Reviewer's responses:
Swordust: Thank you! Hope you'll like this one too.
Feral Phoenix: Err... Yeah, maybe I'll just forget about making anymore fight scene. I wasn't planning on making another one anyway. By the way, I saw your last review... Are you annoyed that there are more and more fans of Ein/Fia?
Biggoron: I see you started writing. Thanks for the review, and best of luck to you!
ManaMage: I'm glad to see someone finally commented on that… So, I'm your favorite in the Riviera's section? I'll try not to let you down.
The Bad Dog: I'm sorry, but Ledah is dead and I don't want to destroy the storyline. The idea is interesting, but I'm not touching any resurrection's stuff even with a ten-foot pole.
Author's notes: Well… I'm truly sorry to keep you waiting. School took up a lot of time, but I finally found some to write this chapter. I promise to next one will show up a lot sooner than this one.
On a side-note, I want to confess a mistake on my part… I didn't write down the names of the Undines that Ein met at Tetyth, but I needed it for the story. I tried looking for it on the Internet, but nobody seems to have written it down. So, if the name is wrong, warn me immediately and I'll change it as soon as I see the warning.
Also, since I have no talent in writing prayers, I had to look for one. But it was worth it, since the prayers I found were pretty interesting. I suggest you to visit Online Intercessors. Some of them are really inspiring.
So, finally, good reading!
Disclaimer: Riviera doesn't belong to me. Also, credits for the prayer go to Online Intercessors.
Morning was a little less awkward than the last one. While the sun was rising, Ein and Fia wondered, while eating, how they could go across the water. In the end, they decided to go try to see if another path was possible to reach the cathedral.
Of course, they didn't expect to see a raft on the water, at the water's border, with an Undine near it.
"Ah, so it's you again who helped us…" The Undine said when she caught sight of them.
Ein and Fia both approached her, questions in their mind.
"You're… Aria, isn't it? What are you doing here?" Ein asked, curious.
"Well, Sage told us about what happened yesterday, so I wanted to thank you both about it. He also told us about your problem, so we decided to help you in return." Aria responded.
"But… How did you build that raft?" Fia asked, politely.
"There are always some things floating around here. We just took all the wood we could find and tied it. So, are you ready to get across?" She asked.
"Ready? Well, yes, but why asking?" Ein asked.
"Since we couldn't find something to move the raft, we're going to move the raft for you." Aria answered.
"But… You don't have to do this. I'm sure we can…" Fia started.
"No but! You've done us a great service, killing that Kraken, and we're going to do it, whenever you like it or not!" Aria answered.
"If it's what you want… But are you alone? You said "we"…" Ein wondered.
"They are waiting below, so just get ready, and you'll be here in no time!" She answered, quickly. She then went underwater again, calling the other undines.
Ein and Fia both wondered why she said the last part in a hurry, but just shrugged it off. They placed themselves on the raft, and then waited for the Undines.
Underwater, Aria sighed. She was glad the others choose to stay underwater. The first time they heard of Ein when they saved her sister, Iria, rumors and gossips could be heard for a good time about him. And now that he saved all of them... They were like schoolgirls fussing over the popular boy, for crying out loud! If she had let them follow her, Ein would be red, and the girl, Fia if she remembers well, would have a good reason to be angry.
At the surface, Ein and Fia were still waiting. A minute later, the raft started moving, slowly but steadily.
"I'm a little nervous..." Fia said.
"Hmm? What are you worried for?" Ein asked, a little worried.
"Well... It's just that I'm not sure if I'm ready or not to do this. I mean, I did it for the spirit we found at Lacrima, but it will be the first time that I'll do it for so many souls... Can I really..." Fia answered, worried.
"Don't worry Fia, you can do it."
Ein was looking directly in Fia's eyes. She blushed a little, but soon smiled, feeling confident with the help of Ein.
"Thank you, Ein." Fia said, quietly.
The raft reached the bridge, and they disembarked. After Aria told them she would be waiting for them, they both headed for the cathedral.
The interior didn't change much. Everything was still golden. It was still as impressive as ever... to the point which it felt arrogant. The statues were impressive, but having been made for fallen angels, it was no wonder the gods were angry.
They finally reached the top of the stairs, where they fought the fallen archangel. Being the central point of the cathedral, it was the place where Fia needed to do the prayer.
"Are you ready, Fia?" Ein asked.
Fia took a long breath, and then answered.
"Yes, I'm going to start now." She said.
Fia stood at the center of the room, got into a praying position and started chanting:
Gods who rule on this land,
I come against the spirits of apathy and indifference.
Let my heart bleed for lost souls and all those who struggle.
Make me a prayer warrior that will never stop reaching out to lost souls.
Rebuke the flesh and let me walk in the Spirit.
Grant me a heart that bleeds for lost souls and respects the struggles of others.
Grant me the greatest dose of compassion I have ever dreamed.
Go beyond my dreams - give me compassion that exceeds all my understanding.
Let me seek,
let me search,
let me hunger,
let me thirst,
let me long,
let me never stop looking,
let me become unstoppable in my desire to reach out to lost souls and to those who struggle.
Let my heart bleed for the lost and dying.
Fia waited a few seconds, and then moved again. Ein, who was listening, approached her.
"Fia... That was beautiful..." He said, impressed by the prayer.
Fia's cheeks reddened a little at that.
"Thank you... But, do you think it was enough?" She asked, unsure of herself.
Ein shook his head.
"You know, Fia, there's something I wanted to say to you lately. I think now is a good time for that."
"Ein?" Fia said, wondering what Ein wanted to say.
He said nothing. Instead, he moved towards her, and embraced her in his arms. Fia, surprised by his actions, did nothing.
"Fia, you're the most caring person I've ever met. You always made sure everyone was well during ours travels, and you still do it today. You even help everyone in Elendia."
Fia blushed at this, but still listened, since Ein hadn't finished.
"You also pray a lot, to keep the village safe, and also for the dead, to give them peace. Now, today, you just helped the dead who couldn't find peace here."
Ein took a deep breath, and then continued.
"Yet, at home, when Serene, Cierra, Lina of me ask you if you need help, you always say that you're fine. You always think of others before yourself, and you don't want to burden us. But, Fia, we want to help you. I want to help you. You don't have to do everything by yourself."
If Fia was blushing before, she was now as red as she could, hearing Ein's words.
"Fia, its okay to ask for help. I... I fear that if continue like this, something may happen to you..."
"Ein, I..." Fia tried to respond, but Ein kept going.
"I... Fia, we don't want to find you one day unconscious from exhaustion. We don't want you to become ill because you worked too much."
"But I..."
"Fia..."
Fia stopped, wondering what else Ein was going to say.
"I lost Ledah, my best friend. Malice was someone I knew when we were young, and she died too, and Hector made a mockery of her death. And... I already lost you once, Fia."
Fia winced, recalling the event where Hector killed her, to finally be able to summon Seth. She halted her thoughts when Ein put his hands on her shoulders, and he looked directly in her eyes.
"I don't want to lose you again Fia..."
"Ein..." Fia didn't know what to say.
Ein was wondering what he should do now. Should he just just let her go now? Should he still hold here like a second before? Should he try to say something else? Or should he...
He looked at her, and there's one thing he wanted to do, but wondered how Fia would react. Should he do it? Should he...
The same debate was also going on in Fia's head. Should she say something? Should she stay silent?
Fia looked at him, and wished for something. But how should he react? Should she...
Do it...
The voice was like a whisper, heard in their heads.
Ein leaned his head foward, awaiting a reaction. Fia, seeing this, also moved her head, and closed her eyes, wondering if this was a dream.
And then they kissed.
The kiss was as tender as it could be. In each of them, happiness was flowing like a river. While they were kissing, both embraced the other in their arms. It was a caring embrace, and the gentle kiss was still going for a few seconds.
They had to stop, needing to breathe. Ein looked at Fia, and Fia looked at Ein. Ein finally decided to break the silence.
"Fia, I love you."
Fia's heart jumped forward, and she answered without hesitation.
"And I love you, Ein."
They both headed for the stairs, ready to return to the raft.
"You seem a little exhausted from the prayer, do you want me to carry you Fia?" Ein asked.
Of course, Fia couldn't possibly say no at that time.
"Well... Since you're offering..."
Fia just let herself be taken in Ein's arms. He carried her bridal's style, and she let her head rest against Ein's shoulder.
The both smiled as much as they could the whole time; unable to contain one part of the happiness they were feeling.
In the central room, soon after they had left, two spirits appeared. Both of them had black wings, but one was female, and the other was male.
"You see Ledah? I told you a little push was all they needed." The women said.
"I see... But still, they were going to do it sooner or later. It was just a matter of time, even with your intervention, Malice." Ledah answered.
"Maybe... But I wanted to do something for them, to try to make up a little for what I've done..."
"Malice, I'm sure they know fully well that you had been manipulated by Hector." Ledah answered.
Both stayed silent silent for a minute, before Malice spoke up again.
"By the way, is she this good at praying? I never felt so many souls moving on at once..." Malice asked.
"Well... I don't know. You know that the Gods couldn't have heard it, since they aren't here."
"Then... What made them move on?" Malice asked, wondering.
"Maybe... It's just a theory, but maybe they just needed someone to forgive them. I know she didn't say it directly, but I think all that they wanted was the forgiveness of one person for what they've done." Ledah answered, a little unsure.
"Yeah... Maybe it is..." Malice said back.
"Still, it's strange. We always talked about the will of the gods, every now and then, and we always said it during Ein's adventure, to explain our actions, but did we truly know what they wanted? Could someone truly know what they want?" Ledah said, wondering.
"Well... Maybe not. But should go now, we don't need to stay here anymore."
"Alright, alright."
They both left, their destination unknown.
Author's notes: Well, there's only the last chapter left to do. I hope you liked the prayer and the scene after. I'm sorry again for taking so much time to update, and the last chapter won't take so long so finish.
So please, r/r, and don't forget to warn me if I made the mistake mentioned above.