Me: And here's…TU…part…50! Wow…fifty chapters…already…
Feral: Yes already, it's been, what, 9 months (maybe) since you started TU?
Me: Somewhere around that. And of course I'm sorry for the late update! I had exams one week, my birthday the following week, and then we've had computer/PS2 problems this week (my spring break) that we didn't expect. So yeah, not a good week for me…
Feral: Yes that's definitely true.
To Understand: Part Fifty
Time in Exire: Coming to an End Part 1
By Harmony283
Reviews:
Viaroura Fox-I'm glad you liked Mitosu's POV (and I'm glad I put it in). As for if Mithos can fend them both off. Well, he may just have to...eventually. Now then, here's the newest chapter! Enjoy!
LittleLinor-I had a feeling you'd like his POV. And yes it does seem to make him more human...even though he isn't human. So would that make him more half-elf...? Also yes you'll hear more from him and yes Mithos seems to like that certain joke a little too much. But now he has to watch out for, dun, dun, dun! Fangirls! -cough- uh, yeah, anyways here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Alaia Skyhawk- I'm glad you liked the bit of fluff at the beginning, there's a bit of that in this too (at the beginning of Genis' POV). I'm also glad you liked Mitosu's POV--I might actually put one more POV of him...somewhere. And you will see his POV in the sequel (or at least that's what I have planned so far). Now here's the newest chapter! Enjoy!
Feral: So…this is the chapter where everything gets wrapped up, right?
Me: Yes, at least that's what I'm hoping.
Feral: You never do know with these sorts of things, do you?
Me: Yeah…
Feral: Hmm, well, we all already know you don't own what you don't own and you do own what you do own…so yeah, need I say more…?
Authors Note: No, Feral, you don't. Well then, in this chapter Sheena and her group finish the pact with Maxwell and shortly afterwards they head off to the Mayors house to hear what he knows about Raine's parents. Also Genis decides to go out around this time. Of course he finds out his sister has arrived in Exire, and hears she's at the Mayors house, so he goes there…
Feral: …and he overhears the conversation doesn't he?
Me: Hmm…I wonder, does he?
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Raine's POV
I watched as Yuan, once more, swung his sword and in a blinding flash of light--that reflected off his sword, thus, nearly binding us--he 'defeated' Maxwell. The Summon Spirit hung in the air for a few more seconds before collapsing onto the ground. He gripped his staff-like weapon, using it as I kind of cane, and staggered to where he was looking at all of us.
He then started laughing, "My, my you really aren't as old as I thought you were--to still have that much energy left!" He floated into the air again, pointing his staff at Yuan, who scowled.
I honestly felt sorry for him…but Maxwell was right, Yuan was old, four thousand years old, but that didn't mean he had gotten older physically. After all, how can someone look four thousand years old?
I shuddered at the thought.
"-course I do. I may be four thousand years old, but my looks, as well as my stamina, is from a 28 year old." Yuan stated, crossing his arms over his chest, his cape, which had somehow reappeared, swayed in the wind.
"Ah-ha-ha-ha! Of course, now then, make your pact Sheena!"
"Oh--um…r-right! I Sheena have but one wish: Reunite the Two worlds…"
Maxwell nodded his head, "That's good enough," he paused looking at them all, "But why, may I ask, did you come to make a pact with me? Exire will fall…"
"Then keep it up!" we all answered in unison.
It would be bad if this sanctuary fell, because it was right over the ocean. I can only imagine the amount of damage it would do…because Exire is big and it would obviously cause waves. Not to mention everyone on Exire would be dead…or wounded severely.
Maxwell just laughed, "Okay! Okay! Ah-ha-ha-ha, you look so serious, ah, but it can't be helped," he wiped a tear from his eye, "Now what else do you want from me? Besides the pact?" he looked around, "It's obvious from your expressions that you're intent on doing something."
Sheena stepped forward, "Actually, ah, yes, there is something…we need you, or someone else needs you, to do. Or, um, know I guess?" she turned to face Yuan, "You know more about this than I do!"
'Well that's true. He probably does know more about what Mithos wants to ask him than anyone else does here.'
I watched silently as Yuan nodded his head, "Yes I guess I do know more. Maxwell," his voice had suddenly become louder, more controlling, "I'm sure you remember Mithos."
Maxwells eyes narrowed, "Yes…I believe I do. Why? What does he want from me?"
"Hnn, you're still smart for being around as long as you have. Yes he wants something from you, but it's not what you think."
I watched as Maxwell tightened his grip on his staff, "Then what does he want?"
Yuan shrugged, "He wanted Sheena to make the pact with you, and then he wanted to ask you something."
"And what is that something?"
Yuan opened his mouth to speak, but then close it, "I believe he would have a better way of explaining it. And besides it's his friends idea to begin with."
Maxwell just stared at him, "Friend?" he asked, sounding like he didn't believe him. That's when I had to speak up.
"Yes friend. His friend is my younger brother."
Maxwell turned to face me, and I could feel the swell of mana in his gaze, "I see. What's his name?"
"Ah--Genis Sage."
"I see. Ah-ha-ha, I guess I won't be able to get out of this, so I might as well go along with this. Okay then, bring him here!"
"But we don't even know where he is." Colette muttered, blushing, "A-and besides, Raine needs to talk to the mayor and Genis could still be asleep."
"Hum, well that's not good. Okay then," Maxwell raised his staff in the air, a shining glow emitting from its tip, "Call me with this when you get a chance to see Mithos and this boy named Genis." He disappeared, leaving a beautiful ring with a turquoise stone in the center.
Sheena caught it and sighed, "Well if he says so, okay." She looked over at me, "We should head to the Mayors house right? He should know where Genis is staying."
I nodded my head, "Yes, and I'm curious to find out what he knows about my family."
We turned and walked back down the long pathway back to the Mayors house. With each step I gripped my staff harder and harder. I didn't know why I was afraid, I wanted to find out who my parents were and why they abandoned me and Genis.
'I just hope Genis doesn't find out…'
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Genis' POV
"Genis are you sure?" Mithos asked me for about the fifth time and I just nodded my head smiling up at him. He still looked worried, "I mean are you really sure? What if Raine and your friends find out where you're staying and come looking for you? You know it's possible."
I nodded my head, "Yeah I know, but you got a chance to look around Exire but I didn't. So I want you to show me around."
He shook his head, "Well I haven't seen much of Exire--"
"But…but you're the one that made it so that it was floating you have seen it before." My smile widened as he sighed.
"Fine, fine, I'll show you around. But it's gotten a lot bigger since the last time I've been here. Don't expect me to know where everything is. Four thousand years is a long time, you know. Things can change."
I shook my head, "No really? Now come on!"
"Don't blame me if we're mobbed by fangirls." He muttered under his breath, making me turn to face him.
"What?"
He shook his head, "Nothing. Just don't blame me for anything that happens, and if you feel even the slightest bit tired tell me."
I nodded my head again, "Okay!"
Then he smiled and began laughing.
I blinked, "What…? Why are you laughing? What's so funny?"
He stopped laughing and leaned forward, "You are."
"M-Me? Why…?"
"You're too cute."
I flushed at this, "Wh-why…wh-why is…" I took a deep breath, trying to calm my stuttering, "Why is that funny?" I looked back up at the blonde boy in front of me and he chuckled.
"Because you're excited. You're cute when you're excited. I've never seen you like this before so it's only natural for me to think it's cute." He stepped in past me and opened the front door to the building we had been staying in, "Now where do you want to go first?"
I looked around, "W-Well…actually, um, I guess that way." I pointed to the pathway leading away from the three story building, "Because if we wanted to go the other way we'd have to go back inside and climb stairs wouldn't we?"
Mithos nodded his head, "Yes that's true." He touched the stone-like structure that held up part of the walkway for the third floor, "I remember there used to be a beautiful garden near here. Weddings were held her often between 'taboo' couples."
I smiled, "I…see. That was back when Exire still thrived on the surface, right?"
Mithos nodded his head again, tucking a strand of his blonde hair behind his ear, "Yeah…"
He looked really sad.
"Um, but, you know, if Raine and the others are here, and if they completed the pact with Maxwell, then maybe one day when this world is at peace we could make it so Exire was on the ground again."
His eyes narrowed, "Maybe. Now let's go before--"
He was cut off when someone shouted from the above pathway, "Hey! Hey! It's Mithos! Hey Mithos!"
Mithos flinched.
And suddenly the figure, a very familiar looking girl with blonde hair and blue-green eyes jumped down…
Crashing into the grassy walkway behind us.
"Oww…" she sat up, rubbing her head before standing up shakily, "Hey Mithos! And you must be Genis." She said with a bright smile, "You might not know me but I helped pick out the outfit you're both wearing now! My name's Amy! I work with Mandy at the fabric store that way!" she pointed in the direction from where she had come.
I just nodded my head; "I-it's nice to meet you too Amy." I looked back at Mithos, who seemed annoyed, "Um, Mithos was just about to show me around--"
"--And I'm sure you need to run an errand for Mandy." Mithos stepped forward, and some how got behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder, "So I guess we'll be seeing you around."
He squeezed my shoulder gently, and whispered in my ear, "Let's go." Before turning and walking off down the pathway. I, of course, followed. But when we got about halfway down the walkway I heard a loud, high-pitched squeal.
"Is she okay?" I asked, watching as Mithos quickened his pace.
"Like I said beware of the fangirls."
"F-fangirls…? Oh-oh…um, so she's a fangirl…?" I felt a shiver run down my spine, "Do you think she'll tell her friends?"
"If she has any yes, which she most likely does, then yes she probably will tell them about us."
I felt my stomach sink, well, not my stomach but I had a weird sinking feeling inside when he said that, "T-tell them that we both decided to come out?"
"Yes that and if they notice," he turned around abruptly, nearly making me run into him, "that we're together then who knows what'll happen."
"I--that…that's…" I looked down at my feet, feeling my cheeks redden yet again, "That's not good. I at least wanted to tell Raine myself. I don't think--um, actually I don't know what to think. I haven't exactly seen much of her for the past few days."
Mithos laughed, cupping the side of my face with his hand, "Of course you haven't, and it's not your fault. We'll figure out a way to tell her about us soon. But I think now isn't the time especially since no she hasn't gotten used to us becoming friends again. Or at least she hasn't yet."
I nodded my head, "O-okay. But we have to tell her soon, okay?"
He nodded his head.
"Promise?"
Mithos smiled, "I promise."
I smiled back, "And when Martel's revived, then we can tell her too! That is if she doesn't already know."
Mithos opened his mouth to say something, and would have if someone else hadn't spoken.
"Oh my, you must be the two new half-elves in town." The person who spoke had long wavy reddish-brown hair and beautiful purple eyes. He, or she, was wearing a long robe-like outfit that hid their body. It was a dark grey, almost black, and it had an even darker design around the hood outlined in white.
"Well yes I suppose you could say we're new here." Mithos stated, turning to face this woman, man, whatever gender they were, "But why do you care?"
The man, woman, shook his/her head, "I just find it strange that we've been getting so many visitors lately. I heard some villagers talking about it as well. They said some humans, as well as another half-elf came by."
My eyes widened, "Wh-what? Another half-elf?"
The man/woman nodded his/her head, "Yes, you sound surprised though."
"No it's just I think we may know who you're talking about. Do you have any idea where they went?"
The man/woman shook his/her head, "No I don't. I only just arrived here myself. But I'm sure you can ask around."
I nodded my head, "Ah, th-thank you, um…what's your name?"
The man/woman shook his/her head, "I doubt we'll see each other again, but my name is--"
Just then two villagers walked by, "Did you hear? The Mayor's actually speaking to humans! Can you believe it?" one man stated to the other.
The second man shook his head, "I know it's a bit of a shock, but they looked like okay humans to me. And they had a half-elf with them so I'm sure they aren't going to hurt us."
The continued walking, not even paying attention to us, and I smiled, "I think I know where my sister is now."
I felt a hand on my head then, and looked up. The man/woman was smiling, "That's wonderful. I'm sure she's probably worried about you if you came here before her. Now I think I should be going too. I'm supposed to be meeting with a woman named Belle."
"Really?"
"Yes. It's on a request from a friend of mine…" the man/woman sighed, "but I think another friend of mine might be coming here as well, but don't ask me how. I have no idea."
"Then how did you get here?"
The man/woman blinked, "Oh, by a Rhieard. My friend knows someone who works for a man named Yuan. And apparently Yuan is the only one who has Rhieards so he gave me one." He/she bowed to us, "Now I really have to be going."
He/she turned and walked away.
A few seconds passed before a smile broke out on my face, "That person was nice."
Mithos nodded his head, "Yes, maybe…"
I couldn't help noticing that he looked worried, though.
"I'm going to go see Raine now." I turned and started to walk through the crowd.
"Ah-Genis!"
I smiled, an idea suddenly forming in my head, "Try an' catch me!"
And then I took off.
It actually surprised me how quickly I got to the Mayors house. It was only one platform and one flight of stone steps away. It took me a matter of minutes to get there.
I walked up to it, panting. I felt a bit dizzy, but nothing resting couldn't cure. I reached my hand out to turn the door knob, before noticing that it was ajar. Someone must have come in a few minutes ago and forgot to close the door.
'Well I can't just go barging in. Who knows what they're talking about.' I looked around and noticed a small wrap-around walkway that led behind the Mayors house. I followed it until I found a window. I peeked through it and saw that everyone, minus me and Mithos of course, was there, in the room facing the mayor.
It surprised me, though, when I heard the mayors voice. He was holding up a book, "This is her journal." He stated, handing the book to Raine who took it carefully in her hands.
I had to wonder who 'her' was.
'I guess I'll find out by listening.'
She looked surprised, "Really?"
The mayor nodded his head, "Yes. It should tell you more in depth about the things you have questions on."
Raine sighed, "Yes but, how much do you know about them? Genis and I…our parents, how much do you know about them?"
My eyes widened, 'Our parents? But Raine said they died!'
The Mayor looked away, thankfully he didn't notice me, "They…we found them in a woods…I don't remember where, but we were getting supplies when we found them. Your mother, Virginia, was almost unconscious…your father…" I watched as his hand balled into a fist, "Your mother said he was murdered."
Everyone in the room gasped.
But I felt cold.
"R-Really…I-I should have known someone would want him dead…"
The mayor shook his head, "Yes he was murdered, but," he looked up at Raine, "you must promise not to tell Genis this, he's still young…"
Raine shook his head, "I know that. And yes I will keep whatever it is you say a secret."
"But Raine!" Colette cried out, "He--"
"He doesn't need to know what I'm about to tell you."
"And that would be…?"
"He was murdered yes, but we found strange markings on him after he died. There was a tattoo, similar to the one on your hands, Chosen, found on his arm. But that's not the main reason why you shouldn't tell Genis about this. We buried your father here because we had nowhere else to bury him, and we had no idea who his family was."
The mayor paused after this, closing his eyes momentarily. But…but…
'I'm in the same city that my father was buried in. His grave--'
My thoughts were interrupted when the Mayor spoke again.
"And your mother, she…"
"Yes…?" Raine's voice was barely over a whisper.
"Your mother is still alive. She's in this village. But she's…mentally ill."
That made me snap.
Raine, when I would see her again she would know all of this and she would keep it a secret from me. Everyone would keep it a secret from me.
'Come to think of it, does Mithos know about this? He was talking to the Mayor when I woke up…'
I shakily got up and moved away from the window, retracing my steps back around the mayors house and out to the center of the platform his home was located on.
That's when I saw Mithos. He was over by a tree, looking around with a worried expression on his face. His eyes fell on my and he smiled, quickly walking over to me, "Genis! Where were you? I was so worried when I couldn't find you…" he paused, "Are you okay…?"
I shook my head, "No I'm not. Mithos," I looked up at him and he nodded his head, "I want to ask you something. I want to ask you something and please don't lie."
"You know I wouldn't lie to you again. I already did and it nearly killed me. What is it that you want to know?"
"Did the Mayor, or anyone else, tell you that my mother was here?"
Mithos froze and I felt my chest tighten.
"Y-yes…I knew. You overheard it didn't you?" Mithos asked. He looked sad, "No one wanted you to find out because--"
"Because what? I was too young to understand?" I was nearly shouting at him, but I couldn't help it. Mithos wasn't supposed to keep things from me anymore. I stepped back, "I thought you said you wouldn't lie anymore. You aren't supposed to keep anything from me anymore."
"Because Genis it would have hurt you."
I heard the truth in those words, I would have had to been deaf if I hadn't. But I backed away from him anyway. I turned and ran away from him, even though I knew he was probably right.
After all I was hurting right now.
And the hurting was just getting even worse the farther I ran.
Before I knew it, everything was in such a haze that I couldn't remember much, I was nearing the edge of Exire. It was quiet, a calm kind of quiet. I nearly collapsed when I stopped, and I slowly looked around.
I had no idea where I was, of course that had to be because I've never been in Exire the whole time I've been in Tethe'alla, but I probably wouldn't know how to get back to where I had been. Not that I wanted to go back there now.
I looked around me, and sighed. This platform was smaller than the rest. There was a large tree on one side and the other side looked out over the ocean. I made my way over to the large tree, and would have leaned against it, if something behind it hadn't caught my eye.
It was a large stone-like structure. I reached a hand out and touched it. It was too smooth to be a regular, nature-made stone…but then who would have made something like this and placed it behind a tree? If it was a piece of artwork then this was definitely an odd place for it to be.
I walked around to look at it from the other side, and gasped.
There printed in neat, elvish lettering, was the name…a name that seemed a little too familiar…and yet it…it…
"It can't be…"
I read what it said over again.
"K-Kloitz Sage. This was…this…was…"
I fell to the ground, and felt the tears I had been holding back suddenly start up. They fell down my cheeks and they burned.
'This is my fathers grave. But I…I always thought my parents were dead so I shouldn't be crying right? Why am I crying…?'
I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist from behind, pulling me against the body that they belonged to.
"Shh, Genis, it's okay."
It was Mithos.
I tried to push him away but his grip only tightened, "It's okay, Genis. You can be mad. You can cry. I'm right here…even if you don't want me to be here." His voice was just as soothing as it had always been. Even though I was angry like he said, it made me stop being angry.
After all, how could I stay mad at him for long? It didn't seem possible. It wasn't even possible when I had found out he betrayed us.
Back then it had just made me sad.
I finally leaned into his hold, shifting around so that I could bury my head in his chest. I felt so tired, and my tears seemed to just dry up even though I was still sad. I stayed in his arms for a few minutes until, well, until something I can only describe as odd happened.
'Genis! Help!'
I jumped and Mithos jumped as well.
"What is it Genis? He asked, as I looked around.
"It's…" I looked up at Mithos, "It's Feral! I hear Feral!"
His eyes widened, "What? Where is she?"
'I'm with Pronyma! She's coming with Mitosu!'
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Me: -cough- and there you have it, the oh so annoying cliffhanger! Ah, I mean, chapter/part 50!
Feral: And the next part is the real conclusion to Exire, right?
Me: Yeah. I couldn't fit it all in this chapter, and this felt like just the time to cut it off…for some reason.
Feral: Well then you should get started on the next Chapter. After all, I make an appearance again after I don't know how long.
Me: Ah-ha-ha, yeah you do. Now then R&R! More reviews equal a faster update! I'm serious this time! So yeah, anyone who wants to review, even if it's just to say continue, please review! That way I'll be forced to write this even if I don't feel like it! (Then again I would feel like writing it if I got enough reviews…)