walk off. I turned my attention back towards Serra.
"You jerk! All I-I want... to do isshshsh...hu...hu..."
Her face shot up at glared at me, tears swelling in her eyes.
"I just want to be with you! I want to make sure your okay! I don't want you to get hurt! I'm not the burden you think I am!"
"What does it matter! You can't be with me! Not only would you BE a burden to me and my study, my work! But you can't come at all! Lord Pent can't cast another of the portal spells and neither can I! Your stuck there! So get used to the loneliness like I have! I have been alone for much longer periods then you have! I can take loneliness!"
"I'VE HAVE BEEN ALONE!" she shouted at me, tears streaming down her face. "I've been more alone then just sitting in a room reading books! I grew up in a convent! I was in a sad horrible place! There were others around with me, but they weren't the attention I wanted! I had little attention and love when I grew up in there! You've been alone with no one around! I have been around many people, but I never felt so alone..."
All I could do is stare at her. What did she mean? Alone when surrounded by people? She's too social for that. All she needs is... I then recalled that people, are not always company. I didn't grow up in an orphanage. After my 'parents' and me parted ways (Forever) I did odd jobs for food and shelter in various places. I found a magic tome one day laying on the ground. I began to read it, and it looked interesting. I then grew up in a library, surrounded by books and read. I performed magic shows for other children, and I began to become popular, but they never meant anything to me. They didn't know me. I was merely their entertainer. And then Lord Pent found me when I was 12. Serra...
"Don't you have people now Serra?" I asked her.
"I don't dislike anyone here, but I'm still alone without you!" she shouted at me, making me feel terrible.
"I was hoping we could spend our lives together Erk! We are still young and have many new things to experience, and I was hoping that we could experience them together! All I had was my faith until I got to Ostia, and there I started to bring out how I always wanted to be! Happy... I could swear that everyone liked me, and I could talk more and more! It felt so good to talk about everything, not just 'did you get the floors done urchin!' I was finally expressing the true me! I didn't have to act like all the other children just to not get hurt! I could act how I was when I was asleep and when I prayed to St. Elimine, who I thought was the only person who understood me! And then with Lord Hector and everyone else, I was...and you, you weren't the nicest. Lucius understood me more then you did, but when you said that you wouldn't want me to die, that you would protect me so that I wouldn't get hurt. That you truly wouldn't let me get hurt. St. Elimine must have made that miracle, and I thought that you were a gift she gave me. And I want to spend my life with you!"
"Serra have you forgotten that you can't? Not only are we separated but your faith forbids it!"
"That's what the church said! The church that forgot what St. Elimine tried to teach! Only the dedicated may be priests! That is for St. Elimine wants those who's happiness is found in serving her! I love St. Elimine as much as a priestess should, but my greatest happiness lies with you! Lucius gave me pardon, and counseled me. He said that my vow will keep me a priestess, and if I should break it, I wouldn't be a priestess. I knew that. He told me that it wasn't punishment. He says that it shouldn't be punishment. St. Elimine tried to bring happiness to Elibe! She doesn't want priests that are unhappy because they can't be with another! That would just go against what she wanted in the first place! That is why I have pardon to be with you! I will be faithful to St. Elimine and to you!"
"You don't want to be near me just so you can order me around like a vassal?" I asked.
"NO! I ONLY DID THAT TO BE PLAYFUL! I would like a vassal, but I want you as my..."
"You actually care about me? Serra... I always thought that you said you liked everyone, and how you would say things like Lord Hector was going to be your spouse. You were always putting on airs. I never thought you really cared about me Serra... I'm sorry I said those things. I was always angered by the thought that you said you cared, just to seem funny. I never took it seriously."
"And I'm tired of everyone thinking they KNOW ME! No matter how much anyone might try, they will not know me completely! And I want to open up to someone like that, but when I just try and be friendly they push me away, especially you!"
"I'm sorry..."
"...Not the face Erk..."
I was doing it again... I also hated it when I made 'the face' but... Hard to break old habits. It was one of my few defenses against my previous parents. I should say my real parents, but Lord Pent and Lady Louise are already my 'real parents.'
Serra bent her head down. She was still upset... What could I do to cheer her up? We may be together now, but we are separated all the same. How could I comfort her with words? My apologies don't seem to have an effect on her. What could I say...what could I say...
"If all you have to do is cry maybe I should leave," I said coldly.
NO! That didn't come out right at all!
"NO! Don't go Erk not yet please!" she desperately shouted. "Why must you always be so mean!"
"I don't try and be mean! I didn't mean to say it like that! What I was trying to say was that maybe I should leave so you can feel better! I thought you needed some alone time! I'm sorry that I didn't say that right...but I really don't understand why your upset. I don't know how this conversation came to this but I wish it didn't. Serra, please...exactly what is wrong? Your not acting like yourself at all!"
"I'm angry because your mean! You say you want to be with me, but then you make up excuses for why it can't be! You need to understand this Erk! If you expect to be loved, you must give love! NOT INSULTS!"
"I suppose I have been neglectful to everyone. Listen, Serra, I'll try and break my old habits. I'll try and be better to you. When I can return, how about we go somewhere nice and just spend entire days together, and sort things out?"
"...I would...like that Erk... But please promise me something..."
"...Yes?"
"When we do get to be together, please promise me you won't wear that hat!"
I began to laugh uncontrollably. I would never dream of wearing this hat in Elibe! Serra's eyes perked up at my laughing.
"I like seeing you laugh," she said simply.
"I don't like this hat very much either! Sometimes I wonder if I will take it off and my head will have filled the big space between my head and the top of the hat. Childish I know. Well Serra, I'm sure you have other things to do now so I should probably leave."
"...Erk please don't leave already! I need to tell you what Sain did to Kent! See Kent was watching Fiora practice her lance thrusts, and Kent was trying to help her, and Sain came over and you know how he is and-"
"I can see where this is going!" I said with a light chuckle.
"Yeah! And then Sain got over to them and you know what he said?"
"Something rude relating to the fact that Kent was watching her training?"
"...Oh thank Elimine he didn't, or else I would've had to work that day! But he was going off the wall on how Kent liked Lady Lyndis, and then Fiora smacked Kent! Then Kent was really upset with Sain and I bet you can imagine how Kent was angry with Sain!"
"Oh, well I was thinking of the time that Sain accused Sir Marcus of going to harlot taverns on the Campaign of Fire... That was very uncalled for."
"I didn't hear about that! Oh I have to tell Rebecca that!... You don't think Sain goes to those kind of places do you?"
"Oh heavens no. Sain is just a scoundrel, but I don't think he's sick. If someone excepted him for who he is, which is someone who can't control himself around women, I'm sure he'd keep giving her the compliments and ignore the other women. After all, no female has admitted liking his personality or his ego yet."
"Okay then..."
Serra's gaze seemed to drift off somewhere, as she didn't do anything but stare at me...was something amiss with my attire?
"Oh look here comes Lady Louise!" said Serra.
I looked over in the direction that Serra was looking, though I couldn't look that far to my left. Lady Louise came into view and she just looked at me with her motherly and almost childlike eyes.
"Erk, you elusive mage," she simply said. "You take after Lord Pent so much, I heard your entire conversation with Serra."
My first response was an immediate blush.
"So much like Lord Pent... Erk it hasn't been a while but it feels like it's been a horribly long time! You look like your doing well. In fact your hair seems to have a certain shine to it."
"Oh yeah Erk!" shouted Serra. "What is this talk about 'shampoo?' I want some!"
"Oh I'm sure you do," I told her. It was nice that we were getting on friendly terms again. I was longing to come home now. I would love the chance to just go back to my old life. Everything was simple in the army. You fought, got money and housing, and got to meet some great people to fight along side. I never talked to many people, but I did enjoy it sometimes. More specifically the times when they had something meaningful to say. Not the common gossip but actually something interesting. Something that delved into the deeper meanings of life, like what allows people to cast magic. Good days, good time. So much was learned. Many libraries were visited, and since our army was made from people all over the place the cultural diffusion was enlightening.
"Erk when you come back will you get me some?" asked Serra, her face smiling brightly.
"Not required," I told her smiling. "Lord Pent is making preparations to make shampoo. I like the way it makes my hair feel, but it gave me nightmares at first."
Her smile hit me with a surge of emotion. It was like being pelt in the stomach, but for the better. Such a confusing feeling it was. Oh well. Then my ears heard a sound coming from out of view of the portal. Galloping?
"Lord Hector!" yelled Serra. Her voice was naturally loud, but it wasn't as hard on the ears as how often she talks was hard on the brain. Strange how I was one of the few who became accustomed to her voice. But now the lords were coming, and they would be doing exactly what Serra was good at. They were going to drown me in questions. With them I also saw Heath, Priscilla, and Guy, who was interesting to see. We seemed to have a lot in common. We were both greatly dedicated to our arts. His to the sword, mine to magic, and we both deeply respected our teachers. We also seemed not to talk to many people, and we both had a trouble with females. How amusing that was. We both had people that cared about us that we had trouble with. His trouble was with Matthew, mine with Serra. The only difference was that he was with the other healer. The girl that I escorted, Priscilla. It confused me how that would turn out, it must be secret. Priscilla is of noble birth, and Guy isn't. Though Guy understands this, Priscilla wants to ignore that. And then there was Heath, whom I'm sure likes Priscilla too. But jealousy never occurred between the two. Heath, the wanted man from the Kingdom of Bern, charged for protecting the innocent against orders. As for Guy, his life hangs by a thread as his master Karel will someday fight him again in a death match that would shake the very future and overall history of the art of the sword. Meanwhile neither can be with Priscilla because of her birth. Further more Priscilla wants them to be with her, she can't seem to choose between the two. She also seems to have something for me. Popular Priscilla, everyone likes her. She also seems to like everyone too. Guy, Heath, even the scoundrel of Caelin is on the list was well as me. No one would dare say this but she is emotionally...loose as a lady. It is a big dilemma. But it could be worse. Guy and Heath take the matter well. They wouldn't mind it if Priscilla was seeing both of them, they just want to be near her. But they don't because they fear for her safety. That must be why they are interested in the new world. Pioneer 2 would make a great hideaway. There's just one problem. Something evil brews on Ragol, and so I will not let anyone come here until I get that settled out. I'm glad that I didn't get involved though. I would be able to be with Priscilla because Pent would back me up on that (not that I wanted to though. I liked her more then what a friendship was bound on, but it wasn't love either. It was more like...great loyalty). Another thing about me not getting involved was the plain fact that I was awkward about even trying to start up a friendship with Guy and Heath. A magician and a swordsman and a Wyvern Rider? Just doesn't seem to mix.
"Erk," began Lord Eliwood. "Let me be the first to honor you for your bravery and dedication to the good of Elibe by making this trip to the unknown so that we may expand our knowledge."
"In short cough up the good stuff you learned," said Lord Hector.
"Hector please," said Eliwood.
"Hello Erk," said Lady Lyndis. "You seem well, been a while hasn't it?"
"Not too long no," I explained. It was true, it had only been a short while ago that we all came to visit Pherae for Lord Eliwood's ceremony. Probably a couple a weeks at most. "My Lords, my master Lord Pent already has a report written about what I've learned in this new world, it's technology, history, and things of that matter. You can refer to that for the specifics on what I've learned. However, is there anything in particular that you'd like to ask?"
"Besides the fact your okay I don't think there's anything that needs to be asked if you already have a report," Lady Lyndis told me. She's always so much nicer to people then say Lord Hector is. I could understand how Hector is easy to upset. His brother became the Marquess, and his brother is ill. Though Lady Lyndis's family and her entire Sacae tribe was killed, she still remains kind. It always makes me glad to remember how she helped me keep sane on my first journey in an army with Serra. She was just annoying then. Well she's STILL annoying, just I can put up with her more. No... Not more, pretty much all together. Serra amuses me now.
"I have something to ask!" shouted Guy enthusiastically as he ran up to the portal separating us. "Erk, the finest with magic. I am soon going to be the finest with the blade in all of Elibe! I need to know if others more powerful then me are there in that new world."
My thoughts turned directly to Kireek.
"Not even Karel would match some of the people I've seen," I said to him. "There is a man of metal who is by the name Kireek. He is a mighty warrior. Beasts in this world that match the power of Nergal's finest morphs are easily bested by Kireek and his mighty scythe."
I smiled to Guy's reaction. He was drooling slightly.
"Oh yeah!" he shouted with joy.
"It doesn't daunt you that you now have much greater competition?" I asked him. Truly, he wanted to be the best. So why would he get excited about knowing he had more foes he had to become better then?
"I'm realizing that becoming the best is the fun part!" Guy laughed. "Being the best is the boring part! Nergal's armies were boring after I got out of the arena as a master swordsman! Only our own troops and Karel could match me now! I need a greater challenge!"
"But you haven't bested Karel yet have you?" I asked him. Fear played in Guys eyes.
"We haven't exactly met after the year was up..." he said with his hand scratching the back of his head.
"In other words you want to come here to become strong enough to where your sure you would be able to survive Karel?" I asked him with a chuckle. Guy didn't answer right away.
"...Well..." he paused again. "He's here but he doesn't know I'M here."
I raised me left eyebrow and laughed. "Don't laugh!" Guy called at me. "It's a trick I picked up from Matthew! Don't fight till your ready!"
"A trick?" I asked him and began to laugh again.
"What is that?" Guy called looking at me with wide eyes. What was he talking about? I looked behind me.
"That's just my Mag," I explained to him. "It's like a pet, but quite intelligent, and it helps me out."
I grabbed the portal in mid air and moved slightly so that the others could get a better view of my Mag.
"Erk it's cute!" Serra squealed. Everyone covered their ears, except for Lord Hector. He was just laughing.
"What a ridiculous looking creature," he boomed. "But big things come in small packages sometimes," he finished while smacking Lord Eliwood on the back. They both started to laugh.
"Yes well," I said trying to think of more to say. However, I didn't get the chance as a noise from behind me caught my attention. My PTV flashed on. The sudden activation startled me, and my face collided with the portal in front of me... I definitely didn't let anything through it except light and sound. I turned around and saw Principle Tyrell on the PTV.
"Erk we have a crisis that we need our hunters to take care of," he explained to me. I saw his eyes waver. "What's that behind you?"
"It's a portal between this world and mine," I explained. "It's only good for communication however."
"Sorry to interrupted your call but you need to get moving," Principle Tyrell explained to me... What could be wrong now? Something told me it had something to do with Nergal.
"Who's that?" I heard a voice from behind. It sounded like Lord Hector's.
"That is my boss, and I've got work to do," I explained. I turned around and put my hands to the portal. "I shall speak to you later...all of you." With that I closed the portal. I turned back to face Tyrell.
"Erk," Tyrell said, probably making sure I had my attention to him. "We need you to go down to Ragol. A child got herself down there some how, and we need someone to bring her back. Naturally we can't send this mission down to the Guild, because we can't afford other hunters to suspect weaknesses in the defense around the transporter down to the surface. You understand?"
"A child?" I asked Tyrell to make sure I got it right. How could a child get down to Ragol?
"Yes," Tyrell replied.
"I will go immediately!" I announced to Tyrell. And with that I left the couch to get my supplies together. I heard the PTV shut off as I finished checking my uniform for all my supplies. I had everything. My Mag settled on my shoulder as we went out the door. As I stepped into the blue light of the teleporter I said aloud the location of the hunter city deck. I was off and appeared again in the hunter city. I stepped off the terminal, and went left to the terminal to Ragol.
One of the things I thought about as I was transported through the rings of light that carried me down to Ragol was Serra. She said that she loved me... but still. I don't really think I can believe that. There were many tales of people my age falling in love and living happily ever after. Those cases were not true in real life. The only one that played out well to my knowledge was the one between Lord Pent and Louise, who became engaged before the customary age of eighteen. I doubt that a relationship between me and Serra would be as happy as I would want it. She really would distract me from studies, and I hardly got any work done when she was around. She is almost always talking... She is really not my type... But then on the other hand, it seems like I've been happier after I've met her... Why? And I doubt that any text book will answer the question. A flash of light, and I was surrounded by greenery.