Golden Sun: The Sands of Time

Chapter 16: Reflections

"How is he?" Sheba's asked anxiously. It was now nearly five hours since Ivan had been brought into the main infirmary of Anthis, and he had been unconscious throughout all of it. Mia, and several of the priests had been tending to him during that time.

Mia sighed wearily. "He'll be fine. He's lost a lot of blood, though. What exactly happened in that drain anyway?"

Sheba sighed. "I was unconscious for most of the time. I didn't see what was happening." Standing, she winced slightly as she felt a jolt of pain race up her leg. Mia noticed her expression, and turned to her with a concerned look. "Sheba, you shouldn't be standing so soon. I managed to heal most of the damage to your leg, but it'll be a while before it can recover completely.

Sheba waved it off. She could stand, and other than a slight limp, she could walk. Moving to Ivan's side, she stared down at his still form. He was breathing normally again, and seemed almost… peaceful. Leaning, she reached down to stroke his cheek. Why had he risked so much to save her? "When will he wake up?" Sheba asked Mia.

Mia shrugged. "I don't know. He's exhausted, he's experienced an extreme amount of stress, he's lost a huge amount of blood, and energy in the process. In short, he's been through hell and back. I don't know when he'll wake up. Frankly, I think all he needs is time."

Sheba nodded, and sat down on a chair next to Ivan. Mia coughed. "I, uh, I'll go now." Sheba didn't reply, but only stared at Ivan's silent form.

Isaac coughed as he sat up. His arm was bandaged, his chest was bandaged, his legs were bandaged, and the medic was currently trying to bandage his head. "No, really, that won't be necessary." He said.

The medic blinked. "Master Isaac, I am under strict orders from Lord Davion to see that you get the best treatment possible until you are fully healed.

"That's all well and good." Isaac replied. "But I think that bandaging my head is unnecessary. I'll do perfectly fine without them."

"But…" The healer wasn't given any time to finish what he was trying to say before Isaac had gotten up and slipped on his tunic. Isaac then stepped out of the room.

Felix was waiting outside, leaning against the wall with arms crossed. "I take it you've seen better days."

Isaac nodded. "I still feel kinda stiff. What did that Grisnakh person coat his dagger in anyway?"

Felix shrugged. "I'm not a chemist. I wouldn't know even if I could analyze it. Just be glad that you survived."

"If Davion hadn't shot Grisnakh at the time…"

"We'd currently be building a stone tablet for you in the cemetery. Which wouldn't be good for morale."

Isaac frowned. "Do you think the karan will come back?"

"Who knows?" Felix shrugged. "I think we gave them a sound thrashing, but I'd wager they're still out there, somewhere."

Isaac grimaced. "And I was hoping we could head home soon too."

Felix managed a tiny smile. "Not much chance of that unless we can ensure this threat is dealt with properly first."

Isaac sighed. "Yeah, I think we'll be stuck here a long while."

Davion looked out the window, staring at vast city below him. The people had begun piling the carcasses of the karan and burning them, while the elves were being laid by the side for proper burial later.

My kingdom…

He still found it difficult to get used to the idea that he would be wearing his father's crown. As the only son and heir of Aldos Firestar, it was pretty much a given that he, Davion Firestar, would be king and lord of the vast citadel that lay before him.

Am I fit to bear such a burden?

Fingering his necklace that his mother had bestowed upon him when she had died, him still a child, he lifted the jewel up to his eyes. It glowed softly with the light of the heavens itself, or so the legends told.

Father… Mother… help me… to be the best ruler I can…

His reverie was interrupted when a soldier entered his room. "Excuse me, milord, but the ceremony is about to begin. We request your presence."

"Yes, of course." Davion turned. "It's time, then."

Mia wandered around the many coffins in the area, glancing at each one of them. She didn't even recognize most of them, and yet she knew that each of them, in one way or other, had contributed to the great battle.

Her eyes closed with pain and anguish as she continued walking past the monuments of death. A healer by nature, she hated death in any form, even that of a foe. That may have been why her chief role in the battle had been to heal the severely wounded, and play a "backseat" role.

Turning, her gaze was drawn to one particular coffin. She stepped closer, already knowing who was in it, to read the inscription on the panel beside it.

(Alex of Imil, who died defending that which was not his soil, but his heart)

His heart… Mia stared down at the still, peaceful face of Alex. Where was her heart now? She knew that the cold slopes of Imil was no longer her true home, even if she had grown up there. No, her mind and soul was with her friends that had fought so hard to save Weyard.

"Rest in peace, Alex." Mia whispered. "I wouldn't have it any other way with you."

Sighing, she lifted her head. She saw Davion standing on a platform, head bowed in sorrow. Raising his head and opening his eyes, he stared at the vast sea of people below him. And he began to speak, in a clear voice that resounded throughout the cavernous hall they were in.

"Yesterday, at dusk, our kingdom of Anthis faced the gravest threat we have ever encountered. An army of karan descended upon us, intent on blotting us out from the face of this land. We have risen to the threat, and driven it off, but in doing so, we have suffered heavy losses. Today, we remember those who gave their lives for our people. May they rest in peace, knowing that their sacrifice was not in vain."

Mia bowed her head. Slowly, she closed the lid of the coffin that held Alex.

"Goodbye."

Jenna stood, gazing at the many elves weeping and crying around her. She felt… numb. Almost as if all this death around her didn't affect her, somehow. She just stared at closed eyes of one elf that she had seen on the castle spires, alive not ten hours ago. A stray dart had stabbed his chest, killing him instantly even as the karan had turned to retreat.

She closed the lid of the coffin, and bit her lip. She remembered, long ago, when she had been the most sensitive of girls in Vale. She had once met a wounded bird in the forest, and brought it back to tend to it. When it had died despite her best efforts, she had cried for a week. Until the storm… after the boulder had apparently caused the deaths of Felix and her parents, she had learnt. She had learnt how to hide her feelings. She had learnt how to cover a broken heart with a false smile. None but her closest friends knew just how deeply that night had affected her.

And… and when she set out on her journey, through Indra and Osenia, she had learnt… how to kill. Slowly, her grip on her staff began to tighten, until her knuckles turned white. Until then, she had never actually killed anything. Maybe wound them, disable them in battle, but the trek through the wilds required so much more…

Jenna stumbled back and took a deep breath. The sudden rush of emotion had almost overthrown her completely. Taking several more gulps of air, she staggered over to a stone chair and set down, staring with haunted eyes.

Garet strolled along the outer edge of the fortress wall, massaging his right arm. It still ached after the Dark Knight guy had blasted him with that weird energy vortex. He grimaced as an electric bite of pain shot up his arm.

"What kind of psynergy spell was that, anyway?" Garet said to himself. It wasn't water or fire, because he didn't feel the spell was particular dampened or empowered against him in any way. It didn't seem like any earth spell he knew, and the Dark Knight didn't seem psychic, which made him being a Jupiter adept rather unlikely. And what was he doing working with the karan anyway.

Suddenly, his right arm shot out, dragged along by an inexorable force. "Wha-?" He managed to gasp out. Pulling back, he was able to yank it free from the strange magnetic pull, and he collapsed to the ground, panting.

Garet's eyes narrowed as he stared at his right arm. The exact same thing that had happened on the aerie of the Mars Lighthouse, only this time the pull was much stronger. Glancing up, he thought he could almost see in the distance… a man? No, that was just an outcropping of rock. With a slight groan, he pulled himself to his feet. He didn't have time to wonder about this sort of thing anyway.

Just then, he heard a slow, mournful tune as a funeral procession passed along on the street below him. Staring down at the huge swarm of mourners, he shook his head. So much had to be sacrificed in war. Lives, and souls. And which was the greater sacrifice, the greater loss? He did not know.

Felix leaned against the wall, looking. The crowd was vast, to be sure, but he was fairly certain someone was missing from it. Quickly scanning the sea of faces, his face hardened into certainty. Sheba wasn't there. She wasn't among the people in the procession.

Isaac sauntered up to Felix. "What's with the troubled look?" He asked. Felix sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair. "I can't seem to find Sheba anywhere. I've been searching throughout the whole castle."

Isaac lifted an eyebrow, and smirked in amusement. "Felix, if I had to guess, I'd say she would be with Ivan. She hasn't left his side since he was brought back to the castle."

"Of course. Why I didn't think of that sooner?" Felix muttered as he slumped against a wall.

Isaac leaned beside Felix, taking in the last of the sun's rays. "I wonder if they'll realize it soon…"

"What, about each other?" Felix gave a dismissive wave of his hand. "I wouldn't count on it. Not at all."

"Ivan… wake up… please." Sheba whispered to the silent figure in front of her. It had been nearly a whole day since he had been brought in, and the sun beginning to set on the horizon. And still Ivan slept, heedless of the Jupiter adept that sat next to him, taking his hand in her own.

Sheba swallowed hard. Mia had told her that Ivan would be perfectly fine, that it was only a matter of time until he woke up… but that had done little for the worry and tension in Sheba's heart. "Please…" She said. "You have to wake up. If not… if not, who will I thank for saving me? Who will tell me that everything's going to be alright?" She continued. "Who's going to comfort me when I have nightmares? Who's going to laugh with me in the fields of Vale when we go back?" Ivan gave no response.

Sheba bowed her head, tears flowing freely. Raw emotion surged through her like a tidal wave. Anger… grief… sorrow… and guilt. Guilt. That was it. That was what made Sheba feel so wretched right now. Ivan had risked everything to save her, when she had been pinned under the rubble. And a second time, when she had lain unconscious, in the drains under the city, he had once again saved her, nearly giving his life in the process.. Ivan had been wounded because of her. Because she had been too weak to defend herself, Ivan had to protect her and nearly ended up dead as a result.

"I was too weak…" She whispered in a hollow monotone. "I was too weak to do anything…"

"Never… never tell yourself that, Sheba…"

"Ivan?!" Instantly, Sheba had sprung to her feet, staring down at her fellow Jupiter adept. He smiled weakly.

"Sorry to have worried you so much."

Sheba realized she was trembling. He was awake! Relief washed over her. Sheba took in a deep breath of air.

"Don't you ever scare me like that again!" She said, a lot more forcefully than she intended to.

Ivan's blinked, and Sheba could tell he felt puzzled. "What do you mean?" Was his only reply.

"You… you nearly killed yourself! You had me worried sick! Don't you get it?" Sheba exclaimed.

Ivan closed his eyes. "I promised."

Sheba's eyes narrowed. "You promised to protect me. But to this extent? Ivan, you could have died back there! And- and what am I supposed to do once you're gone? What am I supposed to do knowing that you almost gave yourself to rescue me? I don't want to go through life knowing that the reason you died was… was…" Sheba's voice ebbed into silence, larynx bobbing up and down. Finally, she shut her eyes and did her best to pull herself together.

"Why? Why did you do so much for me?"

Ivan merely stared at Sheba. Not now. He mentally prayed. But Jupiter gave no answer. Sighing, he closed his eyes and began to speak.

"Sheba, remember when we first met in Tolbi? Back then, when I first laid eyes on you, I… I thought I had seen an angel. Your beauty, your delicate nature, all of it, just stunned me.

Then later, when we met up and had the opportunity to travel the world together, I grew more enthralled with you each passing day. Your smile, your laugh, your… your very nature and spirit seemed to resonate within me somehow. Almost without knowing it, I found myself being drawn to you. We got to know each other better, we managed to spend time together, alone…" He sat up, a slightly rueful smile on his face. "Those were some of the best days of my life."

He swallowed. "You asked me why I risked myself so many times for you." He looked up, violet eyes gazing deep into emerald ones. "If you die, then… then a part of me dies with you. And- and then what would be the point anymore?"

Ivan swallowed hard. "I love you, Sheba. I always have."

He could see the shock in Sheba's eyes. The doubt. She thought he was crazy. He knew it. She didn't love him, that much was obvious. He averted his gaze.

"I'm sorry." He said thickly. "I shouldn't have said that."

He began to run. He didn't want to deal with the rejection. The pain. He couldn't deal with it. He needed to get away. Somewhere. Anywhere.

Sheba was frozen in shock. "Ivan loves me?" She thought. She had always shared a special bond with Ivan, but… love? "He loves me…" She whispered to herself. A distant part of her mind was shocked with this, but the rest of her was still numb to the confession.

"He loves me… and… and I… love him…" She whispered to herself.

Her reverie was broken when she heard the sound of running footsteps. Looking up, she realized that Ivan had dashed out of the room, seemingly heedless of anything in his path. "Ivan, wait!" She cried out. But he didn't stop. He didn't slow down. He just kept running.

Automatically, she began running after him.

Ivan burst out into the open air, on the topmost spire of the entire castle. Stumbling over to the railing, he leaned on it, gasping for air. His body shook as he tried to suppress the sobs, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Stupid! He shouldn't have told her, shouldn't have said anything. It had been perfectly fine before that…

No, an inside voice told him. It had not. Had you continued as you had before, what would happen to you? No matter what else, you have admitted it. And now you have to face the consequences, good or bad.

No matter what, he had told her the truth. He had to live with that. But that didn't make it any easier to bear.

Behind him, he heard the sound of footfalls. "Ivan!" Sheba cried.

No. Not now. Not now.

If not now, then when? The voice insisted. You have told her, you must bear the consequences. Face up to it.

Ivan turned to face her. She had already caught up with him. Damn. Sighing mentally, he opened his mouth and began to speak. "Sheba… I… I'm sorry for what I said just now. Look, it- it was just a slip of the tongue, and if you don't want to bring it up again, that's perfectly fine with me, and I-"

"Ivan." Sheba held up a hand. "Shut up." Ivan did so.

A second later, his eyes widened in surprise as he felt a pair of lips pressing against his. Ivan quickly returned the kiss, heart singing with joy.

After a few seconds, he pulled away, once more staring deep into her eyes. Sheba smiled shakily. "I love you too, Ivan." She said.

Ivan's mouth hung open. She loves me? Did she just say that? Slowly, he began to smile. She loves me. Pulling her into an embrace, he held her tightly, not wanting to let go.

He loved her, and she loved him. It was that simple. Nothing more was offered. Nothing more was needed.

Isaac stood on the battlements, staring at the two figures, locked in an embrace, silhouetted by the setting sun. "Looks like they realized it sooner than we thought."

Felix observed them, a wry smile on his face. "I'm surprised, actually. When we saw Ivan charging along the top, I thought that she didn't return his love or something like that."

Isaac laughed. "I didn't doubt for a second, Felix. Those two are soulmates. You can look at them and you just know that they'll end up together, no matter what. Just look at them." He gestured towards Ivan and Sheba, who had separated, and were now staring at the sunset hand in hand.

Felix smiled. "Indeed. I am happy for them."

He had heard the final despairing cry of Maelgrim. And he knew, in his heart, they had lost the battle. The humans… the adepts. They had been pivotal in the final outcome.

And the soul union had failed. The second time. He snarled to the night air. No matter what, he would need to obtain more of them…

Silently he beckoned to the figure standing impassively beside him. "This is what I need you to do." He said.