- Chapter 8: Untouchable -

Lightning let out a huff. He felt like he'd just woken up from a strange, lucid dream. He felt like a lump was stuck in his throat, his anxiety and confusion making his neck feel tight. His mind felt like it was moving through sludge as he tried to process everything that had happened.

Thunderyn...he'd met Thunderyn. Was that even real?...What did Anduin mean by prophecy. Was it all a visage? An Illusion? A test?

Lightning sighed before glancing up at the walls of the castle of Terra Atmosia ahead of him as he walked through the busy streets of the merchant square in silence. The whole encounter leaving him with more questions than answers.

"...Doom and Destiny. Whatever that means..." Lightning muttered to himself before stopping and glancing down at the cobblestone under him as he sighed and shook his head some, "...the hells am I doing?"

Lightning was stood in front of the gate to the Academy. He tried to gather his questions, what he would say, anything he could think of to pull his mind together. He was exhausted, tired and worried he looked crazy. This wasn't like him-...would this be okay?

Lightning took a step forward. Lightning kicking himself. he knew he wouldn't if he kept thinking about it. He had to start doing. Or it would never happen.

Lightning nodded his head some before taking another step forward and walking towards the entrance of the academy before stopping suddenly as his eyes locked onto something in front of him in the distance that made his blood run cold and his heart leap into his throat.

Lady Lavender was waiting for him at the door. The woman was standing there with her arms crossed over her chest and her brows furrowed some in anger as she watched him approach the gates to the Academy before her expression changed into one of concern and relief.

Lightning could see the woman was wearing a loose fitted lavender gown with gold trimmings on the side. It was obvious she had retired for the evening.

"Lightning. Is everything alright? You did not arrive earlier this day. We were very worried."

"My apologies, Ma'am. I was caught up in something unexpected and had no way of letting you know I would not be arriving on time." Lightning answered Lavender's question with a respectful nod of his head as he glanced up and met her eyes with his.

Lightning had no idea how long she'd been standing there waiting for him-

"Don't apologize. There is no need for that- we are just relieved that you are alright." Lavender replied to Lightning with a kind smile on her face as she began walking back inside the academy with him following beside her.

"Ma'am." Lightning croaked out. His body was screaming at him to just forget it. Not care, but he knew in the back of his head, and in his heart that he couldn't.

"What is it?"

"...What do you know of a squire named Anduin...or, someone who's acting as one. I think you know...who I'm talking about." Lightning explained to Lavender in a quiet tone of voice as he walked beside her while they both navigated the halls of the Academy together.

Lavender frowned some as she glanced away from Lightning's gaze.

"Why do you ask?" Lavender replied, trying to stall or evade answering the question entirely, "There is nothing going on in regards to him- Everything is fine." Lavender told Lightning with a fake smile on her face as they both came to a stop in front of the study.

"I don't think it is...I think you know more then you're letting on. Why did you chose me? Of all the others..why?" Lightning asked Lavender, "If somethings going on- Please..."

Lightning had no idea what he was going to say anymore. His mind was racing. And he felt sick.

"...Lighting." Lavender sighed, "Some things are meant to be left alone- Some things are not our right to know. A squire has business here as any other- I don't know what you think is going on-" Lavender continued before getting cut off by Lightning.

"I think you knew who I was. You knew my mother's name, you knew who my father was, and he died before I could ever get to meet him...It seems everyone is trying to dance around everything, and It's just making more confused, and on edge-..." Lightning paused. He took a breath to compose himself again.

Lightning had no idea why he felt like he was going to explode at that moment, "...Please, just tell me."

Lightning's thoughts were swirling around in his head. Lady lavender could see the pained look on his face.

"...What did Anduin show you, Lightning...It seems obvious he was not as careful as he was instructed..."

Lightning bit his lip. He felt like he'd been stabbed in the heart-

"...What plane is he over?" Lightning asked Lavender in a solemn tone of voice as he held back tears from falling down his cheeks. "-...Please..."

Lavender closed her eyes before opening them and turning around to head towards the study and open the large doors to the room and beckon Lightning to follow her inside.

Lady Lavender shut the door behind them. "...Anduin, as you probably are already away. He is a Guardian. His purpose is to help guide you...though he has chosen a way I don't fully agree with..." Lavender began as she walked over to one of the large bookshelves on the far end of the wall and began browsing through some of the books.

"...Why me? What exactly is this supposed destiny I'm supposed to fulfill. Is this really about saving Atmos- Or is it something else." Lightning asked Lavender with a concerned glance of his eyes as he noticed the woman was having trouble locating something on the shelf in front of her as she dug through it.

"...tch-" She sucked in through he teeth. "I see Anduin did not heed his words. It seems he left all on the table, with no answers to accompany. That's not what a guardian is supposed to do..." Lavender responded in a calm tone of voice to Lightning. "Don't take my sour tone with him to heart-...His kind is not like us, he does not think the same way we do- Anduin knows not the human brain anymore. Constantly flickering between the veil. He does not see time the same as you and I."

"I gathered...I...ran off from him in that plane of his. Which, you didn't answer the question of just What that place is."

"The realm of the dead, where souls rest and those of Anduin's kind guide them through the trials and tribulations of death itself. It's their sacred duty to safeguard souls from the passage of time or becoming lost. Master Falco chose him to help guide you...They are picked based on what their Chosen needs at the time their journey begins...Though, why he picked him specifically I'm not quite sure about. I do not know who the next Guardian would have been for you had you not encountered Anduin during your time of need..." Lavender explained in a calm tone of voice to Lightning as she found the book she was looking for.

"...Can you tell me what you do know?" Lightning asked Lavender as he watched her flip through the book's pages in front of her as he stood across from her beside one of the large tables in the middle of the room.

"To begin with- There is a reason you are here. There is a reason you look to seek out answers...Master Falco knows more than he lets on, I can say that much." Lavender stated in a solemn tone of voice to Lightning, as she finally stopped flipping through the pages of the book.

"Here, I know you prefer to see it for yourself." She pushed the book over to him. Lightning noticing a section was highlighted in golden ink. The writing was small and neat, Lightning almost immediately recognizing Master Falco's handwriting.

...The Age of Destruction, and all its turmoil may be at an end, yet, the rising darkness shall bare it's fangs and rear it's head once more. A child of Pride, and child of Lust, both whose blood run cold, will fall beneath the weight of the Unbreakable Spear of Destiny and be consumed by their inner demons; from which they can never escape...For the path laid before them is one forged by sacrifice, pain, and loss...The Sky Knight Squadron, renamed, and reforged shall rise again, yet, a great sacrifice shall befall one of their own…

...I see visions of mayhem. I hear in my dreams the whispers of this world. If these visions are true, the children of Pride and Lust's sacrifice will forever alter the fate of Atmos. We cannot stop this, but we can hope to prolong it...

Lightning's eyes were wide as he read the passages over and over again, the text changing everytime Lightning read.

"How...?" Lightning asked Lavender in a perplexed tone of voice as he continued to stare at the book in front of him while Lavender collected herself.

"It is how they are written...Master Falco's text. His writing reveals to its reader what they search for, or what it is they seek to know. I knew you would one day come to me for answers...just, not so soon. I had hoped for the time to prepare you. For a life entangled within Destiny itself can be a harrowing one..."

"...I don't understand how that has anything to do with me...and whoever this 'Child of Pride and Lust' is..." Lightning replied in a somber tone of voice to Lady Lavender as he continued to stare at the words in the book.

"...I do not feel the need to spell it out for you, Lightning. You are far too intelligent for that." Lady Lavender said in a cryptic tone of voice to him as she studied his expression carefully before continuing on with what she had to say to him, "What you must understand now, is that a great battle lays ahead of you, and those close to you. All of us. You need not be a Seer to know that."

Lightning looked at the page intently. He felt the lump return to his throat.

"...I seen him. I seen...Thunderyn. When I ran away from Anduin in his realm.." Lightning stated in a somber tone of voice to Lavender, "I...didn't know what to expect. It wasn't a field of flames or some sort of hell-...It was quiet."

"...you seen him..."

"He was in a battlefield. The grass was dead. The sky was dark, and full of thunder clouds...I wasn't afraid. He...he was afraid for me.." Lightning explained in a thoughtful tone of voice to Lavender as he recalled the encounter with Thunderyn as best as he could, "He didn't know who I was...I told him."

Lady Lavender just listened. She wanted him to continue.

"He was afraid something would happen to me..that I should be getting home...I didn't know what to say..." Lightning continued his recount of events to Lady Lavender as he met her eyes and swallowed hard, "...When I left I...told him I was glad he had some peace, if any...I can still hear it. He wished the same for me. I saw this...fire that shot up."

"...You are so like your father."

"...I don't believe that." Lightning muttered lowly under his breath with an annoyed sigh before continuing on with what he had to say as he glanced up at her, "...Why did I see him?"

"I have never seen the realm of the dead myself. But, I have heard stories that when Anduin's kind leave the veil to aid the living or dead- They take people where they need to go. They use their own power to enter the veil and navigate its pathways...Perhaps you needed to speak with him. Maybe he was ready to have you see him. Whether Anduin was aware of your desires or not-...I cannot say." Lady Lavender explained in a calm tone of voice to Lightning, "I am well aware of his...tendencies. I understand that the more sensible kind can be...irritated by his antics. But, there is no changing him, or what he is. You will have to find some way to tolerate him...or live with the fact he will always be there."

"...I still don't understand."

"Then, find peace in knowing that the answer will come one day. Until then- Focus on what lies ahead and become the man you wish to be. Do not dwell on what has happened, or what you feel like is impossible. Be your own person...That is all we can be in this life. I am always here if you have questions. I will always answer them as best I can. Just know- ...Life is filled with hardships and pain, but it's also filled with love and joy. That is the truth." Lady Lavender concluded her explanation as she gave Lightning a reassuring smile before chuckling softly at him.

"...I just wish I could know. I never liked surprises."

"Sometimes we are given surprises we have no choice in accepting."

"...Did you have to accept Anduin? From what I can tell- he seems like a handful." Lightning joked some with Lady Lavender as he gave her a light-hearted smile in hopes of lifting the mood.

"Anduin has been causing mischief since before he roamed the veil. At least I can find comfort in knowing I'm not his only target." Lavender chuckled softly at Lightning before sighing at the thought. "...he can be a handful, yes."

"Sky Knights are chosen by Guardians, and given trials, right? I'm kinda nervous what he has planned for me...If what Master Falco wrote is true." Lightning said in a casual tone of voice to Lavender as he met her eyes with his once more.

"...It would not hurt to prepare yourself, no. But also know, you would not have been noticed, or chosen, if you could not handle this. Even if you do not know it yet- there is something special inside of you Lightning...Whether that is destiny or not, only time will tell." Lavender explained to Lightning in a calm tone of voice as she continued to meet his eyes with hers.

"...Do you think I'm ready, for whatever it is?" Lightning asked Lavender curiously, his tone of voice giving away his nervousness at the thought.

Lady Lavender's face held no indication of anything being wrong. "In some ways, I believe you are. There is still so much for you to learn and experience before you can truly face what lies ahead...I also know it won't matter until that moment comes for you- Regardless of how ready you are...but, I want you to have confidence in yourself Lightning."

"...I'll try."

Lady Lavender gave a light-hearted laugh. "Now, now. I remember a young lad who was more than confident enough to throw away his chance at winning the Exams, to defend another against bullies, and still do what he felt was right...Are you telling me that young boy is gone? I still have faith in him."

Lightning didn't know what to say. She was right, but...he's changed. Or, had he? He felt like he was in some sort of limbo. Stuck between his past self, and the person he was now.

"...I don't know where that boy went." Lightning explained in a somber tone of voice to Lady Lavender as he shrugged his shoulders and glanced away from her, "...But, I will do my best, ma'am." Lightning added on before meeting her eyes once more as he gave her a confident smile, "For Atmos."

"You'll always be him. And, in the end...that's all I could ask of you, Lightning." Lady Lavender smiled at him warmly before getting up from her chair and making her way back towards the study's doors and open them. "Well, go on- I'm sure Garoth is expecting you home soon. Be safe getting back, and know I will always be here for my students, if you ever find yourself needing advice or reassurance."

Lightning nodded his head some with a smile on his face, "Thanks. I'll see you around." Lightning waved bye to Lavender before walking out into the hall, and back out towards the courtyard. Lightning heading towards the gate, that led back to the merchant district.

He felt better, his mind still reeling and spinning with all the new information, but, he felt lighter somehow.

"...Come on." Lightning grumbled lowly under his breath. It was starting to get even darker outside and his stomach was grumbling at him.

"Ah-..." Lightning muttered lowly under his breath as he stopped in his tracks and reached into his pocket. Lightning finding a small bag with some gold coins inside it. He didn't remember putting it there…

A note -

"Being Lost is such a peculiar thing..." Anduin's voice rang through Lightning's ears as he held the small coin purse in his hands before glancing around for any sign of him, "Fret not the tomorrow you do not know, young knight. You have friends now, in Higher places~"

Lightning could hear a chuckle ring out, the voice fading as he held the bag, and note.

"They say money is power, and I am sure you are famished~"

"Anduin...?"

Lightning glanced around, trying to find the guardian, before looking down at the bag of money in his hands with a raised eyebrow and a confused look on his face. Lightning growling some.

"Stop being so damn cryptic-!" He yelled, Lightning catching himself as he seen some bystanders give him a strange look. Lightning's face growing hot. Lightning looking around sheepishly before boogying away quickly.

Lightning felt embarrassed. If he didn't feel crazy enough, he felt he now looked it. Lightning thinking of something, "...At least Anduin sounds more sane than me." He muttered lowly under his breath with a defeated sigh.

The moon hung in the air high above Lightning as he continued making his way through the merchant district of Atmosia while the merchants started closing.

His questions still needed answers. But, now wasn't the time for that. Lightning feeling himself being torn between what he wanted and what he needed. Lightning's body was still sore, and he felt tired. The day had just seemed to drag on...

All he could look to now, was the Tomorrow he had yet to see.