20. Powerless

As Arganan and Vishnal approached the castle, both of them noticed that Frey and Arthur were just outside, but hadn't walked in quite yet.

"What's going on?" Vishnal asked.

Frey quickly shushed him, motioning towards the door. "Listen."

"Is Dolly okay!?" Pico could be heard from within the castle's main hall.

"Of course." Ventuswill's voice was calm, yet grave. Arganan peered at the doors, realizing that Frey had opened the two doors by a small crack. He could see Venuswill, Pico, and the unconscious Dolly. "But there's something I must do before anything else."

Ventuswill raised her head, letting a soft roar leave her. A flash of bright light filled the room, and Arganan had to look away from a moment. As it faded, he heard Pico yelp.

"Wait, wait, hey! What are you doing!? What about first aid? What did you just do!?"

"I simply erased her memory." Ventuswill's answer made Arganan freeze. He noticed Frey gasp softly, and even Vishnal and Arthur exchanged dreaded looks.

Was that what she did to Dylas? That light…is familiar from when we chased him down.

Cue Pico's horrified gasp interrupting Arganan's thoughts. "What!? Why? Are you trying to ruin our relationship? I don't care if it's you, Ven. I can't forgive such cruelty!"

Ventuswill was heard chuckling, and Arganan peered through the crack to see Ventuswill smile. "It's not like that, Pico…I just erased her memories relating to the Guardians. Just like I did with all the others. Without such memories, they should never think of sacrificing themselves again."

Pico then gasped. "Then Dolly…."

"Will never become a Guardian again, no."

"YAYYYYYY!" Pico flocked happily to Dolly, still hugging her in her arms as best as she could. Ventuswill kept the soft smile as she continued explaining.

"You can live happily with the others. Just forget about all that chaos."

Pico paused, then looked up at Ventuswill. "If you found a way to restore runes to this land, then there's no need to take away her memory, right? Why?"

Ventuswill didn't speak, her smile vanishing. She then trembled, before she collapsed entirely on the ground.

"Ven!?" Pico gasped, starting to approach her, but that was when Ventuswill tried to stand again, shaking her head. "

I'm sorry…please, allow me to rest for a spell." Her voice came out weaker than before, a tone Arganan recalled from when he, Frey and Therius chased down Dylas.

"Why are you in so much pain!?" Pico's voice sounded half-anguished, almost to the point of anger.

"I'm not…"

Pico shook her head. "You're obviously not okay! Didn't you find a solultion!?"

There was no answer from Ventuswill. Pico let out a sob, and Arganan saw her shake her head.

"You released two guardians before her, right!?" Pico's voice grew even more panicked. "You're going to die!"

What? Ventuswill…

Ventuswill is going to die? From dealing with this young woman…and also with Dylas? Did she do the same with Amber, too?

Before Arganan could stop the Princess, Frey rushed into the room, pushing the doors open. "Venti!?"

"Lady Ventuswill!" Arthur also rushed in, followed by Vishnal and Arganan. "

Ventuswill's gaze weakly turned towards Frey. "Oh, Frey. There's no need for the dramatic shout. I'm right here."

"What does she mean by you dying!?" Frey burst out.

Ventuswill frowned softly. "So, you were eavesdropping. That is, by no means, a proper activity for a Princess."

"Venti! Answer me!"

Ventuswill didn't speak. Arganan sighed, shaking his head as he looked towards her.

"I may not have any authority over you, or anyone in this room, but it's obvious you're hiding something at this point. I suspected such since the last time you collapsed."

Ventuswill looked towards Arganan, then shook her head. "I guess…I can't hide it anymore." Her voice came out breathy, but she did her best to keep her speaking clear. "It's exactly as Pico said, Arganan. I'm about to reach my limit."

"Ohmygod." Arganan heard Vishnal mumble, as Ventuswill continued explaining.

"Truthfully, I reached it a long time ago, as a Divine Native Dragon. I have the duty of producing and returning runes to the world through my body. This world is full of nature, people, fields and monsters, and we need a huge number of runes for everything to be maintained in the right…proportions. The runes in this land ran dry long ago."

Arganan swallowed. That sounded like a situation he was too familiar with. Just like with the Outsider and how it drained the land of energy, then…

"I had my final part to play. My final role, as the Divine Wind Dragon Ventuswill, was to water the land with my own life. However, my life was extended because of the Guardians."

"Guardians?" Arthur raised a brow. Frey moved towards Ventuswill's side, getting on a knee to try to face her properly as Ventuswill continued to explain.

"It's a forbidden spell used by Earthmates to create more runes. They assimilate humans into the land itself. The Guardians sacrificed themselves to produce more and more runes to save my life, and this land. The three people you saved; Amber, Dylas and now Dolce, over here," Ventuswill nodded her head towards the still-unconscious Dolly, "They were all Guardians. They sacrificed themselves to save me and this kingdom. I always wanted to release them, but time is a cruel mistress, and I was convinced I was out of it. That I was too late. But then you came, Frey. When I learned you were an Earthmate, I knew it was my last chance to save my friends who'd turned themselves into Guardians. An Earthmate must be able to break the forbidden spell cast by other Earthmates."

"That's why you didn't tell me?" Frey's voice trembled. Arganan watched her frame shake, and he had a feeling she held back tears.

Ventuswill could only nod. "I was worried you wouldn't do all of this, if I did tell you. You have my sincerest apologies. Once I've played my part, the runes I generate will easily last another thousand years. A new wind dragon should be born during that time, and play the part like I did…"

"But then you'll die." Frey's voice shook even more, and she shook her head. "I don't want you to die, Venti!"

"Frey, listen." Ventuswill's voice turned to pleading. "If you go west of this town, there's a tower called Leon Karnak where you'll find the last Guardian, Leon. Save him, please. You're the only one I can ask! I can't bear being alive any longer through sacrificing the lives of my friends!"

"Surely that can't be the only way. Releasing the Guardians and you passing on." Arganan burst out. Ventuswill looked towards him as he wracked his brain for ideas. "Can't you just move the town?"

"No. If all the runes in this land disappear, so will the runes in the Kingdom of Norad. And that will eventually diffuse to the whole world. Selphia is the heart."

Arthur frowned. "And ask the King about it isn't an option? I can send a letter to the Royal Capital…"

"Again, no. Successive kings of the land explored alternative after alternative, but there is no solution. This is the only way."

"What if we make runes? We can get them from the fields, right? Through farming?" Vishnal tried to ask, but Ventuswill once again shook her head.

"Not much. The amount of needed runes easily exceeds the growth speed of crops. "

"I could be the new Guardian." Frey's voice tried not to tremble as much this time as she looked Ventuswill in the eye. "Let me do this for you!"

"No!" Ventuswill's voice turned to a snap, "Why do you think I borrowed your power? Why do you think I tried keeping my distance from everyone!? I can't bear watching my friends disappear because of me. But then," The sharpness in her tone faded, a soft chuckle leaving her, "You had to drop in on me! Right on my head, Frey! And I was worried about you…but…" She then gasped for breath, before shaking her head, "Please…just save the last Guardian…"

It was with those words that Ventuswill fully lost consciousness, collapsing entirely.

"VENTI!" Frey's scream echoed in the main hall. She wrapped her arms around the dragon as best as she could, pleading for her to wake, but Ventuswill did not wake up.

"She's still alive." Pico's voice came out soft. She went to hold Dolce in her arms, trying to prop her up as best as she could, before looking towards Frey. "I…I know that you're sad about this. And I am, too. Just…try to understand Ven's feelings about this, okay? She probably had to…think hard about this…"

Frey wiped her tears, before scanning everyone else with her gaze.

"Frey," Vishnal started, then corrected himself, "I mean, Princess…"

"I need some time alone, okay?" Frey fully stood up, before looking towards Vishnal. "Please let Volkanon and Clorica know about Venti. Arganan, Arthur…just go home, okay? Help Dolce?"

Arganan swallowed, then looked down at Dolce, nodding. "Of course." Arganan moved towards Dolce, intent on attempting to carry her.

"I can help, if you'd like." Arthur managed, also approaching Arganan, but he shook his head.

"I think me and Pico can take her from here." Arganan managed quickly, looking towards him. "But thank you, for your consideration."

"I see." Arthur backed off. As much as Arganan wanted to question Arthur about how much Arthur knew about any of this going on, he also knew that Dolly, no, Dolce, needed help. And he knew exactly where to take her.

With Pico's help, he carefully took Dolce to the Tiny Bandage Clinic to get help for her.

He might be powerless to do anything about Ventuswill's situation, and he didn't know what Frey would do.

But, at least he could help out someone new to town.