(WITCH After Issue 12)

'Look his waking up!'

'He's moving too!'

'Atlas!'

'Lyndon!'

Eric slowly opens his eyes, awake from the commotion on front of him and a blur vision he sees beyond him, with familiar silhouettes that surround him. He not only feels the bandages around him but then feels the comfort of lying on the soft and smooth bed with fluffy cushion for his head to rest on. He quickly blinks his eyes to correct his eyes and around his bedside is his colleagues Ray, Grantaire and Vathek.

"You are a survivor aren't you? You've been asleep for three hours." Ray smirks.

Eric snickers back and tries to sit upward from his bed. "Yap. I am?" he says as he turns his head around and inside is a magnificent and majestic king-size room, with white finish brick walls and high ceiling.

"Hey now! I told you you're a survivor but you don't have to force yourself to sit up!" Ray scolds him.

"Nah—Wait—Phobos!" Eric jerks up quickly and remembers.

"Easy now, you need to rest." Grantaire explains. "We've won. Phobos is defeated!"

"W-What?" Eric places his hand on his head as he still feels the pain and dizziness. "I d-don't get it—I remembered I was fighting Phobos and then I-I felt he dropped me—"

"But we save you from the fall." Vathek explains. "Ghjoel and I came to help you against Phobos, but Martin found you falling and we catch you from the fall. You were bleeding and beaten so hard we need to take Martin's cloak to stop the bleeding for a while."

"M-Martin's here?" Eric asks suddenly in confusion.

"His going tell you his story for another time, Atlas, all you have to know is you don't have to worry about Phobos because we won the war!" Grantaire happily explains.

"W-We won?" Eric asks again surprisingly.

"Aye aye" Ray answers. "The magic of Meridian is restored to its glory. Princess Elyon has become our queen and he and Cedric are prisoners at Kandrakar."


Elyon with the Crown of Light on her head presents herself through the large hole. Behind her are the Guardians with the captured Phobos and Cedric. She floats down and descends to the ground as a crowd begins to grow around the palace to witness not a historical moment but a next hopeful chapter for their world.

"There she is! It's Elyon!" "Elyon!" "The Princess has won! Phobos is defeated!" "Long live the new ruler of Meridian!" The people cried out for joy.

"Friends of Meridian!" Elyon announces before them with confidence as she descends slowly to the ground with grandeur. "My brother's reign has ended forever and I..I want to ask your forgiveness for everything you've gone through. I've decided to share with you something that belongs to me but it is not I don't deserve! There was a time when a magical force flowed through this land and now I summon my powers to make it flow once again!" Her feet touches the dead land and soon it becomes to heat up. Rays of light also shoot up around her and the Meridian known wasteland, regains its life and wonder.


"Is that it? Well that's a relief." Eric says and releases his shoulders relieve from the good news. "Looks like our hard work really pays off!" After all the efforts he, his legionates and his rebels have gone through, he then gives a big relaxing sigh. 'No wonder I'm inside this grand room! I must be aided inside the palace clinic.'

"Yet I'm curious Vathek, how was Phobos defeated?" Ray asks. "You were with Elyon when she told you her story of the account."

"To sum up according to Elyon, when the Guardians and Elyon met Phobos to fight him, he challenged a duel with Elyon. To stop that from happening, the Guardians attacked him but he brought them to fight Cedric instead. That's when Elyon and Phobos duel began."

"So that's where the Guardians went." Eric comments

"That's right. Elyon won that duel and her brother surrendered, but again he tricked her, knocked her out unconscious and captured her. That's the time Atlas out of nowhere fought Phobos." Grantaire continues.

"That Phobos is truly a trickster." Ray smirks.

"And a trickster you need to equally face him off." Grantaire adds to Ray's comment. "I don't know the rest of the details after Atlas removed Phobos powers because Elyon fainted. But when she woke up, she already noticed the triumphed Guardians by her side. With the Meridian crown they found earlier, they crowned her queen of all Meridian. So good work out there!" he says as he pats Eric's shoulder.

"But I think you should give the credit to the Guardians for their win. They defeated Cedric and Phobos after all." Eric humbly explains.

Vathek and Grantaire look at each other sternly. "I don't think Phobos had that mind." Vathek explains. "Before he was delivered and arrested back at Meridian he kept on cursing your name 'Eric' over and over again."

"Just what are you implying?" Eric asks sternly and looks at Ray with also confusion in his face. "I erased his powers for a brief moment but I don't think it affected him too much of his overall strength."

"Not his magical and physical strength, but I think your fight affected him internally." Grantaire explains sternly. "Remember the bounded rings that held Elyon hostage? I suspected that those were not ordinary magical rings, but extracts and withdraws magic from the captive to the capturer. I never knew how he learned that sort of magic."

"So the human and non-mage Eric is up against the combined magic of his and Elyon's huh." Ray clarifies.

"No wonder I was fighting a prime mage at another level." Eric recollects Phobos' powerful magical attacks as is hands to shake slightly in fear. "And if I, the non-magical human being, took his great powers away is like also demoralizing his sense of pride."

"If it were not your wits and your courage then the Guardians would have a hard time saving Elyon." Grantaire clarifies, rises up and pulls his lizard hand out. "Though they receive all the credit, I must thank you Atlas and your legionates for everything you have done to this rebellion. We couldn't be successful without your help."

"To be honest, the first time I met you back at that alley, you were all giddy and go-lucky. I thought were not serious, but as the days go by you became so stern and mature." Eric asks as he shakes hands with Grantaire.

He then shakes Ray's hand. "I thought these young Vanguards called-'teenagers' are too emotional to be with, but as the days go along I found out that you were not as I expected. You may be young, but I think you're mature and capable to be treated as true legionates." Grantaire and Vathek salutes to them. "We must go now and report back to Lamarcus, since Caleb is now gone. Please deliver my thanks to Nigel, until we meet again, Vanguards."

"To you as well and our condolences as well to Caleb and to the fallen" Eric and Ray salute them back. Vathek and Grantaire then walk off and exits the room.

"By the way, where is Nigel?" Eric asks suddenly as he breaks off the silence.

"He's at the outside tents with Martin. His greatness is still asleep and exhausted from the battle." Ray explains.

"Jeez how much sleep does he need to recharge himself?" Eric asks annoyingly at Ray. "Do you mag-blooded beings needed that enough rest just to wake up?"

"Hey don't look at me like that." Ray retaliates. "I pulled of a bunch of techniques in addition to the final attack and I needed only a quick recharge to wake me up. I say I have a better endurance mana than his greatness Nigel."

Then soft knocks pound on the wooden white door. "E-Excuse me? Eric, Raymondus a-are you there?" a gentle voice calls outside.

Ray snickers at Eric and elbows him. Eric blissfully sighs as they both recognize the voice. "Come in Ely—Err—your highness!" Ray and Eric then secure their hoods.

A glowing beautiful girl comes in as she enters with confidence and brilliance with the Crown of Light she wears on her head. She then quickly walks toward them when she sees the bandages that cover them. "M-My gosh! How are you guys? I'm so sorry if now was my chance to visit you."

"Oh we're fine your highness! You don't have to worry about us." Eric grins at her.

"Is that so?" Elyon doubts and raises brow on him. She then approaches the bedside to both Eric and Ray. She sits on Eric's bed and closely examines Eric. "As I remembered correctly, you have a deep wound here when you were caught by Phobos attacks." She then grabs onto Eric's bandaged arm.

"Ouch! Elyon—your highness what are you—" Eric cries out when Elyon touches his deep and most painful wound. He then notices her under hands illuminate with the touch of light that slightly stings and burns his skin. He then looks at her, as she closes her eyes and chants her curing powers upon his wound. "There it's done!" Elyon grins as she excitedly removes his Eric's bandages on his arm. Magically, the painful wound on Eric's arm is now gone and cleaned away.

"Thank you so much your highness!" Eric happily and satisfying replies to her as he observes his skin.

"I'm practicing my healing skills and it's the only wound I can do for now, I'm sorry if I couldn't heal you after you were badly wounded to save me back then." Elyon disappointingly replies. "If I could learn so much I could also help you Raymondus." She looks at Ray.

"Don't worry about me! I think my mana could heal me up in due time." Ray convincingly replies

"Also, your highness, you owe me a healing spell after I cured your hand back at the bookstore. So I called it quits!" Eric jokes and laughs

"Oh that's right!" Elyon replies and joins in his chuckle.

"Sorry can't relate with you guys on that matter. I must be leaving then!" Ray jokingly stands up and leaves.

"Hey don't go Raymondus." Elyon finishes her laugh and bows slightly to them. "I just wanted to thank you, the both of you. Not only to your great sacrifices you have done today but to the day we if it were not your scolding about the truth about my brother, I couldn't be where I am today. I know we've conversed for only a few hours in the past, but the both of you are special to me. You believe that there was something in me during those times that I feel confused of knowing myself."

"And so who are you now?" Ray asks.

Elyon grins with confidence and resolve written all over her face. "I am Queen Elyon, Light and Savior of Meridian."

"Well if that's the case, I think I could return this back," Eric reaches his hand out and gently takes her hand out. Elyon surprised and confused follows his movements. "If Queen Weira could see how you have become, she would be so very proud of you." He then places the green pendant on her hand and lets her hand go. Elyon widens her eyes in surprise as she draws the pendant to her face and soon tears flow out from her eyes.

"Hey Eric you made her cry…" Ray quickly gives Elyon a handkerchief nearby.

"Y-Your highness, I'm sorry if it w-was only now! I had the chance to take it away from one of Frost's men b-but—" Eric hesitantly explains.

"No-no you don't have to apologize. I don't even care how much time it takes before I could get my pendant back." Elyon takes the handkerchief and rubs it on her eyes to wipe off the tears. "It was the only thing my mother left to me before she died, and I thought I totally lost it! I can't thank you enough!" Elyon then looks up to them with joy. "Is there anything that you want? I can grant you something within the limitations of my powers of course."

"Your highness" Ray calls her exaggeratingly. "What I wanted is for you and Eric to be—"

"Just as I said during my fight with Phobos, we want you to be a great queen." Eric quickly cuts Ray off and places his hand on her shoulder, "Your ancestors were led by darkness and astray and I hope should not follow their footsteps. We and the rebels shed blood and wounds and sacrificed our time for you to rule Meridian. I hope you could learn from this big responsibility and power you're holding."

"I will, Eric." Elyon nods and grins back and stands up. "Well, since I have a responsibility to hold out to, I should be going now. Until we meet again?" she grins cheerfully.

Eric notices her smile so different than before. It was not just an ordinary smile it was true happiness that he sees in her. "You know you should smile a lot, like what you're doing right now. Don't you know how beautiful you look if you keep on smiling?" Eric genuinely comments on her beauty. She was beautiful, but her face is drawn with hatred and fear and it was the first time that the boys saw her genuine joyfulness.

Elyon blushes bright red. "M-Me beautiful?—s-smiling?"

"Yap! And I hope that's the smile we like to see when we meet you again." Eric grins.

"O-Oh uh—Sure! Why not?" Elyon bashfully turns around to the door as Ray guides her out. "Well—umm—Goodbye then! See you!" she says as she exits out.

Ray smirks and waltzes back to Eric's bedside. "You're such a smooth talker aren't you? Did you see her reaction when you told comment on her smile?"

"Huh?" Eric asks confusingly with a gesture of innocence on his face. "A reaction? I didn't notice anything peculiar."

Ray realizing on how dense Eric is, shrugs his shoulders off in hesitation and sighs.

"Nevermind."


(WITCH After Issue 12)

"I never knew that Meridian is this beautiful." Eric gazes the city around him as he takes his walking stick outside the palace after he decided it was time to go home and continue his recovery. The once blue-green moody environment turns into a bright and colorful city after Elyon returns the magic back to Metaworld. He remembered the city too cold and dark because of the blue hue surroundings and never could he imagined a utopian paradise that sets his eyes before him. "Yet why are the rebels here?" he then notices tents that surround the palace.

"The wounded rebels are taken care of here and needed medical supplies are given from the palace." Ray explains as they walk down the slope. "And besides, one of these tents could be Nigel and Martin. Do you want us to fetch them somewhere else if they were not here?"

"Atlas!" "Sir Atlas!" "Raymondus!" Suddenly, the Pasture Heights and the rebels of the hill calls out and rush towards them, even the wounded tried their best and limped to greet them. The hundred men crowd surround them and with a mix of concern and excitement. "How are you sir?" "Thank you Atlas!" "We won sir!"

"Ten hut!" Ray coughs out and tries to release a loud attentive voice.

The Pasture Heights rebels stay silent and quiet and follow their leader's command. When Ray sees his rebels quiet and attentive to him he begins to say his final message. "This is it men, your wish of a free Meridian is now on reach. All your sacrifices have been truly paid off. Though we couldn't gain anything than our benefits from the Legion," Ray jokingly says and the rebels reply with a chuckle. "but I can say that I'm truly proud of you guys and I hope you could use this great opportunity to restart your life and a new beginning for you as well."

"Is this everyone here?" Eric changes topic and familiarizes his rebels around him. "I heard we lost Ferroris, Rius and twenty of our men." He then scratches his head as he mourns and grieves. "This is my fault. Do you think if we had practiced harder and longer we could still—"

"You don't have to put the burden to yourself, Atlas." Jehan calms him down. "When we first came to the Pasture Heights, we knew that some point. We came here to fight and even die for this land and we truly made it on our own. So in honor their lives and to say thank you to what you have done for us, we decided to join the new Meridian Army and form a corps of our own." Jehan replies as Cpl. Jhaoully holds up Ferroris' flag in the air, with the name 'Lyndon-Arciera Corps' indicated over the former Pasture Height's banner.

"Lyndon-Arciera?" Ray also surprisingly notices his Arkhantian surname indicated on the new corps name.

"We decided to add the Arciera, General Oswyn's family name, since we wanted to join both of our groups." Another group of Merdianites wearing blue-brown tunics, rebels from Lamarcus' Corps comes up to them to the front. "We also wanted to extend our gratitude as well, especially to you his nephew."

"Aren't you the trained rebels under the former Vanguards?" Eric asks and recognizes them when they reinforced the hill.

"We are." One of the rebels reply. "After we heard the news of General Oswyn and the death of the Vanguards, we were told to return and to continue our training under Lamarcus Corps. Yet though it's too late to say it now, especially to you, we wanted at least extend our gratitude to you, Raymondus." He reaches his hand out to Ray.

"If my uncle were still alive, I bet he would be very pleased of you as well." Ray sincerely replies and shakes his hand.

"You should be proud, Sir Atlas." Uilly commends and pats Eric's back. "To us and to them, Vanguards are the best legionates we ever met and for that we will never forget you. Be safe my friend and I hope you won't forget about us when you return."

Eric and Ray soon make their way and say their byes and thanks to the rebels of the former Pasture Heights, rebels under Oswyn and Jolras' vanguard or also known as the newly found 'Lyndon-Arciera Corps' dedicated to their Earthling trainers. They then continue to descend the slope and through the rebel camp to find Nigel and Martin as the night begin to cover the sky.

"Did you know I got jealous when the name 'Lyndon Corps' got around?" Ray breaks the silence and starts a peculiar topic

"I never knew how my actual name got around. Theory, I believe it was Vathek who got the word around." Eric irritatingly says. "Besides by the end of the day, they include your surname as well."

"But you being recognized is the thing right?" Ray sternly replies. "You once asked me if I could be the better Atlas because of my way of my way of speaking and being friendly with others but I believe the sword chose you for a different purpose."

"Well I did improve my extroverted skills and public speaking if you ask me." Eric sighs and finally sees Nigel and Martin saying their byes to Gruul and to the rebels of the Calluna at the far end of the slope. "Good thing we finally found them here."

"Then we should wait them here." Ray replies as he waves at them when Martin sees them and waves them back. "You're a great leader and strategist Eric, leading unrecognizable rebels against the might of the Meridian for almost fourteen onslaughts is almost an impossible feat considering our inexperience and age. And if you could do that I believe that you can do more things than just learning about your astronomic world."

"We're lucky that's why we won." Eric doubts as he sees Nigel holding unto Martin around his neck and limps towards to meet them.

"Yet luck doesn't have to do being you as Atlas, right?" Ray replies.

"Still I don't believe that I'm truly Atlas at all."

"And I don't think so."