Chapter 2: Meeting

"The path to the City of the Ancients, or Cetra as they called themselves was remarkable. I am glad to have been able to see this place before I depart this world and return to the Lifestream. I can truly believe now how close the Ancients were to the planet. Their homes crafted by nature, held together only by the energy of the Lifestream.

Is this what you meant honey, when you told me the Ancients would settle the planet? While landslides and disasters occur, this is the only holy sanctuary to stay untouched by the forces of nature. Was this because the planet saw good in you, while all else suffer without understanding?

I wish to see more of this place, more about the Ancients, and maybe...one more glimsp of you."

He placed the old book back into his pocket. The ink from the pen was running out now, but he didn't mind. This might be, his last entry.

He was finally within the boundaries of the city. A city governed not by power and destruction, but by understanding and knowledge. Professor Gast could not help but stare in awe at the creations of the nearly expired race. The beauty of the delicate frames, the buildings, the pathways. All were created and cared for by nature, the only problem was, it was too silent to be called a city any longer. No voices, no footsteps, nothing but his own, which seemed to be faded by his surroundings.

He step forward, all too aware of the pious atmosphere. He felt as if he had entered a graveyard, or maybe a city of ghosts. The city had retained it's perfect state of mid life, yet there was no sound to clarify this. His own footsteps seemed to shatter the silence, though he stepped carefully. Was he imagining it, or could be hear the footsteps of others? Maybe ghosts. Were the spirits of the Cetra angry at him for entering their holy settlement? He froze, finally realizing that the footsteps were echoing from behind him. Turning, the light that shone through the rafters blazed into his eyes. As his vision finally focused onto the figure, he cried out in shock, immediately recognising the long brown hair and green eyes.

"Ifalna!"

The figure stopped, obviously startled. Asoft female voice answered, "Ifalna...? You...knew my mom...?"

Gast stared back, his own brain reeling as he tried to connect this new information. Mom? ...does that mean...? Is she...

"Aeris...?"

The young woman gave a faint smile and a nod. He could see her clearly now. She retained her mothers' eyes, the exact shape and shade of green, and also the same oak coloured hair. She was the image of his wife that he had kept locked in his memory for all the years since that day.

Aeris stood uncomfortably in front of the old man. She was sure she knew him, he obviously knew her, but from where? There was a familiarity there that she could not realise, yet she could sense that he was not an Ancient.

"Sorry...I don't seem to know you. Did you know my mom? Her name was Ifalna."

Gast could not answer, hearing his own daughter speak, it was as if a shadow of his wife still remained within Aeris. Both their voices spoke to him in unison, with a clear distinct tone that threw him back into memories. The images of that haunting day dazed his vision, surrounding him, enclosing him. He was being trapped, dragged down...

"Aeris...please forgive me! It was my fault! My fault you and Ifalna...my dearest...How could I...!"

The man threw himself to his knees before her. Eyes flowing with the tears of guilt and misery. The woman took a step back, unsure of what to do, then knelt before him, her own mind rushing with the intensity of understanding sympathy. Gast did not look up until he realised that the tears falling upon the cold stone floor were not all his own. As he raised his head, he saw the eyes of his wife looking back at him. The same eyes he had seen twenty two years ago.

"...dad...?" Aeris finally whispered, he voice no longer substaining her as she trailed off. There were no other words to say. The two embraced each other. Their first true meeting since that faithful day.