I'm finally back with the last chapter. Don't fear! I'm making a sequel that will continue the story. I'm sorry it took SOOOO freaking long. When I get writer's block, I get it for a long time. But I finally got an idea (or ideas, I should say). Here's the end of this story and the beginning to the next story! Hope you enjoy!
Chapter VIII: Voices
It had been days since the first battle with Greeton. And yet, everyone who had participated was just now getting back to the normal way of life. There had been so many people to heal and endless fears to comfort. For the time being, the situation had settled down.
The group was currently in Airyglyph. They had been charged with escorting the last of the surviving Black Brigade soldiers to the castle. The King of Airyglyph was in a meeting with other important figures from both Airyglyph and Aquaria, leaving everyone else to wait until it ended.
Albel stood on the watch tower despite the freezing snow. He sensed a voice in the back of his mind. He knew it was important but he couldn't hear its message. It frustrated him. All there was was silence.
"My Lord, their first attempt was pathetic. We easily won."
"Good. But what of my target?"
"The Black Brigade Captain?"
"Yes. Was he taken to the torture chamber and killed?"
"Unfortunately, a few of his acqaintances came and freed him. According to our reports from the spies, he's still alive."
"Hmm... Well, I didn't want to put forth effort for this, but I guess I'll have to add my touch. You are dismissed."
"Yes, My Lord."
With a wave of its hand, the one called Lord started to speak in a snake-like voice, "Come to me..."
Albel was about to leave for the castle below, but then the silent voice came clear and loud.
"Come to me..."
He stood completely still listening for it again.
"Come to me... All will be made clear..."
What was to be clear? he thought.
"The questions you cannot answer will be made clear... Come to me... Leave Gaitt... It is the only way..."
He became suspicious of what the voice said. Was it a trap made by his own mind? Or would it sort everything out? Would the answers it spoke of help win this war and save Gaitt? Albel couldn't be sure. Nothing was simple anymore. After the nightmare in Duggus Forest, everything became difficult. There were millions of questions and yet, no answers.
Albel decided not to listen and went downstairs to wait. The King's meetings occupied him well into the night forcing everyone to go to sleep and wait for morning. As the crimson-eyed warrior slept soundly, he had a dream. The message came back.
"Come to me... Your friends will only slow you down... Your country will slow you down... Only you can sort out your own problems..."
Albel tossed and turned, but it did not cease.
"The answers will be made clear..."
He woke and sat up in his bed. It still did not go away.
"If you do not make the journey yourself, no one else will..."
He knew what he had to do. Albel walked out of his room silently passing the other rooms. He exited the castle gates and left the city of Airyglyph. Now he knew he had a new journey. Countries and wars were not the only things in life. It was one of those times when the only way to get what you wanted was to get it yourself.
The snow started to fall more harshly. Not long after, a light blizzard hit. Albel braced the winds and cold. He began to think that he would not make it back for a while. He approached a pile of fresh snow. He unsheathed the Crimson Scourge and thrust it into the snow. If anyone found it, they would know he had left.
And he continued on.
Nel woke up sensing something was not quite right. She got out of bed and strolled through the hallways to find Albel's door open. She knew he usually kept it closed.
She peered inside to see his bed empty. Nel then heard a gate close from somewhere downstairs. She looked down from the stairs to see a maid closing the entrance gates.
"Did someone go outside?" she asked.
The maid turned around startled but relaxed when she saw Nel.
"I don't know why someone would go outside on a night like this. It's a blizzard out there," answered the maid. "But someone obviously left."
Nel was intrigued by the open gate and Albel's absence. She soon entered the dark, empty streets of the city. Barely visible in the snow were footprints leading out to the Traum Mountains. The Aquarian followed them.
She lost track of the footprints near the end of the bridge and was beginning to go back when she spotted a figure in the snow. With difficulty, Nel went up to it and became speechless. In the snow sat the Crimson Scourge. The only person with this sword was Albel.
She went down to her knees, removing the sword and placing it in her lap. Nel looked to the sky.
"Why did he leave?" she asked.
Nel tightly clutched the sword knowing what her next mission was to be.
Kinda short and crappy, but the sequel is coming. I think I'll call it, "Perfect Symmetry." So look for a story with that title! Please review and I'll see you in the sequel! Hope you wanna continue the series!