A/N: As a pointer, this chapter is an emotional roller coaster. There are some quite dark themes ahead, but I don't think it would warrant a changing of the rating. So if you're uncomfortable with things like depression, consider yourself warned. Although I tried to go at the hurt/comfort way, I hope it won't disturb anyone. My sort-of and definitely unofficial proof reader reassured me that it should be fine, but I still felt like giving a fair warning. Enough of me for now, more of me at the end of the chapter. Please enjoy!

Sunlight blasts through the windows and wakes me up bright and early. I groan as I sit up in bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
I stretch as I get up and begin to get dressed, this time into my adventurer's garb again.
Afer I'm done, the pango leaps onto my shoulder.

"Good morning."

He lets out a little yawn.
"Poi poi…"

"It appears to be quite early, hmm?"

The pango nods and snuggles against my neck, closing his eyes.
"Poi…"

We have a long day of traveling ahead of us. I wonder if everyone is already downstairs.
I open the door and step into the hall. Closing and locking the door, I make my way into the lobby.
As predicted, I find everyone already waiting for me downstairs in the dining hall.
Leanna greets me with a smile.
"Good morning, Xerath."

I return her smile.
"Good morning Leanna. Guys."

Zack nods in greeting.

Amy smiles slightly.
"Greetings."

Kara grins.
"Morning."

"So, you guys had breakfast yet? Because I could use something."

Kara shakes her head and laughs.
"No, we were waiting for you. We knew you'd wake up eventually this time, after all."

I chuckle guilty.
"Yeah, heh. Anyhow, their buffet sure is large, huh?"

"Yup!"

"Let's get something, then."

The others agree and we take some delicious breakfast.

When everyone's done, Leanna speaks up with a smile.
"Is everyone ready to go?"

I nod.
"Yeah, I have everything."

"Great! Then let's get going."

We go back towards the lobby as I speak up.
"One moment, please. I have some business to finish."

I turn around and Kara speaks up from behind me.
"What do you have to do?"

I walk over to the reception.

"Ohh, right. We'll wait outside, okay?"

"Sure thing."

The others shuffle outside as I approach the receptionist. I notice that it is a different lady than yesterday.
"Good morning."

She smiles.
"Good morning, sir. How may I help you?"

"I'd like to inquire who the architect of your resort is. Who furnished it?"

She looks down at her desk.
"Ah, yes. My colleague left a note that you might show up. She sends her regards, the architect were actually two. Tiffany Wess and Lydia Arhiman. Both are from Elendale."

I nod with a smile.
"I see. Thank you for the information. Please send your colleague my regards."

She smiles politely.
"I will, thank you."

I turn around.
"Farewell."

"Farewell! We hope that you will visit us again soon."

I step out of the Flushed Mermaid and join my friends.
Then we set off towards the floating isles. With the bright sun in the sky, I barely feel the chill in the air. It seems like Leanna and the rest of the team are feeling much warmer too.
Maybe this is a lingering effect of the hot springs? Who knows. Either way, I'm not complaining.

Once we're out of the city gates, Kara turns to me.
"Hey Xerath."

"Hmm?"

"So, what's the deal with this Force Sensitivity that I may or may not have?"

I subtly glance around and find a cobble that I launch at her head. From behind.
As expected, she leans her head to the side, and the stone passes her harmlessly and lands in my raised palm.
"Woah! What was that?"

I smile as I drop the stone.
"Congratulations. You are Force Sensitive."

"What?! How could you deduce that?"

"You subconciously recognised the incoming danger and moved to avoid it. You could not have seen this stone coming otherwise."

"And what if I hadn't have dodged?"

"I would have stopped it before it hits you. I am sorry if this startled you, but this was the safest way for me to test my assumptions. Rest assured that I would never harm you."

"Well... Yeah, I trust you enough to know that's true. Anyway, what does that mean for me now? You might have noticed that magic and I aren't that close."

I smirk.
"Yeah, I noticed."

I drop the smirk and resume a more serious expression.
"That depends entirely on yourself. It is obvious that your Force aptitude already does you a great service, and you are free to continue on as you have so far. You also could learn a more conscious form of control, if you wish. Either through magic training or training from me. The choice is yours."

Kara grows pensive as she mulls my words over.
"Hmm. I think I need some time to mull this over."

I nod.
"Of course. You have all the time you need."

She smiles.
"Thanks."

I return her smile.
"You're welcome."

Leanna and Amelia look at me with interest, but don't say anything.

I raise an eyebrow.
"Anything on your chest?"

Amy clears her throat.
"I would like to inquire if we are Force Sensitive as well."

I nod.
"If my observations are correct, which they surely are, then you have to be as you are a Mage."

Leanna nods.
"Right, you mentioned that our magic and your Force are linked in a way."

"Correct. They are the same, just used differently."

Amy speaks again.
"Does this mean that we could learn those Force techniques you use as well?"

"Yeah. The more basic ones, as I've mostly shown high ranking techniques so far, but yes."

"So we could learn from you?"

I nod slowly.
"Yes... I actually considered that line of thought as well, and came to the conclusion that I need some time to come up with a training plan. As you are already trained as Mages, you have trained your senses on your magic. But the Force feels somewhat different, both when it's dormant and when you want to use it. The largest hurdle to overcome would be the very first one, to grow your concious connection to the Force."

Amy seems to mull over my words.
"I see…"

Leanna smiles.
"It's not important, but we thought that we'd like to mention it."

I shake my head.
"All of your thoughts are important. At least to me. Progress can only be made through the sharing of ideas, after all. I will think about a solution."

She smiles bashfully.
"Thank you."

I nod with a smile.
"You're welcome, but keep your thanks until I actually come up with something."

Leanna giggles.

Our conversation lulls to a natural close, until Zack speaks up again.
"Xerath, there's actually been something I wanted to ask you."

I raise an eyebrow.
"Oh?"

He nods.
"That strange energy sword you used against the bandits… What was that? I've never seen such kind of weapon."

I smirk.
"Of course it would have to do with weapons."

I grab my lightsaber off my hip and ignite it with a flourish.
"You mean this one?"

Zack nods while the others look at the black and blue blade startled.
"Yep, that one."

"Well, this is a lightsaber. The weapon of choice for the Jedi and the Sith. And most other Force users."

Leanna chimes in.
"Wait a minute! Isn't that the object you threw into the fire in the fire temple?"

I nod.
"It is. This lightsaber is quite important to me. I forged it alongside two of the most powerful and wise people I had the pleasure to know and it is the culmination and embodiment of my beliefs."

Amelia speaks up.
"Most fascinating. I have never heard of swords made out of energy so far. How does it work?"

"I guess it's somewhat similar to the principle of dischargers: It uses two crystals - one as a power source and one as a focus lens."

Leanna gazes at the blade with wide eyes.
"It... It's beautiful."

I move the blade a bit, and it responds with a soft humming.
"Thanks. It was quite troublesome getting my hands on this colour crystal."

Kara smirks.
"I bet you didn't seek it out specifically to match with your robe, did you?"

I scratch my cheek as I smile shyly.
"What can I say? I like to be stylish."

Kara and Leanna giggle while the others smile to varying degrees.
I deactivate the saber and put it back on my belt.

Amelia speaks up again.
"How potent is this energy blade?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry?"

"There are only a few materials known in my galaxy that can withstand a lightsaber - each one rarer than the last. Aside from those few precious metals, a lightsaber can cut through any- and everything."

Zack nods.
"I've seen him cut people in half with a single strike."

Leanna gasps.
"What?! Why would anyone need that kind of power?"

I smile sadly.
"As I said, my world is not known for it's peaceful ways. Every world is more hostile than the last. A lightsaber is the least of your worries in regards of weapons."

I pick up my pace and speed ahead a pace before someone can push the matter further. I don't want to think about these sort of things while I'm here.
Luckily the others catch the hint and leave me be. I let Amy continue to lead, since she's the one who actually knows the way.

The walk to the air temple takes a few hours. Lately, I've been getting used to all this traveling by foot, but I still wish things were closer to each other.
At one point or another, Leanna chimes up with a smile.
"We made it!"

"Huh? We did?"
Seems like I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't notice it.

"Yup, look!"

I glance to where Leanna's pointing and my mouth drops open.
There are a hundred floating islands sprawled out across the sky. Hearing Amelia tell me about them was one thing, but actually seeing them in person...

Kara seems to share my thoughts.
"I've never seen anything like it."

"Me neither."
Even Zack looks impressed.

All the isles are of different shapes and sizes, just big enough for maybe a few people to stand on. The wind tosses the glistering grass from side to side. I can make out clusters of different flowers peppering some of the islands, pale purples and fluffy magentas.

A small smile graces Amy's face as she speaks up.
"Just as I expected. The temple should be here."

I glance skyward and notice that most of the isles have different altitudes.
"I hazard a guess and say it's on the highest one, isn't it?"

She nods and points above the isles and up into the clouds.
"Precisely. You and Leanna will find the air temple at the highest floating isle."

I sigh.
"Figured."
It's a good thing I'm not scared of heights, then.

Zack turns to me.
"We'll setup here then while you guys go do your thing."

Kara winks.
"Good luck!"

Leanna and I nod as she speaks.
"Off we go then!"

Leanna and I travel up the slope in silence. After a while, I glance back and feel a cold shudder running down my spine when the rest of our party members are no longer in sight. I somehow have a bad feeling about this…
I shake my head to clear my head as we continue to travel upwards, and I feel my ears pop. Just how high up are we?

We finally reach the pinnacle point of the mountain.
The isles are closer and look even more impressive. Some look just like floating rocks while some others look like they were carved out of stone. All of them are covered by soft green grass and ruins of stone structures.
The closest isles look decievingly close, but I know that if I tried to jump it unaugmented, I'd never make it.
A breeze ruffles my hair as I step closer to the edge. I look down. And down. And down...
The familiar feeling of staring down a cliff tightens my chest a bit as I place a mark.

"Don't worry. We're not going in that direction."
Leanna gives me a reassuring smile.

I smirk.
"I want to, though."

Suprise rushes over her face.
"What?! What do you mean?"

I chuckle.
"No need to be alarmed. Since I've learned the Phase Walk ability, I developed this habit of jumping down cliffs where ever I could and returning to a mark at the top of the cliff at the last moment."

"Oh. I didn't know you had such hobbies."

I shrug.
"I haven't told you before. But now you know. Anyhow, I'm itching to go for a jump. Do you want to join?"

She looks uncertain.
"I'm not sure. One of the reasons I learned wind magic was to avoid falling down great heights in the first place. And what if something happens?"

My smirk melts into a reassuring smile.
"Do you trust me, Leanna?"

Her expression relaxes, although she still looks somewhat worried.
"I do, but still..."

I put my left hand on my heart as I hold my right out for her to take.
"I won't let anything happen to you, I swear."

She bites her lip.
"I think I'll just have to take your word for it."

She lightly grabs my hand.

I pull her in and flash her a winning smile.
"I promise that your trust is not misplaced."

She blushes and I step the both of us off of the cliff.
Leanna almost instantly shuts her eyes and begins to scream as her arms sling around me tightly.
I rotate the two of us around so I'm falling down face first. I speak softly.
"Leanna, look. Still your mind and take a look around you."

She stops her screaming and pensively opens an eye. She glances around and notices that we are closing in to the sheet of clouds.
"This... is beautiful..."

I nod.
"It is."

We continue to fall, enjoying each others company and the feeling of falling free. This feeling... those always have been my private moments of freedom. You don't get any more free than gliding through the air, with the wind whipping around you. Nothing matters during those moments. Nothing but you and this feeling of weightlessness, of freedom.
But it eventually has to end. I tilt us so that our feet face downward and I return us to the mark I placed up on the cliff.
We take a moment to catch our breaths.

Leanna speaks up first.
"That… That was... Wow."

I smile.
"Yeah. That it was."

"If you don't mind me asking, how did you discover this as a hobby?"

"Curiousity, mostly."

"What?"

"Well, I think it was Yavin Four, where I found myself on a cliff inside a temple built into a mountain, and I wanted to know if I could jump off the cliff and then use the mark to return safely."

"But what if that didn't work?"

I shrug.
"Based on my calculations, it should have worked."

"Still, that sounds quite dangerous."

I shrug again.
"That's nothing to me. Nothing compared to other things I've faced."

Leanna looks at me intently. Curiousity? Pity? I can't discern it.

I shift as I scratch my cheek.
"Anyway, I think we should get a move on, shouldn't we?"

Her intense gaze softens.
"Yeah, you might be right."

I glance at the first isle. How are we going to do this?
Leanna sprints past me and effortlessly jumps high in the air. She lands gracefully onto the platform.
No matter how many times I've watched Leanna use magic to augment physical skills, it never ceases to amaze me at just how refined it is.
She turns to me.
"Your turn. Take a running start and jump. I'll boost you over!"

I look at the massive gap between the edge and the first isle. Even if I know that I have nothing to fear, a slightly unsettling feeling remains.
However, I've believed in Leanna so far, and she hasn't let me down once. No reason to doubt her now. I close my eyes and focus. This could quite well be interpreted as a literal leap of faith. Continuing down that thought, Leanna did the same by trusting me just now… Maybe... Just maybe I do stand a chance later…
Well, here goes nothing. I step a few paces back and get ready to sprint.
"Ready?"

"Yep!"

"Here goes nothing!"
I dash towards the edge und jump with all of my physical might, careful not to use my Force powers. I feel a powerful gust of wind lift me high in the air. Whoa!
In one smooth motion, I make it onto the platform with a breeze softening my landing. My heart is racing.

"You okay?"

I nod.
"That… was unexpected. But in a pleasant way."

Leanna looks suprised, then giggles.
"You ready for the next one?"

"Yes, let's do it."

We walk across the isle and position ourselves to jump onto the next one. Leanna turns to me.
"All right, you're going to try this jump with your own magic channeling."

My blood runs cold as memories of my numerous failed attempts at casting resurface.
"MY magic?"

Leanna nods and smiles as she holds her fists in front of her chin in an encouraging posture.
"I know you can do it! You just have to use the wind like a springboard and you'll fly right over. Find the spot that you are going to take off from and conjure a powerful gust of wind from there as you jump!"

I nod slowly.
"Right."

Leanna speaks encouragingly, trying to calm my illogical nerves.
"Don't worry. If it doesn't work, I'll help."

I look at the next isle.

"Just remember what we practiced. You'll be fine!"

I nod, and prepare a running start. Use the wind as a springboard. Right. I can do that!
I suck in a deep breath and close my eyes.
I exhale and open my eyes with laser-like focus. I dash ahead, forcing myself to push forward and focus my mind on my manipulator.
My feet leave the ground and I focus on casting. A surge of energy shoots down my arm. My gauntlet glows and the air swirls up around me, pushing me forward. I let out a startled cry as I fly through the air.
Instincts and hardened reflexes take over and I manage to land more or less gracefully. I really made it on my own!

"That was excellent!"

Leanna floats onto the same isle and lands gracefully on her feet, a wide smile on her face.
"You were able to augment your abilities on the first try! I'm so proud of you."

Her smile is contagious and I smile back shyly as my face burns. It is really rare for someone to look at me proudly like that. I think I can count the times on one hand, which is why I cherish each of those times.
"Thank you. This means quite much to me, coming from you."

She smiles warmly, as her cheeks gain some faint colour.
"You ready to keep going?"

I nod, my confidence now returned in full force.
"Let's go!"

As one, Leanna and I leap and land on the next island. And the next. And the next…
The first few times I jump, I float shakily in the air, but the more I cast the easier it becomes.
We hop from isle to isle, keeping pace and making good time. Leanna catches my grin and laughs melodically, springing ahead of me.
I smirk. Two can play at that game.
I push forward with another surge of magical energy and race ahead of her.

"It's like that, is it?"
Her tone is challanging and she wears a determined look as a roar of wind soars her overhead.

"You're on!"

I leap after her.
We leap from platform to platform. The whole time, I manage to keep pace with Leanna.
Her sunny hair whips about with each jump. Her laughter streams across the clouds, bright and delighted.
We race forward, but I can't quite seem to pass her.

We finally soar and slide to a stop on the final platform, our shoes flinging up grass and dirt.
I laugh, the sound breathless and spiky. My lungs burn as I take in gulps of air.
Now that we've finally stopped, I realise how much energy I've used and how taxing this endeavor was. My muscles ripple with exhaustion. I feel like I could take a nap right here.
"Do you mind if we take a quick break?"

She nods.
"That's a good idea. You aren't used to such heavy energy usage in such a short amount of time."

"Well, at least not this kind of energy."

It's comfortable and peaceful as Leanna and I sit down. She speaks up first.
"It's so beautiful here."

I follow her gaze. It really is.
The clouds look as soft as spun sugar. They glide across the blue sky.
Dappled sunlight glints off of Leanna's armour. Her hair dances across her face as we watch the sun begin it's decend towards the clouds.

She speaks with a smile.
"It's so nice here. It makes me happy."

"Happy?"

She nods.
"I don't feel so weighted down here. It's like I'm free."

I blink at her, curious.
"Free from what?"

"Everything. It's just... I don't know. The looming responsibility of the world weighs me down sometimes."

I chuckle dryly.
"Yeah, I know that feeling."

My chuckle turns more humorous.
"But the looming responsibility of the world… ?"

Leanna blushes.
"I - I suppose it's not the whole world. It's just... there's sometimes so many expactations. From the Mage Guild, from guards and places we visit because of the sigil…"

She hesitates for a second.
"...and from my family. It all gets so overwhelming."

She's always so calm, collected, and upbeat. I guess it's hard to remember she's human too when she keeps up such a strong facade. But isn't that the point of keeping up such a facade? It's the same thing I do, after all.
At any rate, she doesn't talk about her family much, and from the way she hesitated when mentioning them just now, I gather that their relationship might be strained.
I speak softly.
"Expectations from your family?"

She pauses and hugs her knees close to her chest.
"Well... In this world, a lot of women my age are already married and have children. It's something my family always wanted for me. Those things... they aren't bad, but it's not something I want to think about right now. I want to explore and see everything. I want to be free."

I nod in understanding as I chuckle darkly.
"I can understand and relate, probably more so than you imagine. It is tough to constantly have those expactations on your shoulders, isn't it?"

Leanna first looks suprised and concerned, then it turns into a smile, altough it doesn't reach her eyes. She shrugs.
"Yeah. I love my family, but we definitely have different views on things."

I nod.
"Yeah, of course."

There's a pause.

Then she speaks up again.
"Ever since I joined the Mage Guild, I feel like I'm finally able to breathe. I can look at the horizon and know that I can just... go there."

I know this feeling. That's the exact same feeling I experience since stepping foot on Terra.

There's another pause.

She closes her eyes and slings an arm around herself.
"But all this doesn't matter. I know I'll have to leave the guild one day and fulfill the expectations others have for me. Why even bother doing any of this if it's all so fleeting?"

I cross my arms in a sagely manner.
"There are three tenses of time, Leanna. Correct?"

Leanna blinks.
"Huh? Uhm, yes."

I raise a challenging eyebrow.
"They are?"

"The past, the present, and the future, of course."

"Exactly. And you make it sound like the future is the most important of those."

She nods slowly.
"It certainly feels like it."

"Well, the way I see it, all of our time is important. The past - our own past in particular - teaches us, warns us of mistakes, and is filled with memories and experience. The future is important because it contains our goals and dreams, but also our insecurities of the unknown that is yet to come. But the most important one, that's the present, the moment. Because we live in the present. It's important to keep your goals in mind, but they aren't worth much if you don't work towards achieving them. It's the present where we have a chance to act for our future, it's the present we have a chance to experience memorable moments."

She blinks again, mulling my words over.
"So you say I should enjoy the moment instead of worrying about the future?"

I grin and nod.
"Yeah. Just appreciate things for how they are right now."

Leanna looks a little confused, but interested.

"The experiences you have… the memories you make… those are not fleeting, they stay with you forever. They make you who are as a person. If you get so wrapped up on how you're supposed to live, you forget to actually live."

"I... I never really thought about it like that."

I nod reassuringly.
"That's a lession I just learned recently as well. As a matter of fact, I've learned it through my stay on this world. Like, today, you're free and able to travel, right? We've been hopping around in the air and it's been fun. I don't know about you, but when I'm soaring through the clouds, I can't think of anyhting except how amazing that moment feels. That's how you should live everyday."

Leanna tilts her head, intrigued.
"That's an interesting way to view things, but what about the responsibilites you still have?"

"Yeah, I'm still figuring that one out for myself. A part of me wishes to just abandon everything, is convinced that I've done enough already. But another part says that I just can't abandon everything I've worked so hard for. But I guess the only thing I can do is the one thing I always did: tackle each problem individually, take each day one step at a time. It's good to respect your obligations, but try push forward with what you want for your life. It's your life, after all. And who knows? Maybe you'll even be able to change the expectations placed upon you."

"Like what? How?"

I wink.
"That's for you to figure out."

Leanna looks like she's processing what I said.
"Oh, I see."

"No one knows what life will throw your way, so you shouldn't fixate on the future so much. If someone told me a month ago that I'd be in another world talking to Mage-Knight on a floating isle high in the sky, I would have sincerely doubted them. That does sound quite far-fetched."

She giggles.

"Yet here we are. There are just things you can't plan for."

I look at her, pointedly yet subtly.
"And those unexpected things that life throws your way… sometimes they end up being better than anything you could have planned for."

Her signature smile finally returns.

A flock of birds suddenly shoot up into the sky. The movement tosses back our hair, and we watch them fly by in silence.

"So, do you have anyone to go back to?"

I raise an eyebrow.
"In what sense? A family, or a significant other?"

Leanna's cheeks redden. She nods.
"The latter, yes."

I sigh.
"I have never been in a romantic - or sexual - relationship before."

Leanna's eyes widen a little.
"R-Really?"

She blushes. I can't tell if she admires that I've never been with anyone or if she's just shocked.

I smile mirthlessly.
"Yeah. It wasn't because of a lack of my feelings, though."

She looks intrigued.
"How come? That almost sounds like you were rejected…"

"You could interpret it like that, in one way or another."

I look away and let my gaze drift over the clouds.
"Before coming to this world, I have been in love with two women…"

I pause.

Noticing my hesitation, Leanna speaks up softly.
"What happened? But only if you don't mind sharing, of course!"

I take a deep breath as the memories of two fateful days flash through my mind.
I swallow a lump in my throat and bite my lip.
"The first one died in my arms and the second one tried to take over my body."

"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry, that's awful!"

I smile sadly.
"Awful, huh? An apt description of my past."

Leanna looks worried and concerned.
"Normally, I'd say that it surely isn't as bad as you make it sound, but given how I know you, I fear it is even worse than you let on... Anyway, I'm there for you if you want to talk about it."

I smile, out of sincere gratitude this time.
"Thank you, I appreciate that. As a matter of fact, I think you deserve the full story to this."

Leanna shifts her body towards me.

I take a deep breath.
"I was born and grew up as a slave…"

Leanna gasps.

"...It wasn't as bad as it could have been, though. We were looked after. Mostly. And treated well, compared to other slaves. Anyway, there was one other girl my age at the mines, her name was Kory. She had fiery red hair and a slight tan because of the sun, and she was the kindest soul I have ever known."

I smile in reminiscence.
"We grew up together and were inseperable, the best of friends. When we we were around sixteen years old, we noticed that something changed; our perception shifted. It took us some time, but eventually we figured out that our Force Sensitivity had awoken. We knew that the Empire would take us if we were found out, so we tried to keep it a secret. But in our juvenile ignorance, we still wanted to learn to use this power. So we trained in secret. Obviously, we were found out eventually. When we were around eighteen, we got claimed by the Sith and shipped off to Korriban, the planet of the Sith Academy."

"Is that where you learned? The Sith Academy? You mentioned that your school wasn't exactly enjoyable…"

I nod.
"Yeah. Well, remember how I said Sith are generally twisted psychopaths that will do anything for power and influence? A person like Kory, who couldn't even hurt a fly, she was utterly unfit for the life of a Sith. Because to them, kindness is a weakness. Compassion? A weakness. Empathy? Weakness. And they have no use for the weak. The result was that Kory got electrocuted by our Overseer, just in front of me."

I clench my fists as I speak through gritted teeth.
"There was nothing I could do to help her. I could only hold her in my arms…"

Tears sting in my eyes.
"And on her last dying breath, she made me promise that I must never loose my kindness, and that I have to keep on living for the both of us."

I hear movement and suddenly feel two arms embrace me.
"I am so incredibly sorry to hear that. But I'm here now, Xerath. You don't have to hold it in anymore."

I sling my arms around Leanna and squeeze her tightly as more tears spill out. My voice breaks as my emotions overwhelm me.
"Thank you."

We stay like this for a moment, until my eyes are relatively dry again.
I sniff.
"Well, now that I've started, might as well finish this story. At least I managed to tell her my feelings right before she passed."

I sniff again.
"Anyway, needless to say, I was devestated afterwards. I never wanted to be there on this cursed planet, never wanted to become a bloody Sith, but the only options I had were to either succeed in the trials, or die. There was literally nothing in between. And my tendency to become cheeky under stress just multiplied then. Heh. I took quite the satisfaction in pissing off the Overseer, because he couldn't do anything against me as long as I succeeded in the trials. Not that he didn't try, mind you. He even send some other Acolytes to kill me. Two brothers I actually came to like during the time we spend there."

I take a deep breath.
"And that's when I met her. Lord Zash. She was of a higher rank than the Overseer, and searched for a new apprentice in our group of Acolytes. I've met her first after I accomplished another seemingly impossible trial. She was the first one of the higher ups that didn't call me a slave. She showed me something I haven't recieved from authority figures until then: respect. I eventually completed all the trials and became her apprentice, and working with her has been pleasant. She was compassionate, friendly, respectful, and she seemed to have only my best interests in heart. And perhaps the most important thing was, she showed me a way when I was lost. She guided me, and I was more then happy to follow her. She taught me plenty of things, from sophisticated behaviour to galactic history and even advanced Force techniques and rituals. And all I had to do was to hunt down some lost ancient artifacts. That was no problem for me. I would have followed her to the ends of the galaxy for she had earned my loyalty."

"That sounds like it will take an unpleasant twist."

I nod.
"Yeah. All was fine for a while, until I got all the artifacts together. Zash always claimed that the artifacts would make a ritual possible to empower me. However, she ordered me back into an ancient dark temple, and revealed her true agenda to me. Gone was the beautiful and compassionate master I had grown to like, for she was actually quite an old woman who has prolonged her life with Sith Alchemy. But her time came to an end, so she wanted to use those artifacts I recovered to transfer her mind into my body.
Luckily Khem Val - a malformed and powerful monster who was bound to me due to his twisted sense of honour - stepped in and interrupted her. The result was that her mind was stuck inside Khem's body alongside his own mind."

"That is… wow. I don't… I don't even know what to say to that."

I chuckle.
"Yeah, that whole situation was quite weird. Needless to say, my feelings for her died in that moment."

"Yeah, I can't blame you."

"But what hurt the most was not the fact that she wanted to take over my body. No, it was that she betrayed me. Had she been upfront with me from the beginning, I probably would've given her my body on a silver platter. Or at the least I would've helped her find another host, someone who is also willing. At any rate, after that happened, I took some time to ponder that situation, and I came to the conclusion that Zash's decision was rational. While her betrayal was like a punch in my face, I found it in me to forgive her, after we've spoken over it long and deeply. We managed to understand each other better, and I still hold her in high regard, but any romantic feelings I had for her were vaporized. And after that… Well, it seemed that relationships weren't meant to be for me. Not that I would've had the time, or opportunity, anyway. Love was lost to me. Or so it seemed."

Leanna smiles slightly, although her eyes have a wet sheen to them.
"I'm glad that you walked away of that with your head held high, and that you managed to still find common ground. But I don't know if I would've had in me to forgive someone who would plan to do something so horrible to me."

"It wasn't easy, but after some time trapped in the monster's body, she came around. After she apologized sincerely, I could forgive her."

I shake my head.
"But enough depressing things from me. What about you?"

She looks confused.
"Huh? What about me?"

"Well, is there a significant someone waiting for you?"

Leanna looks away as she blushes. When she speaks, her voice sounds small - vulnerable.
"...I've never been with anyone…"

I glance her over.
"Hmm. On one hand, I find it hard to believe that someone like you hasn't been in a relationship…"

She looks back over to me.
"Someone like me?"

"Charming, smart, hard-working, patient, beautiful... need I go on?"

Leanna's blush deepens. She rubs her neck in emberrassment and giggles.
"You're seriously exaggerating!"

Then her voice grows softer.
"But... thanks."

She moves to stand up, but then pauses as she seems to remember something.
"Wait a moment. You said 'on one hand'... Shouldn't there be an 'on the other hand' as well?"

I smile.
"There is. On the other hand, I would take you for the kind of person that waits for the perfect one, instead of dating someone for the sake of dating someone. I have no doubt that a person as wonderful as you had at least some suitors. But appearently, the right one wasn't under them."

She looks suprised, but then her expression melts into a smile.
"Yeah. You're quite perceptive, aren't you?"

I smirk.
"I've picked up a thing or two."

She clears her throat and stands up.
"You're ready to go?"

I nod, my heart still pounding. I stand to clear my thoughts.
"Yeah… Let's go."

We bounce across even more platforms. It takes a lot more work to soar them than before, partially because they're further apart, and partially because I'm already weary from all the air hopping we did earlier.
The sky is painted pink and purple by the time we reach teh highest floating isle. We step onto the island and look around. The flowers shimmy in the breeze and in the far corner is the familiar sight of a temple ruin.
Leanna seems to share my thoughts.
"This must be it."

I hear a low groaning sound. What was that?

Leanna holds a hand in front of her mouth as she cocks her other on her hip.
"This must be the entrance."

I follow her gaze to a large, open archway. It's too dark for me to tell what's inside. A freezing, moaning wind spirals out of it and rustles the grass and flowers outside.
I shiver, but try to shake off the cold.
"I'll go ahead."

I walk towards the entrance, and the wind howls. It roars and tumbles out of the door, pushing me away. I grunt and try to fight my way through, but I'm unsuccessful.

"It looks like there's a strong gust of wind here to keep people from entering. Let's try springing ourselves forward."

I nod.
Both Leanna and I take our place. With a running start, we use wind to augment our speed and try to push through.
Even though Leanna makes it ahead of me, the wind is too strong and we're both eventually pushed out.

I tap my foot in annoyance.
"Damn."

"Here, take my hand."

That startles me.
"H-Huh?"

She smiles.
"I'll slingshot you in!"

My face falls in disappointment.
"Oh."

But then I smirk as realisation dawns.
"Ohh. It might be worth a shot."

"If this is where the Elemental will be, maybe absorbing the energy will lower this barrier and I can follow after."

I nod and take her hand.

"One… two… three!"

We both dash forward, channeling our energy, and push as deep as we can. At the point of overpowerment, Leanna rotates and throws me, slingshotting me forward.
I fly through the gust and tumble into the temple. Looking back, I can't see her past the darkness. At least that worked.
I end up in a room filled with crumbling stone and rusted relics that is lit by torches mounted on the wall. Suprisingly, I stand alone in this room. Where is the Elemental? The others were always waiting for me in the last two temples. Am I supposed to summon her somehow?
I take a look around the room. More items are scattered about but I don't spot anything that looks or feels magical.
I don't know how to do magical scans like Leanna and Amy, and the pango isn't here to gravitate towards anything with energy.
I reach out with my senses regardless, and I feel some sort of presence deeper in the temple. So that's where I go.
I step further in, then pause when a pair of inverted eyes appear from the top of my vision. I noticed the presence, thus I am not caught by suprise, but I take a step back because of the close proximity.

A young lady giggles as she floats over.
Her skin is of a light turquoise and her short dress with detached flittering sleeves is of a deeper cyan, which matches with her hair and eyes.
Suffice to say, this is the Air Elemental.

Instead of instantly imparting me with her power, she merely watches me.
I take a step forward with an open gesture. She beams as she watches me.
"Greetings."

She doesn't react.

"Do you understand my language?"

She blinks at me and tilts her head. I don't think she does.
What should I do? I cup my chin between my thumb and index finger to think.
The Air Elemental blinks and does the same, bringing her hand to her chin.
I glance at her curiously.
"Hmm? Are you copying me, perhaps?"

I slowly wave a hand. After a second, she smiles and does the same.

I sigh amused.
"You are, aren't you?"

I press my palms against each other in a typical Jedi meditation position. She giggles and does the same. She seems pretty playful. Maybe I can use that to solve this situation.
I make a pointer with my hands and slowly reach towards her.
She floats closer and does the same with her hand.
Our hands move closer and closer until our fingertips touch. The sensation is something I've never quite felt before. Although my finger doesn't fall through her like an illusion, I don't feel physical contact either. It is somewhat similar to the times Aloysius fortified his substance to be more physical, but at the same time, it is not.
Through my fingertip I feel a tendril of calm, ethereal energy, almost like she's testing me.
She smirks and suddenly a galestorm errupts in the room. It circles around me, trying to whip my bang into my eye, but I prevent that through the Force and stay steady on my feet.
After the wind envelops me, it begins to channel into my body. I feel the rush of energy coursing through me. It makes me feel weightless, as if lifting the burdens of gravity from my body.
The stronger and more rejuvenated I feel, the more the Elemental begins to fade. Before she disappears, she grins and raises her hand to wave.

I incline my head.
"Thank you."

The last thing I see is her beaming smile as I absorb the last bit of energy and she disappears.
Well, that was something.
Now, that the imminent point of interest has vanished, I take a look around the room. I notice that it is more of an open collosseum or amphitheatre than a room. Sunlight shines in from the clear sky above, making the plants and grass glow in a vibrant green, while pillars hold up the structure around me.
Or what's left if it, at least. There seems to be a second floor at the edges, which roof's have collapsed. But on what appears to be a massive guardrail are symbols engraved. Rather, the same symbol over and over. A spiral spinning into itself, forming some sort of circle. I remember it from my casino visit in Wolfsden, and it doesn't take a genius to deduce that this is the represantative symbol for the element of air.
A shame Leanna couldn't have gone afterwards, I think she would have loved it here. Maybe... Just maybe I can restore this place in the future?
I shake my head. That's too far in the future.
So I start making my way back through the tunnel.

"Hey!"

I see Leanna jog over.
"The wind outside disappeared so I came in here as fast as I could. Did something happen?"

"Yes. Objective completed. I found the Air Elemental."

Leanna brings up her manipulator and does a scan as she smiles.
"It seems like you absorbed the energy in here as well."

I nod.
"Yes, she transferred her energy like the other Elementals, but the experience was a bit… different."

"Different?"

"She appeared to be curious about me. Instead of waiting for me in the room to transfer the energy immediately, she started to copying my movements, almost like she was playing with me. I have to admit that it was enjoyable."

Leanna blinks and slightly tilts her head.
"Are you telling me you played a mime game with one of the Ancients?"

"If you word it like that, I suppose I did."

Leanna looks amused.
"I'm sure Amy will want to know the details of what happened. To be honest, I'm pretty curious myself. But we've been gone for a while now, and now that we've gotten what we came for we should head back."

"Agreed. But first let's grab a few things."

She nods.
"Oh right. You did promise Kara!"

"And I'd like to show you the center of the temple. Despite it's condition it is quite beautiful."

She looks suprised.
"Oh, alright."

We search around the room and decide on a few interesting trinkets and coins to pick up. Despite my lack of knowledge about the culture these artifacts belong to, my archeological experience helps in finding things I'd say should be valuable for Kara.

When we're done, I lead Leanna deeper into the temple.
She breaths out in wonder.
"Woah… You didn't exaggerate, Xerath."

I watch her amused as she takes looks around the center of the temple.
"Yeah, I took a moment as well to marvel at the architectural elegance."

Suddenly, I remember my plan for today. If we head back soon, my window of opportunity shrinks. My heart rate increases as the realisation hits me. Am I even ready to take that step?
… No, I don't think I am. I am absolutely unaccostumed to romantic relationships. I have no idea about the costums of courtship.
I ball my fist, I'll wait for a bit more.

Leanna takes a lap around the center, looking at everything. By the time she returns to me I have fought down my racing heart and creeping blush.
She smiles warmly.
"Thanks for showing me this."

… Ah dammit, here we go again. My blush comes back in full swing. I return her smile, albeit a bit shyly.
"You're welcome."

Once we're all set, we exit the temple.
We both pause outside once we see the dazzling sky. It's ablaze with streaks of violet and gold. Even the clouds passing by are painted lavender or orange, adding to the portrait in the sky.
The colours seem even more vibrant so high up here and the view takes my breath away.

I am apparently not alone with this opinion, as Leanna breathes out in amazement as well.
"I thought the view was beautiful before, but this is a wonder."

We take in the scenery.

"This... This is what I meant earlier… moments like this create a memory that lasts a lifetime."

"I agree."

Golden rays shine brightly in the sky as the sun travels beneath the clouds, like one last hurrah from the sun before it sets.

I don't know how long we stand here before I break the silence.
"I think we should head back."

I turn to walk back towards whence we came, but I am met with solid resistance, and not only my mind screaming at me to swallow my pride and confess my feelings.
"Huh?"

I try to walk forward again, but I'm pushed back in place by a stiff wind. It's as if I'm entering the temple again.
That means there's magic at play, and given the temple has no more energy, there's only one other possible source.

"Leanna? Why are you -"
I turn around again and the words catch in my throat. Her gauntlet glows a pale blue while her face is bright red.

I look at her, equally confused as hopeful and embarrassed. She obviously doesn't want me to leave yet. But why…?
"Leanna?"

The wind hooks around my back and guides me gently towards her.
Her cheeks brighten as the glow on her manipulator fades.
My confidence, dignity and pride scream at me to act now, but the insecure boy I am at heart needs more confirmation.
"What's going on?"

She folds her hands behind her back in a shy manner. When she speaks her voice is small, soft... vulnerable.
"I- I want to live in the moment..."

She steps closer to me.
Leanna stares up at me with her bright cerulean eyes, shining like a sapphire. My face burns as my heart rate quickens.
She's so close to me. I can smell the intoxicating perfume of her hair and I feel light-headed, like I'm under her spell.
The radiant sunset fades from view as I gaze at Leanna. The fading sunlight illuminates her hair like a halo and I reach out to tuck a strand behind her ear.
She smiles softly at my touch. Then looks imploringly at me as she bites her lip. Her sudden confidence melts and I see a hopeful vulnerability in her gaze.
That is enough confirmation, even for insecure little old me.
I wrap my arms around her back and pull her into me. She lets out a soft breath of suprise as her hands rest on my chest.
I trace the outline of her cheek as I let my thumb glide over her smooth and soft skin. Her face turns even more red and I can feel the heat of her soaring blush, but she doesn't pull away. Instead, she leans into my touch.
Gently, I begin to close the space between our lips despite my own blush burning on my face. She tilts her head towards me and her lips part. I can feel her breath and pause just as our noses touch.
Her breath catches at the electicity of our touch. The air feels thick and charged with energy as we hover so delicately in limbo.
Her hands trace down my chest and her breathing becomes shallow as she anticipates the meeting of our lips. I feel the fire of her fingers as they trail down my chest.
Slowly, her eyes close.

Despite my uneducatedness in matters of courtship, I can trust my instincts. So I decide to follow them.
Closing my eyes, I close the gap between us until our lips part.
In that moment, with the sweet taste of her on my lips, I'm not thinking of my origin. I'm not thinking of how or why I arrived here. I'm not thinking about my past, or about the uncertain future. I stop thinking about anything at all - for there is only Leanna on my mind now.

After a moment that appears way too short, we pull back breathlessly and look at each other. She smiles and it's more beautiful than the sky above. There is not a single doubt in my mind. She is the one for me.
I clear my throat to fight the searing blush and embarrassement.

Leanna blinks.

I feel for the mark I placed upon my gift for Leanna and let it gently float out of my bag and land it into my hand. I reach it out to her.
"This is for you, my dear."

"Really?"
She glances at the prooffered bottle.

Her eyes widen in recognizion.
"That's extract of the Spirit Orchid, isn't it? How… when… Why?"

I chuckle softly.
"Back in Bazada. It clearly holds sentimental value to you, and you seemed like you wanted to get it, so I got it for you. As for the how, the merchant was interested in my ingots. I guess I am lucky they still have a certain material worth."

She safely tucks the small bottle away and smiles warmly at me.
"Thank you, Xerath."

She tugs me close and kisses me again.
The world disappears from my focus as we share each other's embrace. This has officially become the objectively best day of my life!
Once the sun dips low and the sky begins to turn indigo, we reluctantly part. Hand in hand, and big goofy smiles on our faces, we begin to head back to reconveve with the rest of the group.
The journey back is significantly easier as we are jumping to lower platforms rather than higher.
We make good time traveling back. Even still, we would periodically stop just to take in the astounding view again.
This is definately a moment I will never forget.

We finally make it back to the tip of the mountain where we started.
As soon I as put my feet on solid ground, a headache hits me suddenly.
I wince as I close my eyes and rub my temples. Then's when I recieve it.
A vision, the picture as clear as day.
I see my friends, Zack, Kara, and even Amelia, lying on the ground in a crimson pool. A large group of armed black shilouettes stands around them.
I snap my eyes open.
"No!"

I grab Leanna's hand.
"Come!"

She looks suprised and concerned.
"Huh? What's wrong?"

"The others are in danger! Come!"

I sprint down the slope with a slight enhancement of Force Speed while pulling Leanna along, careful not to go too fast so she won't to trip.
As we race down the mountain we hear the thunderous crack of dischargers in the distance.

The closer we approach camp, the clearer the sounds become: the clashing of steel, dischargers firing, people yelling. My blood runs cold as my heart pounds and I let go of Leanna's hand.
"I'll speed up ahead!"

She nods.
"Yeah, I'll be right behind you!"

I confirm with a nod of my own and blast off at full speed, urging my powers to propel me faster.

After only a second, I arrive at our camp. I stop and take a moment to assess the situation. I can make out Amy, Zack and Kara surrounded by a large group of bandits. About twenty, with a caravan wagon in the back where another five bandits are busy assembling something that looks like a mounted heavy blaster cannon. A wall of fire blocks their sight of my friends, however, courtesy of Amy.
Half a dozen of them surround Zack alone.

"We have you now, Deathslinger!"

Glancing over my friends, I notice that the fight has already taken a toll on them. Especially Zack and Kara are sporting some bruises, but they seem to be fine otherwise.
I breath a sigh of relief. At least they're still alive.
However, I better stop this now before someone gets hurt even more.
My voice booms across the field.
"Stop this instant!"

Startled, everyone pauses and turns to look at me.
My friends smile in relief while one of the bandits points at me.
"Hey! That's one of the guys our new client told us about! Take him out as well! But watch out for the Mage-Knight, she can't be far either!"

A chorus of reaffirmative reactions follow, and some of the bandits split off to engage me. The others double down on the other three.

I take another glance at my friends.
And that's when I notice it. The blood dripping off of Amy's arm.

My blood boils with undilluted rage and I grit my teeth as my eyes turn golden.
I raise my right arm in front of me, gripping these vermin telekinetically and then I throw them onto the open plain with a sweeping gesture.
My voice trembles in anger.
"Don't you dare… to hurt my family!"

Tendrils of lightning flow off of me uncontrolled and strike the ground around me. I hold my arms back, channeling my crackling lightning in them before throwing them forward, unleashing the deadly charge fueled by my rage.
A field of violet arcs spring forth from my fingertips, covering the next few hundred meters in front of me.
I smirk sadistically as their pained screams reach me.
They shall feel the pain they have inflicted upon their victims in the past! These vermin shall suffer.
Thus I keep the current especially low, to be non-lethal, but the voltage high to hurt especially.
I laugh as the distinctive hissing of Force Lightning drowns out their screams.
"Not so brave anymore, are you?! Picking only on those weaker than you, your right for mercy expired! Now burn!"

I hear a sharp gasp.
"Xerath!"

Leanna's voice snaps me out of my clouded mind and I stop the outflow of power. Their jerking bodies hit the floor unconcious.
With their imminent threat taken care of, I turn to Leanna. But nothing in my life could have prepared me for what I see in this moment.
Her face is twisted in a shocked grimace, as if she can't believe what just happened. But the worst thing are her eyes, for they show that she's dissapointed in me, and something more... is.. is she afraid of me? The contrast to her warm smile earlier is staggering.
Startled, I take a step back and turn to look at the others, hoping for some sign of acception.
But their faces only mirror varying degrees of shock. Amy and Kara are the most expressive, but even Zack's mouth is slightly agape. And especially Kara seems also frightened.

But... why? What did I... I look down and look at my hands, which still cackle with residue electricity.
Then everything clicks into place and the realization hits me like a turbolaser. I have broken my own oath. I basically tortured these bandits, when I could've ended them fast instead.
I look up again, glancing in the shocked faces of my friends.
I stumble back one, two steps. I cannot stand those looks. Please, everything but that…
I turn around as I feel my eyes getting wet.
My voice is small and scratchy as crushing regret takes the place of my rage.
"I'm sorry."

Not being able to stand the expressions my friends wear, my feet kick up a bit of dust as I speed off as fast as my feet can carry me.
Neither do I know nor do I care where I run to, I just need to get away from them.
But I am soon reminded that it is not a good idea to move faster than the speed of sound with blurry vision, as I trip over something. I tumble to the ground and crash into a tree after countless rolls.

I groan out.
"Uhhhhh…"

Lacking the strenght to stand back up, I pull myself in a sitting position, leaning my back against the tree while a quick self heal takes care of the aching muscles and bones.

No matter how fast I ran, the gravity of the entire situation still catches up with me, and it makes me sick to my stomach.
Those looks of shock and fear on my friends faces, on Leanna's face. And the disappointment… I didn't even know that a simple expression can hurt so much.
But thinking about it, I can understand them. I am disgusted at myself as well. I once swore that I am never to torture someone, and I just broke that oath. After surviving over a decade of constant warfare I break that oath now, of all times.
I take another look at my hands. I feel the familiar drain on my powers, caused by Aloysius, in the distance, but I am too distracted to pay any mind to it.
In my life, I have brought so much death, destruction and suffering. How much more can I justify? Is my life really worth all those hundreds of thousands lives I have taken? What about all the more deaths I caused indirectly? And now this.
I am slowly becoming the monster I always fought to defeat.
No single man should be wielding such powers in the first place. There is a reason the mortal body cannot handle such quantities of power!
And yet here I am. Immortal. Invincable. Equal to the Force. There is no one powerful enough to stop me. The only chain on my power is that of my own mind, and that is slipping - Breaking.
I never assumed to have made it through my life unscathed. A life such as mine leaves scars, both on the body and the mind, though I always thought that I had it under control. I knew that my mind was fractured…
But finally experiencing peace, not having to worry about the next big deadly opponent I need to take down... I realize that I'm not fractured. I'm broken.
With this frame of mind, I can not govern and lead responsibly. As just proven, all it needs is a strong surge of rage and my sense of morality gets twisted. And what if it's not just some bandits next time? What if my anger hits an innocent city next time? Or even an entire planet?
Thanks to Valkorion, or Vitiate, or Tenebrae, or however else one might want to call him, I have the powers to annihilate the life of entire planets. And even in the off chance that my physical body should be destroyed, I would simply become unbound by it's restraints, becoming unstoppable.
No…
I can't let that happen. I mustn't become the monster I fought to destroy!
The only option is to destroy myself and becoming one with the Force. If I would fall in battle, I would refuse the beckoning of the Force and stay behind. So I have to do it now, while I still have the mind to do so.

I take a deep breath.
That's the only way. I am too dangerous to be left alive.

I raise my hand, channeling a Force Desintegration, ready to unleash it with a snap.

I chuckle darkly, evolving into laughter.
After all this time, I can only take a page out of Khem's book and laugh at the cruelty of life. That the best day of my life could simultanously become the worst and last one as well. Heh. I tried so hard and got so far, but in the end, it doesn't even matter.

Yet my hand trembles. I hesitate. Why?

Why can't I do it?! I have to! I'm too dangerous to the life in the galaxy!
Even the people most close to me are afraid of me. I pushed them away! I have nothing left, I'm too dangerous! So why do I hesitate?!

I take another deep breath, preparing me to follow through this time.

And at that moment a voice shouts over the plain I sit on.
"Xerath!"

I look up, suprised, and see Leanna running over to me. I also notice the familiar spectral form of Aloysius fade out of existance beside her.
Despite the exhaustion evident on her face, she bolts over to me and launches herself at me.
She crashes into me and traps me between herself and the tree, her momentum forcing the wind out of my lungs.

"Oooff!"

Suffice to say, my focus on my cast is broken, and I am too stunned to renew it.
Actually, I am too stunned to do anything. What's going on?

Leanna wraps her arms around me tightly and sobs into my chest.
"Don't do it Xerath! Don't do it! …"

"Huh?"

She looks up at the sound of my voice. Her beautiful face is stained by tears, with fresh ones spilling forth from her eyes. Her voice is thick with emotions.
"Don't go, Xerath. Don't leave me just after I admitted my feelings…"

My eyes widen.
"You know… ?"

She nods shakily.
"Y- Yeah. Aloysius appeared and told us what's going on. He showed me the way you went."

"But... why?"

She tilts her head.
"Why what?"

"Why did you come for me? I was sure I pushed you away with the cruelty I displayed…"

She sniffs.
"I won't lie, that was a huge shock, seeing you like that. But Aloysius made us realize just why you acted like that. He didn't went into detail, but it was enough to get the picture. But still. I want to know. What is going on within you, Xerath?"

I avert my face.
"I don't want to burden you with this ballast."

Her embrace tightens.
"But I want to share it with you! I don't know what it is, but it's clearly too much for you to handle on your own! You aren't alone anymore, Xerath…"

I return to look at her, wide eyed.

She smiles warmly - lovingly, with a blush dusting her cheeks.
"You've got me now… A- And the others as well, of course. We're all worried about you, we all care about you. So please, you don't have to carry your burden alone anymore. You can confide in us, Xerath."

A few warm droplets threaten to escape the confines of my eyes as I mull over her words.
I sniff and blink my eyes dry.
Then I reach out my hand and cup Leanna's face, wiping her tears away. My smile mirrors hers.
"Thank you, my dear. This might actually work. You guys have an undeniable influence on me, and you in particular have proven to be able to snap me out of compromising emotional states."

I take a deep breath to calm the storm raging inside my mind.
"Very well. I will try this and put my trust in you lot. You have earned that much. But if that proves to be insufficent, I will go through with my current plan."

"But why, Xerath?"

I smile sadly.
"Because I am too dangerous. I have great powers at my command, ridiculous ones, even. Couple that with my unstable frame of mind..."

"But you're such a kind hearted person! You would never-"

"I would never what? Hurt someone? Like I wouldn't hurt those assassins?"

Her voice is soft.
"You would never hurt someone without a reason. I heard that you called the others your family... Is that how you feel, the reason why you snapped?"

I nod.
"As soon as we were back on the mountain, I recieved a vision of their deaths. That's why I urged us back so much. You lot are the closest thing I have to a family - aside from Aloysius - and then I saw that Amy was injured… Poor sweet Amy... I only saw red afterwards."

"Are... Are we really that important to you?"

"Yes. Especially you and Amy. I love Amelia like a little sister. She is very precious to me."

Leanna looks at me tentatively.
"And how important am I to you?"

I gaze in her eyes before closing my eyes and leaning down to kiss her.

She yelps in suprise, but offers no resistance. On the contrary, she practically melts into me.

The need for oxygen forces us apart after a moment.

"You are the light in my life, Leanna. My guardian angel. You are the most important person in my life. I love you."

She blushes a deep crimson.
"I- I- I had no idea that your feelings where that strong..."

I smile.
"It was part of the Sith training to always know ones emotions. But honestly, I am a bit suprised as well."

She smiles as well.
"Well, I do hope I can make you happy then. You are quite important to me as well, after all."

"Leanna, dear, you already do. Even more than you realize."

"Xerath…"
She trails off and kisses me tenderly.

It takes some time until we finally part.
Leanna pushes herself to her feet.
"Well, I think we should head back now."

Leanna reaches a hand down which I take and pull myself up with her help.
I dust myself off.
"I'd say you're right. There is much we have to discuss, and night has already fallen."

"Let's go then."

We head back to the others.
A spectral form materializes while we walk.
"Son of my sons, I am glad to see you well."

I chuckle.
"I have to thank you for that, don't I?"

Aloysius shrugs.
"I merely guided her the way. She managed to convince you to stay on her own accord."

"Still, thank you. I doubt they would've found me if it weren't for you."

"I know, which is precisely why I intervened."

I smile at my ancestor's ghost.
And although I cannot see his face, I can feel his smile as well.

"That reminds me, Aloysius, what did you tell the others, exactly?"

"I explained the vision you recieved, and how that impacted you. I suggested that Leanna accompanies me to you, and told her about your current condition on the way. The others do not know about... your cancelled plan."

I nod in gratitude.
"Thank you."

"You're most welcome, Xerath. It was not my place to tell them. That decision should be, and is, up to you."

I smile in appreciation.

Aloysius nods.
"Well then, I think my presence is no longer needed. I'll leave you to your own devices, now."

Leanna speaks up.
"Thank you, Mister Aloysius... for guiding me to Xerath. I..."

She chewes her lip.
"I wouldn't know what I'd do now if it weren't for you stepping in."

His voice is kind.
"Don't mention it, child. I'm just glad that the son of my sons has found someone to reciprocate his feelings. To have found someone to take care of him."

A part of me wants to call out that I don't need someone to take care of me... but he's not wrong there.
So instead I clasp Leanna's hand and intertwine our fingers.
She turns to look at me, and I flash her a reassuring smile.
"I won't go anywhere, Leanna. You convinced me to stay."

She smiles as well, but doesn't say anything. No words are needed, anyway.
While we are focused on each other, Aloysius silently fades away.

We continue to walk in a comfortable silence.

After some time, we arrive back where the ambush happened.
The first thing I notice is the absence of vitals. The bandits are dead. Strange, since I left them alive.
When we draw closer, the lone figure of Amelia greets us. Her head hangs low, presumably deep in thought as she paces back and forth by a campsite. I don't need the Force to notice that she seems troubled.
Her head jerks up as she hears footsteps, and her face lights up when she recognises us - recognises me.

Only a moment later a pink blur crashes into my chest.

I should get used to it by now, but I still get the wind knocked out of me.
"Oof!"

Amy embraces me tightly.
"Thank goodness you're back. I thought…"

Is that a supressed sob?

Her voice sounds thick, as if she has trouble squeezing the words out.
"I thought - feared that you might not come back..."

I frown in disappointment at myself. Amy's smart, a genius, even. Of course she could've figured out what I'd be up to.
I wrap an arm around her shoulders while gently patting her head with the other.
"Shhh, Amy. I'm here, and it will stay that way. You won't get rid of me that easily."

After a moment, she finally calms down and pulls away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks and a smile adorning her face.
"I am glad to see that you two have safely returned."

I ruffle her hair.
"As am I."

I take a moment to look around and confirm my feeling. It's too quiet. Zack and Kara are nowhere to be seen, and my senses are telling me that Zack is a bit further away. I can't sense Kara at all, however, which means that she doesn't want to be found.
"Now, would you mind telling us where the others are? What happened while we were away?"

Amy looks down.
"Well, quite much happened in your absence..."

Leanna and I patiently wait for her to continue.

"Apparently, Zack is - or rather was in some way affiliated with the Cloaked Brotherhood, whose assassins attacked us. They called Zack the Deathslinger and a traitor, and he demanded to know how they found him. He found the assassins to be uncoorperative, so he put them down. Kara was furious when she heard that and went at him with drawn blades, saying that this Brotherhood had destroyed her home and family. Zack claimed to not be a part of them, and Kara had left as she needed some time to think alone, as she said."

Her voice is small, remorseful.
"I could do nothing but watch as their argument took place. I wanted to talk to Kara, but she brushed me off. And Zack won't talk to me, either."

I pat her head again.
"It's alright, you've done everything you could."

She looks up at me with watery eyes.
"Even so, with Leanna and you gone as well, it felt like everything was breaking apart..."

I smile reassuringly.
"Don't worry, Amy. I came back, so I'm sure the other two will come around as well."

I glance over to Zack, who happens to look over in that moment.
He nods in acknowledgement, a small smile tugging on his face.

Amy hugs me again.
"I hope you will be in the right."

I smile, first at Zack, then at Amy as Leanna pats her head comfortingly.

Amy distances herself again and moves over to the campfire before sitting down. Leanna and I follow.
Leanna looks troubled as we sit down.
I move closer to her.
"What's wrong?"

Leanna crosses her arms and presser her mouth in a firm line.
"They appearently called Zack the Deathslinger."

I nod.
"They did, and that he is. But why is his nickname as a mercenary of importance? Who is the Deathslinger?"

"He's an infamous mercenary for hire. They say he has a deathwish."

I arch an eyebrow.
"Hm?"

"The Deathslinger would take on missions and jobs that no one else would because of how dangerous they were. Anyone crazy enough to do these jobs were said to have no regard for their own life. Somehow, the Deathslinger took those impossible jobs and found a way to survive. At the Mage Guild, we were warned that there were certain encounters or individuals who if we ran into we would not under any circumstances engage. The Deathslinger is one of those people."

Leanna shifts uncomfortably.
"He has one of the highest body counts of any mercenary…"

I look at Zack in the distance. He may be a bit rough around the edges, but I know that he has a kind heart, that he cares about people. Leanna's description of the Deathslinger doesn't fit him. At least, not his current self. He clearly doesn't like his stigma of the Deathslinger, given how he reacted whenever it came up, like in Wolfsden.
I speak up.
"I can confirm that Zack is the Deathslinger. He was recognised often enough, but he always tried to distance himself from that name. I just lacked context to see the significance of that revelation."

Leanna nods absentmindedly.

I place a hand on her shoulder.
"Are you troubled knowing he has killed so many people?"

She jolts.
"I... A bit, yes."

I look down, worried.
"Will you look as troubled and distrustful at me as well, once you learn of the weight of my past?"

Leanna shifts her attention on me.
"What do you mean?"

I look her square in the eyes, even if my nerves flare up.
"I've lived through two and a half galactic wars, Leanna, along countless local ones. My body count spans tens of thousands, possibly even going into six digits. And that's only counting those I killed directly, not considering all those my actions and orders have claimed."

Leanna gasps, and Amelia's mouth is agape as well.

I expected this, but I still can't hide the look of hurt flashing across my face.
That seems to bring them back, because Leanna takes my hands in her own and squeezes them reassuringly.
"I know you had no alternatives. So this won't change how I view you - how we view you. Right, Amy?"

Leanna looks over to her, searching for support.
Amy nods in response.
"Correct. You are a kind person, Xerath, and as such we will see you."

I have to admit, that brings a tear to my eye. I smile in gratitude.
"Thanks. Heh, you two really are pulling my fears apart one at a time."

The two of them smile warmly as well and Leanna speaks.
"Anytime."

"Do you think the same way about Zack, though? That you don't care about his past?"

Leanna hesitates, but Amy pipes up.
"Regardless of his past, it appears that his present self is no longer affiliated with the Cloacked Brotherhood or his persona of the Deathslinger. In conclusion, I have no reason to think any less of him. The same rationale takes effect in your case as well."

I nod in agreement.
"He is a good guy. We wouldn't get along so well if that were not the case, after all."

Leanna nods as well as the discussion lulls to a natural close.

Before anyone can bring up another topic, I suddenly hear footsteps. We turn around to see Kara finally returning to camp.
I see Zack whirling around in the distance, having noticed her as well. I can't see his expression, but I can feel the emotions he emits, and they are a mixture of relief and uncertainty.
As she gets closer, I notice that her eyes are puffy and pink. It's clear that she's been crying, but her expression is cold. At least it was, until she spots Leanna and me.
She steps over with a warm smile.
"I'm glad to see you back safely, Xerath. I was worrying about you, you know?"

I smile bashfully.
"Yeah, I'm back."

She nods as she turns to look at Zack, her expression growing cold again. She steps over to him, and he meets her halfway, just near enough to us that we can hear the ensuring conversation. Kara speaks up.
"Tell me about the Cloaked Brotherhood."

Zack's voice is small as he answers, or at least as small as his rough voice can be.
"What do you want to know?"

Kara crosses her arms under her chest.
"How did you become associated with them?"

Zack pauses. At first, I think he's going to refuse to answer, but he does eventually.
"They gave me a mission to silence a target. It was a part of their initiation."

Kara inhales sharply, her eyes narrow accusingly.
"So you were looking to join them?"

The sentence is a question, but she voices it like a statement regardless.
By the tone of her voice alone, I can tell she's angry and disgusted.

Zack nods.

Kara's frown deepens.

Zack, in turn, looks just as displeased. As he continues on, there's a certain edge to his voice and a frown on his face.
"That was before I knew what they were all about. When I went to carry out the mission, that's when I found out the truth. My target was an ex member of the Cloaked Brotherhood. The rule is the Brotherhood is for life. This person didn't want to kill anymore and he ran away. He was being hunted but had evaded the Brotherhood for years."

His expression relaxes.
"When they finally found him, he was living a simple life in a small village with a wife and two kids. The mission was to kill him and everyone close to him. And to send a clear message for anyone else who would want to leave the Brotherhood. That was my initiation."

Zack crosses his arms as he frowns again.
"I know my target killed people, probably innocent people too since he was a part of the Brotherhood, but his family was innocent. Their only crime was knowing him. I've never killed innocent people and I wasn't going to start then."

Kara still has her arms crossed, but the accusing gleam in her eyes has vanishes as she listens intently.

Zack's frown relaxes again.
"When I found my target, I warned him of my mission and told him I would cover him so he and his family could escape. I knew the others who joined me on my mission would kill me if they knew I'd betray them, so I took them out before they could get me, and then let my target go free. Once the Cloaked Brotherhood found out I didn't complete the mission and helped the target escape, I knew they would start hunting me. I tried to get away and stayed in hiding for as long as I could."

Kara finally lets out a loose sigh. The tension unwinds from her body as she slumps a little. She believes Zack.

Zack looks directly at Kara and uncrosses his arms.
"But they are a very covert guild who only deal in secrets. How do you even know about the Cloaked Brotherhood?"

Her voice is thick with tears, and I can tell she's trying to hold them back. Her arms fall to her sides.
"My dad was one of their targets. He had stumbled into some information when he was working as a treasurer's assistant. He reported it to the treasurer, who had been corrupt and tried to silence him. We escaped, but our life was never the same. We had to move from city to city and never stayed in one place for longer than a few days. My dad would be gone for hours, sometimes even days at a time. But no matter how long he was gone, I was never really afraid because I always knew he'd come back for me."

She glances away, slinging one arm around herself.
"Until one day, he didn't…"

She looks back up at Zack.
"I knew something had happened to him, but I had no way of finding him. I spent my life trying to figure out what had happened. I dug into as much as I could, the treasurer, what it was, who called the hit, everything. I found out it was the Cloaked Brotherhood who did it, but there was no more information I could gather on them. They cover all of their tracks."

Her lips quiver.
"I'm not sure if he's really dead or not... I've tried to come to terms with it..."

Zack finishes for her when she can't.
"But you want closure."

She nods.

Zack pauses and surveyes her for a moment.
"I know their base of operation. They have a ledger there that keeps records of all the jobs, so even though this happened years ago, you could still find your answer."

Kara's back straightens. There's a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

Zack draws his fist to his chin while he supports his elbow with his other hand. His voice is soft and kind.
"But do you really want to know the truth? It might not be the answer you want to hear."

Kara's jaw clenches and her eyes are aflame with determination.
"Yes."

Zack nods.

Kara's expression softens and she hugs herself again.
"I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions earlier. I just haven't heard the name Cloaked Brotherhood in so long and as soon as I heard it..."

She looks down.

Zack's voice is firm.
"I understand."

Kara looks back up.
"I won't be able to concentrate knowing there is finally a lead I can pursue about my dad. As much as I don't want to, I'll have to leave the group."

She turns away, but Zack grabs her arm.
"I'm coming with you."

Kara's eyes widen.
"What?"

Zack looks at her with steely determination.
"I've been running away from my past long enough. But enough is enough. They'll never stop searching for me, and the longer I run, the more I put others at risk."

He gestures at Amy and the rest of us.
"I don't want to be the one that puts all of us in danger."

He frowns in determination.
"I'd never forgive myself if I let them hurt the ones I care about most."

He looks straight at Kara when he says that. Her cheeks flush but a small smile graces her lips.
"I guess we'll both be leaving, then."

Zack smiles, although it's barely noticeable.
"Looks like it."

When they turn around to approach us, Leanna is already standing, smiling expectantly.
"So, where do we need to go next to take care of the Cloaked Brotherhood?"

Kara freezes, her mouth agape.
"What?"

"You said you guys are going to take care of that guild, right? What's our next step?"

Kara's confusion melts as she slightly narrows her eyes.
"Zack and I are going to go alone."

Amy shakes her head.
"If your description of the Cloaked Brotherhood is accurate, which is quite likely given their show of force today, then this mission will have a greater chance of success with the aid of the entire group."

Zack crosses his arms sternly.
"Absolutely not. It's too dangerous."

Amy crosses her arms under her chest. I now notice that one of her sleeves bulks a bit, as if there was a bandage underneath.
"I believe my combat abilities as a Mage-Caster has been proven on numerous occasions."

Leanna chimes in with a bright smile.
"And as a Mage-Knight and active member of the Mage Guild, I have been trained for dangerous missions such as this."

Kara looks at me.
"But what about collecting energy to help him get back home?"

They look expectantly at me.

I smile warmly at each and everyone present.
"I'm already home. You guys… are like the family I never had. Sure, there are a few people I miss from my galaxy, but none of them were as close to me as you already are. I still want to find a way back, but only for the sake of learning new techniques in the process, because by experiencing the peace of Terra, I've come to know a calm I did not thought possible."

Those words appearently are enough to warrant a group hug, with me at the center.
Leanna hugs me from the front, while Amy and Kara hug my sides each, all the while Kara mutters.
"Awwww…"

Even Zack smiles appreciatingly at me.

I freeze, completely taken by suprise. I have absolutely no idea how to react to this. But after a moment, I take this as it is - a display of affection. I smile warmly and wrap an arm around Leanna and one around Amy's shoulders.
I've had quite much luck to meet these people.

After a moment, they pull back, so I continue.
"Besides, uprooting criminal orginastions is something of a hobby of mine. They are a disease for societies, and I am the cure. Not to mention that they poked the Lion of Zakuul by hurting my family."

I glance at Amy.
"So I'll have to let them feel my claws."

Amy flinches. Her injury still hurts her. I quickly cast a quick Force Heal to mend her wound.

Kara, meanwhile, is at a loss for words. A small is on her lips.
"I'm not sure what to say."

"Poi poi!"

We all glance in suprise at the pango.

I look back at Kara.
"See? Even the pango wants to go. You won't get rid of us that easily."

"Poi!"
He nuzzles Kara's legs.
Then he gives Zack a tentative look who returns his look with a stony glance.

"P-Poi…"
Mustering up his courage, he scoots over to Zack and nuzzles his leg briefly, then races to the safety of my legs.

Zack's expression is not harsh when he watches the pango.
"If this is what you guys wanna do, I'm not gonna stop you."

Kara looks like she's about to say something, then changes her mind and shakes her head. A small smile spreads across her lips.
"Thanks, you guys."

The tension in the air disperses and things start to feel like they're back to normal. Leanna and Kara share wide grins and even Amelia looks positive again.

The corners of Zack's mouth twitch upwards in encouragement.
"Let's get going then!"

I pointedly stiffle a yawn, which Kara notices.
"Hold on, Zack. It's already night time and we don't have a plan formulated. I think we can afford one extra day to sort everything out."

Leanna nods.
"Let's sleep on it and decide what our next steps will be in the morning."

Zack nods in agreement.
"Sounds good to me."

Zack heads to his bedroll and the rest of us filter into our own bedrolls as well.
Amelia steps to me as I head over to my bedroll.
"Xerath?"

I turn to her.
"Yes, Amy?"

She fidgets a bit.
"Could it be that you used your powers to heal me?"

I smile warmly at her.
"I did. Why? Is something wrong? Does it still hurt somewhere?"

She tries to keep a straight face, but there's a blush steadily growing on her face.
"No, I'm fine. In fact, my wound instantly felt better earlier, so I figured you would have something to do with it. I merely wished to confirm my hypothesis."

I ruffle her hair as I chuckle.
"Of course you did. Well, I'm glad to know my healing helped."

"That it did."

She doesn't say anymore as I retract my hand, but she fidgets with her hands as if she still wants to say something.

"Is there something else I can help you with?"

She nods shyly, refusing to meet my gaze.
"Did you… really mean it when you called us your family?"

So cute. I draw her into a gentle and warm embrace.
"I never lie, and I never exaggerate. Every word I speak is nothing but the truth."

I draw back a bit to look down into her eyes.

Noticing this, she looks back up at me with slightly watery eyes and tinged cheeks.

"I love you as if you were my little sister, Amelia. Which is exactly why I became so enraged when seeing you wounded."

She hugs me again and I could swear I hear a muffled 'awww' coming from the direction Kara went in.
Her grip tightens, and although her voice is muffled, I can still hear her clearly.
"Me too."

I softly stroke her hair.

Then, I hear a muffled sob and feel a wetness beginning to soak into my clothes. When she speaks, her voice is heavy with tears.
"You were the first one to believe in me and my abilites, not treating me as a child. You always had my back and looked out for me, taught me new things and widened my horizons. I look up to you and would be honored to be allowed to consider you as my older brother..."

The stream of tears seems to intensify.
"Which is why I was so afraid you wouldn't come back, earlier. From what Aloysius said, I could discern what you had planned, even if he didn't say it..."

I smile at her, equally warmly as guiltily.
"I'm sorry I worried you that much. But I won't leave you. Not anymore. I'm going to stay, and I'll be your big brother for as long as you want me to."

She pulls back and looks at me with a tear streaked face.
"Really?"

I smile reassuringly.
"Really."

"You promise?"

I pat her head.
"I promise. By the Force."

She wipes away her tears and turns around. I may not see her face, but I can practically hear her smile.
"Then I would advise you to keep that promise."

I chuckle.
"I will. Good night, Amy."

"Good night, Xerath."

She walks back over to her bedroll.

I smile after her, suddenly feeling guilty. How could I believe that my solution was acceptable when there are people that I actually mean so much to? I'll work this out... no, we will work this out. Together. Leanna's right, I can confide in them. They have my back.

I move the rest over to my bedroll and pick it up with my Levitation before moving closer to Leanna's resting place. Aside from Amy and myself, the others are already asleep, so I try to be especially quiet.
I notice that Leanna has a smile on her face. Hm, maybe she's dreaming about something nice?
I lie down in her vacinity and close my eyes. I gradually fall asleep as the last embers of the fire die down and snuff out.
As I am just about to fall asleep completely, I hear some shuffling to my side, the side away from Leanna. Not bothering to open my eyes and turn around, I scan with my other senses and notice that it's Amy. Appearently, she had the same idea I had.
I fall asleep with a smile on my face as well.

A/N: Now, I want to take a moment to apologize for the large gap of updates. This chapter was a huge one to write, and plenty of life happened. Also, I took the critique to heart that said that especially the earlier chapters are paced too fast, so I'm working on revising them. Originally, I planned to update the older chapters along with the upload of this one, but my progress is too slow on that front. So, as to not let you wait too long, I decided to throw this out and update the other chapters another time.
As always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and feel free to share your thoughts. I love reading reviews, even if they not always say something I can reply to.
Thanks to everyone taking the time to read my writing, and the peeps following my progress. I appreciate you guys.