I stare at Araya.
"W-what?" I turn to face Vincent. "Wait, is this true? No way, Vincent. You're a good guy. How could you have a power like that? Why would you want to destroy the world?" Vincent gazes at me sadly.
"Madge, I never said I wanted this power. Besides, it can do great good, if harnessed in the right way."
"But, it could destroy all of this?" I gestured at the city landscape surrounding us. "H-how is that possible? I've seen these, Valdorian soldiers or whatever their called do... magic, but you could burn the whole world to the ground?"
"I, well, I suppose." "Please don't tell me you've... used this power before?" Vincent hesitates. My eyes widen, but he sees the movement and shakes his head quickly.
"I, I was a different man a few years ago. Corrupt and-'"
"Vincent you're twenty."
"Fine. If you want to put it that way, I was a dumb kid, who thought this kind of power was the coolest thing ever. I abused it, not by growing arrogant, but by using it too often. I knew I couldn't control it, but even so I called on it almost every day. I focussed on little things, and, well, sort of disintegrated them. One day I was angry. I had just had a huge argument with our parents and I was angry. I hated everything and my power fed on that hate and, went wild. I destroyed half of Araya's world in a matter of seconds. Those holes created in the Halcion barrier surrounding Alyncia? Every single one of the newest ones were caused by me, an angry teenage boy." I stood silently. i felt like crying for some reason. My poor brother had gone through so much. Yet, he had almost destroyed Araya's world. A part of me was still wondering how it was possible to kill a whole world? The world was, huge.
I forced myself to focus on what my brother was saying once more.
"I just couldn't live with myself after that day. So I managed to find a secret loophole that allowed me to take our family through to the human world. I changed my name to Vincent, and then made a promise to care for you guys, no matter what happened next."
"I... that sounds... hard." Vincent nodded gravely. "It was. But Madgick, please believe me when I say that I would never intentionally destroy the world, Araya's or ours." Val Cath sneers. "Yours? Do you think you own this dump, Elios, or I mean, 'Vincent'?" Vincent ignores him and stares at me intently. I gaze back and finally smile.
"It's good to see you, brother." He smiles too. "You too, sis." I'm not usually one for emotional reunions, Araya was an exception I barely knew existed. It's like one moment I spotted her and the next we were hugging and crying. I told myself I would not do something like THAT again, especially not with Valdorian guards in earshot. So Vincent and I : stare at each other. Our mutual understanding kicks in and he looks away first. "Well, we'll have to get Araya home." Vincent focussed his attention on Araya, giving me some much needed time to get all my thoughts in order. "Being stuck in a foreign world must've been hard for you." Araya shrugs. "It was ok. I like the metal b- I mean cars." Vincent smiles. "Me too." Val Cath clears his throat. I'm tempted to remark that he's acting like a puppy who needs attention, but I hold my tongue, for once.
"Vincent, we hadn't finished our conversation." Vincent turned to him coldly.
"There's nothing left to talk about. Go back to Alyncia, and never bother my sister, or Araya again."
"But she found out our secret. You should know well what happens to a person who finds out a Valdorian s[q~"]cret."
"Let it go this once." Vincent turns away and starts leading the way into the city. Araya and I follow quietly behind him.
"Where are we going?" I ask finally.
"I'll show you gchys to a safehouse until I get back."
"Back from where?"
Vincent doesn't look back as he answers. "I have something important to do before I show Araya home. I don't trust those Valdorians, so I need you two to stay here until I get back. Then we can continue the conversation we were having earlier, Madgick, and I promise to answer all of your questions."