Okay we are really close to the end now. Even those I have said that the last what…five chapters? But even after this story I plan to do one more wild arms story. It will take place two years after the game. And will be called Wanted: life on the run. But thanks to everyone to keep on coming back to read any chapter we are about there now!
Chapter 40: Festive and Shane's Duty
"Jet?" I asked him again. He had a shocked look on his face. Had something happened? I didn't know. It was weird. I couldn't remember anything sense the caged tower. What had happened to me? Why did my memory feel so furry? That right…I was kidnapped by Lee halt and the others. But aside from that I couldn't remember. It was like…my memory had been cleared or something.
I…I didn't like this at all. I felt scared. Like I had just came too after a very long nightmare or something. What had happened to me? I…don't know. I just couldn't remember. I had to ask him to make sure this was real.
"Jet?" I asked him. He quickly blinked looking surprised toward me. Jet shook his head a bit. She's…really knows who I am! He thought. He…didn't know what to do then. She really was back and he felt glad to know it. "Is it really…?" I started to ask him.
Then he did something I never thought he would ever do. I am still surprised by it looking back. "Sara…!" Jet yelled as he hugged me. I was catch off guard then. It was so out of his character to do something as this.
Had…I worried him? Maybe that was the reason why he acted like that. But soon he saw what he was doing and quickly let go of me. I watched blush over take his face. I could only give him a weird look in return. I had worried him. I could tell that now. Jet wasn't good with words. He had never been good with them. Maybe…that was the only way he could show how worried he had truly been?
I slowly nodded to myself. "I'm, alright jet." I told him.
---
I…I was just worried about you…but I couldn't bring myself to tell you that.
"G-Good…I-I'm glad." I whispered to her rubbing the back of my head as I looked away from her. She was smiling toward me. I was glad to see her smile again. I was glad to hear her voice again.
But, even after everything that had happened…I still couldn't bring myself to tell her. Even after the fear of never hearing her voice again…I still couldn't tell her.
I'm an idiot…
Maybe I still did have self doubt? I wondered.
Yes…I still did have self doubt, I thought as I nodded to myself.
But…even still with myself doubt…and after everything that had happened…I thought looking toward her.
I was-was just glad to see her smiling face again…
"Welcome…back Sara." Jet said to me. "It's good to be back." I quickly said.
I had no idea what had happened to him back then. The things he had to do just for me. But…because of me…Jet changed in a huge way. And even back then I was very grateful to him.
Grateful to the silver hair boy. That I love to pick on and make fun of. He was and still is my best friend.
But I'm getting a bit head of myself now. Back then…I had just recovered myself thanks to him. Thanks to Jet Enduro.
"Sara, are you really alright?" Jet asked me with a worried look over his face. He had worried about me. Maybe…even more then I would ever understand. "Yes, I'm alright." I quickly told him. Even if I did feel a bit sleepy. "…Really? You feel fine?" Jet asked again. "Yes, really. Really! I feel fine. Nothing is wrong with…"I started to say when it hit me.
That's a lie.
"Sara?" Jet asked. "Huh? Oh, it's nothing…I just remembered something that all." I quickly told him. I...I am not alright. I am not alright at all. Because…I have, I thought.
Flashback…
Back in the demon's base I truly found out that I wasn't okay.
"What is wrong with me?" I asked myself. "So…you finally see something isn't right. But now it's too late, little Princess." Melody voice spoke up. I quickly looked in front of myself to see her standing there. "Melody!" I yelled as I stood back a bit. "Is it painful? Just to breath? Your sickness…isn't something humans can get. Only shamans can catch what you now have, little one." Melody said as she stared toward me.
"…A sickness only shaman…can get?" I asked not really believing her. "Yes, Shamans are humans with the power to hear the guardians' voices. As well as they're magic. But also…shamans have been fighting demons on Filgaia for a long time now. But because of the shamans' inner actions with demons…they're energy act as a poison to the shaman's bodies over time. And slowly but surely…it kills each shamans' body from the inside out." Melody said.
End of flashback.
This illness…I have now. Was how the shaman race died out? Would I end up the same as the other shamans? That sacrificed they're body to protect the planet? But I didn't feel any pain then. Does it come and go maybe?
There is no cure. Then it was hopeless to believe I could beat this illness…right? But…even so I don't want to make any more trouble for anyone especially Jet. I feel like…he has done so much for me as it is.
So…I have to try to keep my illness a secret.
"It's nothing, that big of a deal so don't worry about it."I told him. I'm sorry, Jet. But…this is something I just have to keep a secret from you. But please…don't be too angry alright? "…If you say so." He quickly said.
I'm sorry…if you found out I am keeping something this big from you. You would be very angry…wouldn't you, Jet?
---
I still wanted to tell her so much. But…at the same time I feared what she may say to me. Would…she hate me if I told her? Would she want nothing to do with me ever again?
Or would she do what Lee halt had said?
Flashback…
"And what would she think if she saw this?" Lee halt asked. "She? You mean?" I asked. "That's right…the only thing you care about. What would she think? If she saw this kind of power?" Lee halt asked me. "S-Shut-up! I yelled shaking my head. "Would she fear you? Run from you?" Lee halt asked.
End of flashback…
Would she fear you? Run from you?
I…I could hear that question over and over again. I…I was scared. I…I can't take it. What if…she really did fear me? Or run from me? What? What would I do?
I'm not human just like her. But…she's closer to a human then I will ever be. Because…after all I'm just android. A…stupid, stupid! Android!
I…I have no right to be angry. I have no right to feel emotions. But…I still have them. I feel angry…I feel…no I have feeling for her even if I truly shouldn't.
Even if I really…shouldn't have feelings for her. I-I still do. And this isn't something I just want to push aside and forget about it. I want to feel this feeling. I-I want too.
Maybe…I shouldn't have human emotions just as Siegfried said. But the fact of the matter is…I do have them. And…I am glad I do.
"Sara…?" I asked her. "Hmm? What is it?" She quickly asked me. I-I couldn't do it after all. At least…not now. "Nothing forgets it…" I quickly said looking away from her. I felt blush quickly take over my face. Why…? Why couldn't I just tell her…? Those words? Even if she would never feel the same way in return. I-I still wanted to tell her how…I feel.
"…Is something the matter?" She asked looking toward me. I looked to her for a second. "No." I quickly said as I looked away again.
No…nothing is wrong now. Because you are back. And…I am just happy. Happy…? Yeah I guess this is how it feels to be happy. It's-It's the first time I felt this feeling. I just-just wanted to feel this feeling as long as I could.
---
He was hiding something I could tell. But…if he didn't want to talk about it. I couldn't make him. But I couldn't help but wonder what he was really hiding. I slowly saw him smile. Jet smiling is a very rare thing to see. I only have seen it maybe two or three times.
"Hehe…" I lightly laughed to myself. "…what's so funny?" Jet asked glaring toward me. "Jet's smiling again!" I said as I quickly covered my mouth. "What…? It's funny when I smile?!" Jet asked out of angrier. "No, that isn't what I am saying. It just…I guess I'm still not used to seeing you smile." I quickly said. I heard jet sigh to himself. "But that isn't a bad thing. It just means…jet is changing for the better." I said with a small smile across my face.
"Changing, huh?" He asked. "Yep, jet is more open now. We are talking more that's why it's kinda funny." I told him. "…why is that funny?" He asked me. "Well because…it feels like we have been good friends for a very long time now. Even if we only met months ago. That's why it's funny." I covered my mouth. Maybe he thought I was being weird? But that really was how it felt. Like we knew each other from somewhere for a very long time.
It really does…feel that way to her too, huh? Part of me wishes she would remember how it was back then. Maybe…we would have been closer then. But at the same time I don't want her to remember what happened.
And…even if this is selfish. I-I want to be the only Jet Enduro she will ever know. I-I want to be her, Jet.
"You think it sounds weird right?" I asked him. "…what? No…no not at all!" Jet quickly yelled. Why was he yelling to begin with? I could only give him a confused look. "I-I mean…it-it's feels that way to me as well. That we have been good f-friends for a long time." Jet quickly told me.
Maybe one day…I could tell her the truth about everything. But…I just couldn't right now. I guess this was my own way of protecting her.
"Jet…what happened?" I quickly asked him. "What do you mean?" He asked me back. "You're bleeding…what you can't feel it?" I quickly asked him. "No…I-I just forgot I was." Jet quickly said looking away from me.
I was still bleeding from when I took the teardrop back from Siegfried. I had forgotten all about it. I had…other things to worry about. I was more worried about her then myself.
But…I couldn't tell her that was the reason. What would she think then?
"How could you forget something as this?" I asked jet taking a hold of his hand. "…I just did that's all…" Jet whispered to me as he closed his eyes. "…well let me stop your bleeding then…"I quickly said. "No…there is no need for that. Just leave my Arm be." Jet quickly said pulling free from my hand. "No! The bleeding should be stopped now! Who knows how long you left it alone!" I yelled to him. I watched jet shake a bit as he opened his eyes. "God damnit! Just drop it about my damn Arm alright?!" Jet quickly yelled toward me.
I felt my mouth drop open as I stared toward jet. Why had he just yelled at me over something as this?
---
I quickly shook my head a bit as I stared toward the shocked look on her face. Why the hell had I just yelled at her? Took out my angry on her? She…she hasn't done anything wrong!
"…I-I'm sorry…" I quickly said to her. I watched her quickly look away from me. I'm an idiot. I really am damnit. "…I-I shouldn't have yelled at you." I said watched her. She didn't react at all to me. Was she angry at me now? Well…if she was it was my own fault. "I-I was wrong to do that. Especially when you were just trying to help me." I whispered to her as I slowly looked down toward the floor. "…S-so please…would you? Would you hen to my arm?" I asked her lightly.
She didn't give me answer. But before I knew it…I felt her working on my left arm. I slowly looked up and watched her. She still didn't say a word to me. Her kindness…she shouldn't give it to me. Especially after how I act sometimes toward her. Halle was right…I shouldn't get her kindness.
But…for some reason; she still gives me her kindness. And…I'm glad she does. I watched her as she started to fix up my Arm. Her touch…was driving me crazy. It-It was just too much. I-I can't stand this much longer. I thought as I felt her stop.
She then looked away from me again. She…she wouldn't speak to me. She was angry. And she had every right to be. But…damnit I wished I hadn't yelled out at her as I had. What had I been thinking?
I wasn't…that was the problem. I hadn't been thinking at all. And because of that…this happened. "…I-I'm…sorry…" I whispered to her. How…do things always end up this way? How do I always end up doing something stupid?!
What can I say to her? When sorry isn't good enough? What can I say…? To show how truly sorry I really am?
I wish I could take back what I had said.
"You're an idiot." I heard her quickly whisper to me. I knew she was right. "…I know." I whispered back to her. I didn't know what more to say to her. I didn't want to make her angrier with me. So…I would agree with her.
---
I slowly looked up at him. It wasn't like him…to agree so will. Especially after I called him an idiot. It wasn't like him at all. Normally…he would start yelling back at me.
So…had something happened? When Lee halt and the others kidnapped me?
"Jet?" I asked giving him a puzzled look. "What? What is it?" He asked me. "Did…Did something happen?" I ask him. "Did something happen? What do you mean?" He asked me back. "…Well did something happen after Lee halt and the others kidnapped me? Because…you really are acting weird; it's about like…you're a whole another person." I quickly said.
A startled look quickly appeared on jet's face. Had I made him angry about what I had said? "Jet?" I asked. "…" Jet didn't answer me as he turned away from me.
It's like you're a whole another person.
Did I really act that different in front of her now? I-I couldn't tell her the truth. I couldn't tell her about what had happened. What would she think of me then?
"Jet?" I asked again. "…what? Sorry…no. What happened…wasn't a big deal, so don't worry about it, alright?" Jet told me. But…I could tell that he was lying to me. Could he? Could he have found out something about himself? I wondered. But I wouldn't question him about it. It wasn't my place to do so.
Even if maybe one day…I would find out what he had learned. And about what had truly happened. But for now…things would stay this way. And…I didn't mind it this way at all.
Soon I heard a knock on the door. Jet looked annoyed as he looked toward the door. "Who is it?" Jet asked with a sigh. "Jet? It's Halle." The old woman voice called outside the door. "Halle?" I asked out of surprise. I was…in baskar colony? When? When did I get here?
The door quickly opened and Halle quickly entered. It really was Halle. Then I really was in Baskar colony? "Ah, it looks like she has recovered." Halle said looking toward me. "R-Recovered?" I asked looking confused toward her. Jet quickly glared toward Halle. What about I don't know. But…what did she mean by recover?
"Yes, Indeed. We're beginning to worry. We're wondering when you would wake up." Halle told me. Why did I feel like…she was lying to me? But…she didn't sound like she was. So what? What was hidden from me? Were they…trying to protect me from something? But…protect me from what?
"…When did we get to baskar colony?" I asked looking toward jet. Jet didn't answer me at first. He slowly opened his mouth as he looked away from me. "Two days ago…" Jet whispered to me. I had been out for that long? I wondered.
Was this really true? Then…why? Why did everything feel so off? What…what was I missing? I felt like pieces of a big puzzle were missing from myself. I felt confused.
"Shaman? Are you alright?" Halle asked me sounding worried. "Yes…I'm-I'm fine. I'm just spacing out thinking that's all." I told her. I lied. I had lied again. I am not alright. Because I am…I started to think. "That is good." Halle quickly said. "We have two reasons for a celebration then. The defeated of the blue armor demon called Siegfried. And the shaman's recovery." Halle said smiling toward me.
…D-Defeated? Did…that mean Siegfried was?!
"You mean Siegfried is…?" I started to ask. "…He's gone. Along with Lee halt and the other two." Jet told me. "…then you guys really…?!" I asked. Jet looked toward me. The look in his eyes looked so full of fear. What was he so scared of? "Jet…? Are you alright? You have an odd look in your eyes." I said to him. He gave me a shocked look.
How absurd. Do you wish to save the planet? Do you plan to act human just because you were created by one? Do you believe you can feel the same toward another as a human? Don't make me laugh! After all…you're just a puppet!
Just a puppet!
I…I wasn't alright. And she could tell. Was…was she worried about me? When…she should just be worrying about herself?
I…was hurt badly. My heart…was crying in pain. I-I wanted to cry back then. Especially when she said those words to me.
…Who are you?
I couldn't stand hearing that question. And…I felt like I heard it hundreds times then. It hurts. It…felt like someone shot me right in the heart. I…I wanted to yell out.
But…it wasn't her fault. None of that was her fault. I told myself. It was true. Everything…that happened had been they're fault. Lee halt's fault and…Siegfried's.
Those…Bastards.
But…then I felt powerless. He even used her as a human shield. I was helpless.
She was being used to fight against me. It…hurts. But…I couldn't fight back. No…I-I can't hurt her. I…couldn't point my ARMs at her. Even if it did mean taking all she had to throw at me.
I am to believe android can have feelings for a human?! You with human emotions?! Something that isn't human can't feel that way toward another!
I started to question my feelings for her after listening to Siegfried. But…I knew deep inside of me. That…my feelings were real.
"Jet? Hello…Filgaia to Jet!" I heard her voice say to me. I looked to her for a second feeling confused. "I'm fine." Jet quickly said. "Good…good." Halle quickly said. "Then I should get things ready for the celebration for night." Halle said quickly leaving the room.
That night…
A huge party took place in Baskar colony. But it felt like all of Filgaia was part of it.
They're was dancing with baskaren music and food as far as the eye could see.
Was…this are true peace for are planet of Filgaia now? If so…why did I have a bad feeling as If something was about to go wrong?
---
I hated his kinda thing. Celebrations and parties. I hate them. I felt out of place at this kinda thing. I sighed to myself as I got up. I was tired of watching the dancing. But…I was glad at the same time that…that everything was over.
I headed over toward the houses and stood there in the darkness. It was nice there. Peace and quiet. But soon I saw Shane running over toward me. It wouldn't be quiet anymore.
"There are you…" Shane said as he stopped before me. I just gave him a look as he stood beside me. "I'm not too comfortable with festive occasions myself…" Shane told me. I didn't say a word as I closed my eyes. "You sure are amazing…" Shane whispered to me. I slowly opened my eyes looking toward him. "We're about the same age, and you fought to protect Filgaia…" Shane said looking toward the ground.
That wasn't really true. But…I didn't care what he thought. I didn't fight for Filgaia. I fought to protect my own selfish desirer.
"All I did was tag along with some pretty skilled guys, and that was the outcome. A battle to save the human race? Pshhhh….I ain't qualified for that…" I said shaking my head a bit. "I didn't have a single memory of this planet I wanted to protect…" I sighed to myself as I hid my face within my scarf. "But even so, you fought and emerged victorious. I have been raised to act as a pillar to protect this planet. But all I do is relay divine revelations from my dreams…that's all…It is my duty to protect the planet, yet I can't do anything about it. I guess the only thing we have in common is that neither of us have any memories of this planet." Shane told me.
"No…memories?" I asked him. "I have been raised as a pillar. Therefore, my life centers around this colony here. The only other outside world I know is the outskirts of the colony, and maybe a few shrines…the rest, I just use my imagination based on the stories of Filgaia my brother tells me. I don't know anything about this Filgaia I'm supposed to protect. So in that sense, I have no memories of this planet. Do you think that one day I too will be able to risk my life and right for the planet as you and my brother did?" Shane asked me.
"You can't avoid battles when the enemy comes right at you. And as long as you're not scared your body will react naturally. That is if you have no reason to back off…that's what it means to fight. As long as you have the will to move forward, anyone can fight, actually maybe you fight to move forward…" I slowly shook my head a bit as I heard a voice. "Hey, Shane! Jet! I got a cold one for you!" I heard loud mouth yell. "Here comes the loud mouth. I'd leave now if I were you." I told him I quickly headed away from Shane and headed toward Gallows' house.
Shane soon stared up into the sky toward a small child with long purple hair. "Dream child…" Shane whispered to himself.
---
I think I was going crazy in that room inside gallows' house. I thought for sure a saw a child floating in the sky over Shane. I started to rub my eyes a bit. Maybe…I was still half asleep?
"…What in the world are you doing?" I heard jet ask from behind me. I slowly turned to him. "Looking out the window." I told him. "That isn't what I mean, and you know that. What are you doing up? You should still be resting." He quickly told me. "I been doing nothing but resting…It's boring." I quickly said turning back toward the window.
I sounded like a child didn't I? "Plus it's hard to sleep hearing everything that's going on outside." I told him. "You should still rest more…" Jet quickly said moving a bit closer. "Plus…I saw something. I thought I saw a small child floating in the sky over Shane." I told him staring out the window. But I didn't see that child now. The child had long purple hair and was wearing a dress. Had it been a girl? "…your going crazy in here aren't you?" Jet asked me. "No, I'm not! I really did see a child floating in the sky over Shane!" I yelled turning to look at him. "…" Jet didn't say a word as he shook his head toward me. "You need some air…we are heading outside…" Jet quickly said taking a hold of my hand and leading me outside.
---
Outside in Baskar colony…
Virginia finally found Shane. She quickly ran up to him. "Oh, there you are. Your brother was looking for you." Virginia quickly told him. "Are you alone? Anyone else with you? That's funny…now where could jet be?" Virginia asked herself. "Umm…Virginia?" Shane asked her. "What's wrong? Do you feel sick? Then you should…" Virginia started to say.
"Virginia!!" Shane yelled. "Y-Yes!?" Virginia asked him. "I am all right now. I will do whatever I must do to fulfill my destiny! I will protect this planet!!" Shane quickly said and headed away from her. "Did he have too much to drink?" Virginia wondered.
Soon after that Me and Jet made it outside. I felt a strong energy in the air. Something was up again. I quickly looked around the area but didn't see anything weird. "…Sara what is it?" Jet asked looking toward me. "I don't know…but I feel some strong energy in the air surrounding baskar colony…" I whispered to him. "You can't tell what it is?" Jet asked me. I slowly shook my head toward him.
It looked like…everything wasn't over. But little did I know. The next morning Her plan would be put into motion.
"…You did so much for me, Siegfried. And for that I guess I should be grateful. It's just too bad, you're no longer around." A small child with purple hair said. "But thanks to you…Filgaia's power has awaken. I have seen what Filgaia's destruct power can really do. And it is wonderful." The child laughed to herself. "And thanks to you…my plan can move ahead faster than I thought. Filgaia will become mine. And only mine…" The child begain to laugh again as the child disappeared.
---
The next morning I saw my fears had been right. Shane was missing from Baskar colony. Where in the world could he be?
"What's up?" Virginia asked as she came up to us. "We can't find Shane…" Gallows told her. "What!? Do you think he was kidnapped!?" Virginia quickly asked. "Not likely…" Halle said as she shook her head. "How can you be so sure!? You know somethin' we don't?" Gallows asked her. "The Secret key passed down from priesthood is missing." Halle told us. "Secret key…? How come I've never heard of that!?" Gallows asked Halle. "The secret key is an artifact a pillar uses when the time comes for him to perform his duty. This sacred perform his duty. This sacred key summons a powerful monster called a hydra to act as the pillar's guard. The hydra's role is to see to it that the pillar carries out his duty successfully, so it is quite formidable. This monster is also able to regenerate. I hear the only way to negate this ability is through the use of fire…" Halle told us.
"Where is this key used!? You should at least know that." Gallows quickly said. "At a sanctuary to the North…Known as the Sacrificial Altar…" Halle told us. "You've gotta be kiddin' me! That's the place where the pillar sacrifices his life for the planet…wh-what are you going to do, granny!?" gallows asked her. "Nothing, this was Shane's decision. There isn't anything I can do about it…" Halle quickly said. "Then I'm gonna drag Shane back whether he likes it or not! That's what I decided! So you can't do anything about it!" Gallows yelled.
"…I hope Shane's alright…" I whispered quietly. Had something had taken control of Shane? Was all this because of the energy I felt last night?
---
I felt hurt hearing her say that. C-Could she like Shane? I really did have no right to tell her did I? I sighed to myself. "Jet! Let's go!" Virginia yelled to me. I slowly nodded and slowly followed after her. "Jet!" I heard Sara yell to me. I stopped in my tracks and looked back toward her. "…be careful alright?" She asked. I felt hear quickly take over my face as I quickly turned my back toward her. I could only slowly nod. I couldn't get any words to come out of my mouth. I then followed the others out of baskar colony.
"The strong needs not valor…only a relentless will that goes against fate…perhaps it is not the pillar that supports Filgaia, but fellows such as them…" Halle said to herself.
---
"Is this really alright, Shaman?" Halle asked me. "…is what alright?" I asked her. "Keeping your sickness from them." Halle quickly said. "So…you know then." I whispered to her. "Indeed I do. But you do not sound very surprised." Halle whispered back to me. "…nothing really can surprise me anymore. But…it is true my sickness…isn't curable?" I asked lightly. "Yes…it's true. I'm sorry to say. No herbs in the world could cure your sickness." Halle said as she shook her head.
It really was true, after all. Wasn't it? I am…I thought. "How do you feel right now…shaman?" Halle asked me. "Aside from feeling sleepy…I feel fine. But who knows how long that will last." I told her. "…yes that's true. After all your sickness is what killed off the shaman race after all." I slowly nodded. Even if I didn't want to hear her words.
Was I scared to die? Maybe. Maybe I was scared. But…I wouldn't give into it. I would fight it as much as I could.
"It's good to hear you feel right. But…I will go ahead and make up some meds for you." Halle told me. "Halle? Please don't trouble yourself for me." I quickly told her. "It is no trouble at all young one. But please rest yourself some more. Don't push yourself too hard." Halle whispered to me.
Halle is very kind. What kindness she shows before me. "Yes…your right. I should rest some more. I think I'll go do that…" I told her as I turned back toward the houses. "…what is the med for?" I asked her. "To lower your pain…soon the pain will make you pass out. The med will make it bearable to stay awake. But I'm sorry to say that is all I can truly do for you." Halle said with a sigh. "No…it's alright. You have done so much for me so far. I am grateful to you. So I thank you, Halle." I told her.
"Think nothing of it young one. As the shaman of Filgaia you duty is a hard one to bear alone. We should help you as much as we can." Halle said. "Still I do thank you and…I have a request if I may." I whispered. "A request? Ah…and what would that be?" Halle asked me. "Please don't tell the others about my sickness…" I cried.
"…You wish for it to be a secret?" Halle asked me. "Yes." I quickly answered her. "Very well…but more than likely they will find out sooner than later about your condition…" She told me. "I know…I'm being selfish. But…it is what I wish…so I…" I started to say. "It's alright…everyone is selfish sometimes. Do not feel bad. I will keep it a secret as you wish." Halle told me. "Thank you…Halle." I whispered to her.
It is only human to be selfish. Nothing is wrong with it. One just much remember there is a time and a place to be this way.
---
After leaving baskar colony we climbed onto Lombardia and when a bit north then quickly landed. We found a ruin a bit north of where we landed. The ruin called Sacrificial Altar. And quickly made are way inside. But as we entered we felt a weird energy in the air. "This sensation…could it be a guardian?" Virginia asked. "No…it is similar, but much more. Powerful and fierce…almost as if it is billowing…" Clive spoke up. "This is Filgaia itself…Shane is trying to awaken it! Let's hurry!" gallows cried.
We hurried inside the building and made are way down the stairs in front of us and entered a door at the bottom. In this room gallows used his steady doll to push two blocks over to make a path then Virginia used her Gale crest to fly us across the path to the other side of the room. Then we entered the door on the other side of the room. In this room we just entered a door at the bottom. In this room gallows used his freezer doll to put out all the candles. Then the candles to the west lit again. That was telling us that was the path to take. We headed in the west door. We entered another room with candles. Again gallows put them out with his freezer doll. Then the candles to the north lit and we headed in the north door. We entered another room with candles. Gallows when ahead and put them out again. The candles to the west lit and we made our way into the door. We entered another room with candles. Gallows when ahead and put them out as well. The candles south of us lit up and we headed inside that door.
In this room we headed down some stairs and entered a door at the bottom. When we entered this room we saw Shane standing in the middle of a platform. Gallows quickly called out to him. "Shane!" Gallows yelled. "B-Brother…what are you doing here?" Shane asked gallows. "You're coming home with me!" Gallows quickly said. "WH-what are you saying, brother? Can't you see I'm here trying to obtain the power to fight…?" she asked him.
Something wasn't right here. Shane's eyes. Something wasn't right about them. It was like…he was under control of someone's.
That when it hit me. What she had said.
No, I'm not! I really did see a child floating in the sky over Shane
No…No. What she saw hasn't been a child. Could? Could it have been a demon?!
No! No! I wanted it not to be true. I wanted it be a lie. But…the fighting wasn't over…was it?
"Why!?" I heard gallows ask his brother. "To carry out…my duties as a pillar…and too obtain the power to fight alongside you…if I have that power…then I can travel with all of you, right?" Shane asked. "Stop talkin' nonsense! You're…" Gallows started to say. "You don't understand me at all, brother! Why must you always treat me like a child?! You…you need me when you fight for the world…no actually, you need me by your side all the time!" Shane yelled. "So please don't meddle in my affairs, brother…just a little longer, and I will gain great power…please do not disturb me! I ask for your patience." Shane yelled as he summoned a monster before us.
The monster was Hydra; the guardian of the pillar. Shane really is under someone's control. Why can't I ever be wrong? We brought the monster down with a Gatling or two. But Shane was gone. Maybe he had gone ahead of us as we head to deal with that monster. We headed north into a door.
In the next room we just headed down stairs and entered a door at the bottom. This room we headed down some more stairs and entered a door at the bottom. We found a stone slate as we entered this room but it was covered in mud. Gallows used his freezer doll to clean it off. It told us a white breeze would show us the way. Gallows used his freezer doll to show the path to the north door then we headed inside. In this next room we just headed down stairs and entered a door at the bottom.
We found Shane again as we entered this room. He was standing on another platform. "Why…? Why must you interfere? All I want is to help you, brother! With the pillar as my fate, I must devote my life to filgaia…ughhh….ahhhh…am I a burden to you, brother? Am I an unworthy brother to you? You don't need me? Ahhhh!" Shane was talking to himself. Someone really was controlling him.
Shane summoned another monster before us. This time a salamandra. It only took a Gatling or two to take the monster down. But from the look of it Shane wasn't gone. He quickly shook his head toward us. "I shall continue to summon as many times as it takes! Though I may have lost your trust I now have power…yes…Gaia swells within me!" Shane yelled. "THAT'S ENOUGH!!" Gallows yelled. Shane quickly stopped summoning staring toward gallows. "Is this what you have to do in order to fight alongside me?! What's gotten into you!?" Gallows asked his little brother. "She told me in my dream…the dream child told me…" She quickly told gallows. "The dream child!?" Gallows asked.
Dream child? I wondered.
I saw it! I really did! A child floating in the sky over Shane!
Could it be? Could that person Sara saw…had been the dream child?
---
I quickly dropped the cup I was holding. Halle quickly turned toward me. "Shaman? Are you alright?" Halle asked me. I slowly shook my head no. That energy….I felt last night was back. But…the energy was surrounding Shane. "No…" I whispered quickly backing away from the broken cup on the floor.
"Shaman, what's wrong?" Halle asked me. "It's-It's…not over. The real enemy of Filgaia is making her move." I whispered taking a hold of my head. This energy…was demon's energy. Then the true enemy…who had been waiting in the shadows had been a demon as well…?
"B-…Be….a…" I tried to say her name but I couldn't. It was acting up now. "…your sickness is acting up…" Halle whispered to me as she handed over some pills. I quickly took them. "…Shane's under her control…He's being used." I told Halle.
---
"She told me the reason I can't help you is because I lack power…and that as long as I have power, I would be able to fight alongside you…" Shane told gallows. Gallows quickly ran toward him but was pushed back as Shane fell to his knees. "Forgive me; brother…I have resorted to our lineage of priesthood to complete the agreement…" Shane told gallows. "What?! You made an agreement!?" gallows asked him. "Yes. The surge of Gaia will soon let loose. I maybe too inexperienced to control it. It may even cause Filgaia harm…but…but since I have unleashed it, I will sacrifice my life to stop it." Shane told gallows as he started to glow.
"Shane!!" Gallows yelled. "Thank you, brother…I really enjoyed hearing all the stories about your travels…though I'm not familiar with the outside world, thank you for the many memories. I have come to love Filgaia…I am not afraid to risk my life for the filgaia that I love! I will defend it!" Shane cried as he closed his eyes. "How many times are you gonna, make me say enough is enough!?" gallows asked. Gallows headed up to him and placed his hands on Shane's shoulders. "You say you love filgaia!? You say you're not afraid to risk your life over filgaia!? Stop talkin' outta your behind! What the heck would you know about filgaia!? What make you love it so much!? You haven't as much ventured outta Baskar and you say such big words…GIMME A BREAK!! You say my stories my memories made you love filgaia!? That's just wrong! Let me tell you a little somethin' about memories. Memories are not something you accept from others! It's something you, yourself gain by living, and experiencing! It's like…you and I aren't meant to fight together for filgaia. You and I are meant to live together on filgaia! Is living with me so boring as to forsake your duties of priesthood!? Let's just live together and make memories of our own…" Gallows yelled as the light and shaking slowly stopped.
"B-Brother…!?" Shane asked. "The surge of Gaia has been subdued…but how?" Shane asked. "Aren't you forgetting that I'm your big brother?" Gallows asked with a grin. "I may be wet behind the ears, but just like you, I too am a candidate to succeed the priesthood. There are two of us, see? If we combine our powers, we become one. Through the incredible power of brotherhood, we can do anything! Remember?" Gallows asked him. "Oh, my dear brother…" Shane cried as he hugged gallows. "Well…uh…I gotta act like a big brother sometimes you know?" gallows said as he rubbed the back of his head.
After that we headed outside where Werner was waiting for us…
"Thank goodness you're safe…!" Virginia cried when she saw him. Virginia quickly ran up to him. "I sensed an abnormal energy force, so I came here but…looks like you've already taken care of it." Werner quickly said. Werner slowly looked over to me for a second before looking back to Virginia. "You've done well…" He whispered to her. "Thanks! But I really didn't have much to do with it." Virginia told him.
The sky quickly became dark and we quickly looked up to see a small child floating in the sky. "Dream child…" Shane whispered. I glared up toward the child. She…was the dream child? "You know that girl!?" Werner asked. "The lineage of priesthood didn't live up to my expectations. I thought it'd be a lot more interesting." The dream child said as she shook her head. "Interesting!? You get a kick outta toying with people's hearts!?" Gallows asked. "I was just fulfilling his wish…I'm offended by your comment." The dream child quickly said.
"Beatrice! What nightmare are you wishing for now!?" Werner asked the dream child called Beatrice. "My wish has always been the same…I just want a world where I can live…that's all. A world like Filgaia…" She said with a grin across her face. She then quickly disappeared. "Daddy…" Virginia whispered to her father.
I glared watching her old man. Beatrice…was after Filgaia? But why had she waited until now to show up? Why…didn't she help Siegfried and the other demons? Or…we're they're goals different? I had no idea…and I was getting nowhere like this.
But if…she was after Filgaia. I quickly shook my head. Could? Could…she plan to target…Sara then? Because…she has filgaia's power?!
"We have to take care of the boy first. There is something I would like to ask him as well…" Werner said staring toward Shane. "Let's head back to baskar for now. I want to make sure he's all right." Gallows said.
When that we headed back to baskar colony. We found Halle and Sara waiting inside the house. And soon we helped Shane to a bed to rest on. "Thank you. I'm all right now…" Shane told us. "Shane are you sure…your alright?" Sara asked him. I couldn't watch this. I quickly turned away from the group. "Yes. I am fine. And I am sorry to worry you shaman." Shane said with a light smile. It felt painful…listening to her worry about him. Was…was I jealous of Shane?
"Daddy…what is it that you're chasing? Does it have something to do with that girl? Is it something I can help you with?" Virginia asked Werner. Sara slowly turned to look toward her father. "When we finally arrived at the Yggdrasil system after searching for the cause of the world's decay…you were pondering about darkness beyond Yggdrasil were you not?" Clive asked Werner. "Please tell us…what happened behind the scene of the Yggdrasil accident?" Clive asked.
"That was no accident…it was an act of evil…the tragedy began in the same manner as it did the boy. One of our colleague's minds was taken over by a demon…" Werner finally told us. "His mind? By a demon…?" Virginia asked. I slowly looked toward Sara. She didn't look surprised at all. Maybe…she knew what happened to Shane was the same thing that happened at the time in Yggdrasil.
"That colleague was Duran, the one who operated the generator. The dream demon Beatrice appeared inside his dreams, and eventually controlled him." Werner told us. "Beatrice…so, that's the name of that girl…" Virginia whispered. "Beatrice, who concealed herself inside the information library Hyades, took advantage, of the fact that she herself is composed of electric signals…she managed to connect with people's minds…dreams, which are also composed of electric signals…that is what happened to Duran, but I'm sure there are plenty of other victims…the dream demon, due to her unique composition, is hardly capable of affecting the real world herself. However, she can manipulate people by controlling their minds, through dreams. That way, she was able to reach out to the real world, without having to directly intereuene." Werner told us.
"So my dream sight was the dream child…all I saw was information being fed from the dream demon Beatrice…" Shane whispered. "I want you to tell me, what is it that Beatrice wants, and what is she trying to do? Why did she cause the yggdrasil tragedy of ten years ago?" Werner asked Shane. "I'm sorry…most of the dreams Beatrice fed me were about the blue menace. Looking back now, I understand they referred to Siegfried and the prophets…" She told him.
"Which means…Beatrice refused to help her fellow demon Siegfried…that's not all. By telling Shane, I think she made us interfere with his plans…" Gallows said. "A conflict of interest? Or was Siegfried's plan of filgaia's terraforming a hindrance to her hidden agenda?" Clive wondered. We had no idea why she told us of what would happen with Siegfried and the others. But the fact of the matter was…we didn't know her goal. That was the problem.
Her goal was still unknown…
"Anyhow, I plan to seal the Hyades which has brought dangerous wisdom to this planet. FIlgaia is our planet. All life stems from FIlgaia. The demon's wisdom must be sealed so that no further harm will come about…" Werner started to say. "I beg to differ!!" Clive quickly yelled. We all looked shocked toward Clive. "No doubt the information library Hyades has brought for the great harm and damage to this planet. The power of Hyades is enormous…However; I do not believe this power itself is evil. If we can use it effectively, or perhaps…I believe the planet scarred, by the wisdom of Hyades, should be restored by the wisdom of Hyades." Clive quickly said. "Forgive me. I got a little heated up…my professor and I once pursed the history of Filgaia together…perhaps that is why I am against sealing such a precious artifact as the Hyades…" Clive said as he shook his head a bit.
Just then the room shook we quickly ran outside. "Th-this ain't good! You feel it, too Shane?" gallows asked his brother. "I feel it from the southeast near the peninsula…it is an evil force…like the demons, but far greater…" Shane said. "Beatrice…how dauntless of you! So, you need not hide inside the darkness of people's hearts anymore!?" Werner asked. "You go find out what's behind this impact!" Werner yelled looking toward Virginia. "I must go stop the Hyades! That is the only way I can atone!!" Werner yelled. "Let's get a move on!" Virginia yelled to us. We nodded to her.
"…I-I can't…" I heard Sara's voice say. "Sara…?" I asked looking back to her. "Shaman!" Halle yelled. "…I-I…can't…" She cried as she fell to the ground passing out. "SARA!" Virginia screamed. We raced over to her. She was clinging her chest. She was breathing heavy. What…what was wrong with her?
Even if she recovers herself…she will not be out of harm's way.
Was…was this? What Raftina had been warning me about?
But…what? What's wrong with her?!