Chapter 22: A redeeming Flame: Part 2
The girls were hiding while still keeping an eye on the dining hall. They continued to wait on Mr.Colbert and Sora.
"Ah! This is annoying!" Kirche scoffed. "If there aren't that many we can take em'."
"Kirche, I know how you feel but we need to calm down." Louise said the the fire mage.
"But-." Tabitha reached out a hand and placed it on her shoulder.
"We wait." Kirche growled in annoyance.
Louise was on Kirche's side for wanting to try and save everyone. But she chooses to leave things in the actions of Mr.Colbert's idea. She just hope that they finish.
Speaking of Sora. The fire mage asked the young keyblade wielder to entertain him with stories about the world's that he's traveled to. He began with how he ended up in one world called Traverse Town where he first met Leon and the others, it was also the world where he met his first traveling companions Donald and Goofy.
Sora continued telling Mr.Colbert about the rest of his Adventures. He's traveled across desert regions and befriended an actual genie, sailed the seas with pirates, swam with a mermaid, explored the vast jungle, clashed with the god of the underworld. And other tales he told. To say the teacher was thrilled was in understatement. As he finished his stories about the icy wonders of his trip to Arendelle.
"...And after that, Anna sucker punched her 'fiance' right off the ship and into the water. Can't say he didn't have it coming."
"I must say. That kind of behavior isn't something you would usually expect from a princess." Replied Mr.Colbert. "And their Queen was the only one in her kingdom with magic?"
"That's right. But she didn't see her abilities as a blessing." Sora said.
"How come?"
"When I first met Elsa, I was amazed at how she can use ice. But, she didn't like it, and even said that she hurts people with it. So she decided to isolate herself from her Arendelle." Sora answered "When we found her, she was a completely different person, she went from sad to happy like she enjoyed shutting herself away in her ice palace."
"I'm sure it must have been difficult. Having to hide your magic abilities for years. And to be the only person alive to use magic. I can't even imagine." Mr.Colbert thought what life would be like if something like did happen, surely everyone would react the same with prejudice and fear.
"Yeah. But I can understand where she was coming from." Sora said "She and Riku are alike in that regard. Elsa shut herself away to try and keep her kingdom safe, and Riku thought he had to stay away from me in order to protect me. But really, that's no way to live for any. You should distance yourself from others when they still care about you. Isolation can be painful from others and yourself too. But if you have people who'll stand with you, you don't have to feel alone anymore."
The male teacher smiles at Sora "You are a kind soul you know. But I feel sympathy for you."
"Why?" Sora asked.
"Because. Forgive me, but you weren't originally chosen to be a keyblade wielder, correct, and yet, you seem to always be in danger in some ways, shape or form."
"At this point it's nothing new to me." Sora replied.
"But you shouldn't get used to it, you're still so young. You're the same age as the first and second year in the academy. But you seem to be involved with so much trouble, to be thrown into a conflict, to have to fight for your life every time…You had no control over these events and you treat them like nothing. Don't you ever stop and think maybe you should step away from all this?" Mr.Colbert voiced concerns over the young brunette.
Maybe it was instinct as a teacher to see that his students were safe from harm. Even if Sora doesn't attend classes like everyone else, in a way he viewed him as one of his students.
He basically said that Sora no longer put himself in danger with all his accomplishments and achievements, that he should step down. Let someone else step up and handle the crisis that arises.
"Step away, huh…" Sora began to think about it as he looked at the teacher again. "To be honest, I don't want to." He said, shocking Colbert, "I really like my life as it is. Yeah it has perks and it's misgivings. But I like that I get to see and explore all kinds of places, new all sorts of people. And most of all I get to make new friends along the way. I wouldn't trade this life for anything."
"But…There are more keyblade wielders right, shouldn't you deserve a break?"
"Well maybe?" Sora shrugged "But I can't say I want to. I don't have the same sense of pride like everyone else does in this world. But we do have pride and honor as keyblade wielders. We stand tall with our keyblades in hand and will always stand for the light of the world while keeping the darkness at bay. I never was chosen like some of my friends. But I do accept that, someone like me was chosen to do great things is something amazing."
Mr.Colbert couldn't help but be awe-stricken by Sora. "Sora…You are spectacular. More than I can say for myself."
"What's that mean?" Sora asked as Mr.Colbert slightly turned his attention away.
"Nevermind…Let's get back to it." He said as he begun filled the balloons with a powdered substance. Sora followed his example and started to fill all the balloons with the same powder and placed them in a wooden box.
For the next few minutes they did this, Sora filled the last balloon and placed it in the crate. "Alright we're done. Ready to go…" He said. Mr.Colbert wasn't paying attention not until Sora called his name again. "Hey, Mr.Colbert."
"Yes." He said. "Sora, and you wait for me there's something I need to do." The teacher said to the keyblade wielder as Sora raised his eyebrows in confusion. "It won't take long, but a minute at most."
"Okay, I don't know what your doing, but a minute seems alright." Sora pick up the box and waited on the other side of the door. For an actual minute as the teacher came out.
"Thank you." Said the teacher.
"Come on, let's go and save everyone!" Sora picked up the box and ran from the building back to the field with Mr.Colbert following him. They were still aways from the girls as they were likely restless from just standing by, mostly Kirche. But as they proceed further. The fire mage came to a complete stop staring at the twin moons in the sky.
Sora noticed him staring up at the sky and walked over towards him. "Hey, Mr.Colbert?" Sora asked, getting the teacher's attention.
"Sora…"
"You ok?" The keyblade wielder asked as he was standing side by side with Colbert.
"...The leader of that group, he's someone I used to work with." Sora was shock.
"Wha—."
"I think I should tell you a bit of myself." Mr.Colbert began. "A long time ago, I used to serve in the military. I believed that following orders was always the right thing to do and I carried out my orders well, maybe a little too well. One day…I…I was given a new order and I carried it out as usual, I did my job. But it turned out I was really doing someone else's dirty work." Mr.Colbert had a grim expression "After that I left and decided to become an educator, as a way to atone. But due to recent news and events…I was just kidding myself. I tried to leave that day behind but I was a fool. My sins from my past, they've come back to haunt me and everyone is caught up in it as well."
"I was suggesting we leave because I didn't want to get involved in any more conflicts and I didn't want to keep seeing children being wrapped up in battles. But you and the girls were prepared to fight head on. You are all so much stronger than me. And here I am still running, Miss Zerbst was right…I am nothing but a coward."
Sora glanced at the teacher and the lack of emotion he was showing was proof that he has been struggling with this for a long time.
"You're not a coward." Sora said, causing the teacher to face him.
"In what way?"
Sora began to clarify "What I mean is that you are trying to make up for what happened, and that isn't running away. But trying to brush it aside and forget it, that's running away. You know how it goes 'The past never dies', yeah it's true. Everyone wants to forget what they did, but you can't. The only thing that you can do is accept it and move forward, learn from it and make sure that those same mistakes are never repeated again. If you don't want to tell me all about what happened I understand and I'm not gonna ask about it either, that's your choice."
"You should be quick to dismiss my deeds Sora." Replied the teacher. "I don't deserve any forgiveness."
Sora replied back "Who's saying that you shouldn't. You said that you atoned for what you did but have you talked about it with someone. Before you even ask someone to forgive you, you have to find a way to forgive yourself. Listen to what your voices are telling you and I'm sure you will finally be at peace."
The teacher stared at Sora as his words was feeding a spark within him "D-Do you think I am worth forgiving?"
"Nobody is beyond forgiveness, and no one's beyond redemption either, all it boils down to is what you do to seek forgiveness." Sora finished.
'I see…' He looked down at the grass "Thank you Sora. This means a lot." The teacher turned his focus on the young keyblade wielder "I'll never understand how someone so young is also so wise."
"One of life's greatest mysteries." Sora joked at the fire mage. "Now come on, we should get moving."
"You're right." Colbert agreed "By the way Sora. When you someday leave this world and return to your own…Would you be willing to bring me along on your adventure."
Sora's eyes widened a bit when he said that. "You want me to take you on my adventures?"
"That's right. I know it might seem selfish. But I am curious to see who people go about their lives on other worlds. So when you find an away home please come back so that I may see what else is beyond our borders." Mr.Colbert said as he looked up into the night sky.
Sora could see that curious glint in his eyes. He saw that same look when he and his friends wanted to explore other worlds as well. The keyblade wielder had a small smile on his face.
"...Sure thing." Sora agreed "I promise, when the time comes I promise to take you to see another world someday." Sora finished as he held out his hand the teacher shook his, agreeing to Sora's promises.
[Now enough dilly-dallying. Isn't it time we get a move on.] Delf replied.
Sora jumped, he was right all this talking and they nearly forgot.
And speaking of the girls. Kirche was growing evermore restless as she was tired of sitting on her butt waiting for those two to show up already.
"I can't take it anymore! I'm going!" She said as she pulled her wand out and was prepared to march on in.
"Hey!" They heard a voice behind them as they saw Sora and Mr.Colbert running towards them. "Sorry for the wait!"
"About time!" Said Kirche.
"What's in the boxes?" Louise asked as she pondered about the sort of plan they were about to proceed with.
Meanwhile in the dining hall Agnès was surrounded by the mercenaries but none of them made a move on her nor did she. They were preoccupied with her strange abilities and the same for those black angelic wings that protected her earlier. Obviously it wasn't any of the four elements, was it void magic or something else entirely?
With no one attacked and no one making so much as a single step. Everyone watched as someone would make their move.
'There numbers aren't so great, but they are all skilled people.' Julio thought to himself. 'If my hands weren't bounded I would offer my assistance…'
Siesta watched as Agnès was circled by mercenaries. She wanted to help but what could she even do? She was still training and a few days worth of lessons might not be enough. And even then she was still having a difficult time even trying to summon her keyblade. Magic is all she has at the moment but should she use it to burn the ropes and free herself, no. It probably would do more harm than good.
Her frustration and indecision we're getting the best of her. She wanted to help but didn't know how to go about it.
"What are you waiting for?" Said Menvil.
"Sorry captain. But we're not sure what to do."
"Yeah. We've never seen powers like her's before."
Menvil clicked his tongue "Useless dogs." He spat. 'But they do have a point. Her abilities clearly aren't any of the four elements…It has to be something. But what…what is the deal with her abilities.'
As Menvil was lost in those he noticed something flying in the air. "The hell? Balloons?" He said curiously. As more and more balloons flew in the air.
Meanwhile Kirche and Tabitha were still on right side of the large hole in the wall. Tabitha using her wind magic to fill the balloons with air.
"What is all this?" Agnès said as she wondered where they were coming from. That's when she spotted Sora, Louise, and Mr.Colbert hiding on the opposite end of The two girls. 'What are they doing?'
She wondered as she saw Sora putting up three fingers and quietly telling her to close her eyes. 'Close my eyes?' Just as it hit her as she realized what the balloons were for. 'So that's their plan!'
Sora dropped one finger leaving two. "Guess we still have some rats running around?" Menvil said, still unaware as Sora brought down another finger. Leaving just his index finger up.
"Everyone! When I say so, close your eyes." Agnès ordered as everyone was curious as to why she wanted their eyes closed.
"Why?" One student asked.
"Just do it!" She barked as she waited for the signal. Just as Tabitha finished filling the last balloon with air. Kirche jumped from her hiding spot.
"Hey boys!" They all turn their attention to the wall as Sora dropped his last finger.
"Now!" She ordered as everyone closed their eyes. Just as Kirche raised her wand and ignited the balloons causing them to explode. Creating a blinding light that made all of the mercs drop their staffs.
"Alright!" Sora exclaimed.
"It worked." Louise said.
"Alright everyone, come on!" Mr.Colbert said as everyone ran inside.
"Gah! My eyes!"
"Ah! What was that!"
"Dammit all! I can't see!"
They were all caught off guard by the sudden trap. As Agnès and everyone else opened their eyes to see the disoriented mercenaries. The blonde haired knight quickly whistled for her unit to come in and apprehend the terrorist. Musketeers knights burst through the door and charge towards them with swords in hand. Sora made his way to free the captives and Louise ran towards her sisters.
"Hey guys. You okay?" Sora asked as he waved his hands over the ropes the ropes caught fire and were snapped.
Julio rubbed his wrist with a smirk "You took your time."
"You're welcome." Sora said back.
"Sora, thank you. I knew you would come." Siesta said.
"Louise. Why are you here? How did you get out?" Elèanor bombarded her sister with.
"Can we talk about this later. Let's see if I remember right…" Louise waved her wand and undid the ropes.
"The ropes… You did that." Elèanor was skeptic.
Louise wore a smug look and "That's not all." She said and she raised her wand in the air and undid everyone else restraints.
"The ropes…"
"We're free!" Chatter erupted among the students and staff. Louise was well enough satisfied with herself and Cattleya stood up and gently rubbed her baby sister's head, proud of her and her growth.
Soon after the Musketeer knights finished rounding up the last of the mercenaries as their captain approached them. "Good, one less thing we can-"
"Ahhh!" Everyone turned to see Tabitha and Kirche sent flying. Kirche tried to pick up her wand but Menvil stepped on it, keeping her from picking it up. He looked over at her with a sinister grin.
"That's how it is. Not a bad plan, but cheap tricks are useless against me." He said.
"But…But how…" She said, shaking in fear. Flames erupted from his scepter and he pointed it to the girls Kirche was fearing for herself and Tabitha who was lying unconscious on the ground. But his spell was countered by a ball of water that stopped the attack. This was from Sora who was standing behind the girls.
The keyblade wielder jumped in the air "Get away from her!" Sora brought his kingdom keyblade keyblade downward on Menvil's scepter, sparks began to fly as the mercenary waved him aside pushing Sora off but not before he quickly grabbed Sora by the throat with one arm. Sora dropped his keyblade as he held both of his arms on Menvil, trying to free himself.
"Sora!" Kirche Shouted.
Their friends watched "I don't get it. Our plan should have worked so why is he not affected?" Louise said.
As Sora was still in his grip he got a look at Menvil until he noticed something "Your eyes…They're fake!"
"Smart boy." He confirmed "My injuries from back then were seriously bad, my eyes were also scorched to the point where I was left completely blind."
"H-How can you even see?" Said Kirche.
Menvil squeeze Sora's neck harder "They say snakes can tell where their prey is by temperature. So to compensate for my lack of vision. I've developed the same kinda sense. And since I have skills as a fire mage, I can also tell people apart by their own temperature." He finished as he threw Sora across the room.
"Sora no!" Julio, Louise, and Siesta called out to him as he held his neck gasping for air.
'I don't see what they had to warn me about, this kid isn't anything special. Now…Let's see how well you burn!' He waved his scepter as flame flew towards Sora. But the fire was countered by another fire spell but instead of orange… these flames were blue.
"What?" Sora wondered. As he looked up and saw Mr.Colbert standing over him with a dead serious expression.
"Are you alright?" The teacher said,
"Y-Yeah." He replied as he stood up.
The white haired man was annoyed, Today was just full of people getting in his way.
Mr.Colbert stared down and the man in front of him "Menvil, it's been some time. Hasn't it?" The leader of the mercenary group wondered how he knew his name. As they both were staring at each other. That was when Menvil's expression turned into a shocked one.
"You…" He said as his expression morphed into a twisted joyful one. "It's you. It's really you! This temperature, there is no mistake! Captain it's you!"
"So, you lost your sight, have you?" The teacher said.
"I lost a lot more than just my eyes, I'll have you know! But that doesn't matter anymore, I finally found you."
Everyone watched the conversation between the two of them.
"Mr.Colbert…"
"Mr.Colbert? You know this man?" Louise asked as Menvil was intrigued by what he heard.
"Mr.Colbert?" He laughed "You gotta be kidding me!? You of all people are a teacher? Well, that explains why I haven't seen you these past twenty years."
"Are you two…acquainted with each other?" The headmaster asked his fellow teacher.
"Something like that."
"Come now Enjya. Is that any way to speak to your old lieutenant?"
'Wait, Enjya?' Agnès thought.
"En…jya…What's he talking about?" Kirche asked.
Menvil began explaining "You see. Back in the day this man was the most cold hearted person I ever met. It didn't make a difference to him who you were, whether you were a man, woman or child, the second you crossed his flame it meant certified death. Yes. The man I have searched for the last twenty years. The one who stole the light from me; Jean Colbert…Or rather his runic name: Enjya the flame serpent!"
Agnès gasped as her pupils shrunk, taking the information. If he was Enjya…then that would mean…
"I should have guessed someone like you would be able to counter my magic. Despite your new position your skills haven't wavered at all." He laughed loudly "Yes…This is how it should be. Now I can pay you back for what you did to me all those years ago!" Menvil laughed continuously.
"Principle Osmond, Miss Vallière, Mr Ceasé. Take everyone and go! Hurry! Sora, help miss Zerbst and miss Tabitha. I'll handle this."
"No way! I'm staying!" Sora said.
"Sora…While I do appreciate your kindness. I have to settle this. This is something that I started a long time ago and I refuse to run anymore." He stated as he shifted his gaze from his former lieutenant to the keyblade wielder "It's time that I confronted my demons."
"Mr.Colbert…" Sora said as he saw the serious look in his eyes. "Alright. If that's what you want, I understand. Just be careful, and don't forget we did make a promise didn't we."
Mr.Colbert nodded with a smile remembering that Sora agreed to take him to other worlds someday. Sora made his way to the fire and ice mage. "Are you okay?" He asked.
"I'm fine. But Tabitha…" She said as she looked towards her unconscious friend with worry. Sora gently picked her up and gave her a piggyback.
"Come on, we need to leave!" He said as Kirche picked herself up.
"Everyone out! Follow me!" Louise said as she waved her arms in the air getting everyone's attention. They all followed her in a single file line with the Musketeer knights also bringing some of Menvil's men along with them.
"Captain?" One knight tried to get her attention.
"...Go." That was all Agnès said as she left her behind. "I'll catch up."
With that everyone began to run as far away from the campus as their legs could carry them. As the principal led the students and staff, Louise's sisters followed her Julio, Montmorency, and Siesta all huddled together as Sora continued to carry Tabitha on his back with Kirche hovering over Sora worried about her best friend.
Agnès took all this information. As she watched both of these fire mages dueling with one another. Each one blasted fire magic at each other.
"Enjya…Mr.Colbert…" She said struggling to make sense of this "My home, my family…All of this. He stole all of it…all of it from me!?" She clenched her fist and grit her teeth. Watching the duel between the two fire mages.
"Amazing. Captain, your strength still stands. This is how it should be!" Menvil replied to his former captain as he sent a large fireball flying in his direction. But Mr.Colbert manage to douge it as blue fire circled around Menvil but was quickly brushed away. "Hahaha! So sorry Colbert. I'm not that foolish youth from back then. My fire has surpassed yours!"
He replied as he and Colbert were prepared to unleash another spell. When Mr.Colbert nearly avoided a sword slash from Agnès. "Agnès?"
"You…" She said, having her back turned, "I actually trusted you. But this whole time you were right under my nose…And I didn't even realize it!" She said, turning around her eyes, seething with anger. As she pointed her sword at him "I'm gonna kill you!" She ran towards him with anger. And started slashing her but was interrupted by a fireball that separated them.
She turned her gaze towards Menvil "Stay out of this wench! This is between us!" He said with a deranged smile. Flames flew off the top of his scepter. She jumped to avoid the flames as she dashed towards Menvil prepared to stick but the mercenary countered. As Mr.Colbert raised his staff, calling out to Agnès telling her to back away. She looked in his direction as three blue balls of fire were sent flying towards Menvil.
He took the full brunt of the attack, not flinching even a little.
"Agnès. Don't rush in blindly." Mr.Colbert said.
"Shut up! I don't have to listen to you!" She snapped.
"You're right you shouldn't. Given that I am also responsible for D'Angleterre. And I promise to explain all of it and take responsibility for it as well. But first we must cooperate in order to stop him." He said.
"Forget it! I don't need your help!" She said turning her back from Menvil to Mr.Colbert. Menvil took the opportunity to attack her from behind.
"Watch out!" He said as she turned around and saw flames coming in her direction but before she could receive the attack, she was pushed out of the way by Mr.Copbert himself as he took the attack himself in her place. Agnès watched as he was consumed by fire and fell to the floor. As she watched him trying to put the fire out she took off her mantle and threw it over him as a sorta blanket to put out the flames. She doesn't know why she is bothering to save him.
As the fire was extinguished she pulled back her robe and saw Mr.Colbert lying on the ground with burns on his body, and his clothes were also burnt however the Musketeer captain gasped seeing something she did not expect.
There was a large scar on his back. And not just any scar, but the same one she saw on her rescuer when she was still a child. 'Wait that scar…' She backed away, unable to process this information.
Menvil began laughing like a madman "How's that Enjya! Do you see the difference in our powers! My flames have surpassed yours greatly!"
He continued laughing but he heard the sound of his former captain laughing as well as weak as it was. He stopped "Why are you laughing?" Menvil asked.
"Menvil…Tell me. What are the qualities of a fire mage?" Asked the teacher.
"What are you saying?" He asked again awaiting a response from him but he signed and decided to humor him "Its either one of two characteristics. We possess flames of passion or flames of destruction. That satisfying enough for you, sir." He said mocking him as Mr.Colbert stood on his feet.
"Passion and Destruction…I guess my efforts to atone were frivolous indeed. I spent twenty years trying to forget. But I see now…there is still something I must do first…before I die!" He exclaimed as the teacher created a dome of fire circling his former vice captain in it.
"Is this a joke? All I have to do is…is…" Menvil was having difficulty breathing. Before he began to hyperventilate. 'What!? I can't breathe!?'
'A large fire will consume the oxygen surrounding it… That's why I had everyone evacuate so that they wouldn't get caught up…Just a little longer.'
Meanwhile outside everyone was a good distance from the school as the teachers were all trying to calm the students down. As Sora gently laid Tabitha on the ground she began to stir, opening her eyes to see him over towards her right as she carefully sat upwards. Kirche immediately hugged her, relieved to see her away.
The young glasses wearing blue haired mage asked what happened as they explained that she was unconscious after she and Kirche tried to take on Menvil. As for his men her red haired friend pointed at the mercenaries that were all tied up by the musketeers. On that note Tabitha asked who carried her outside, Sora explained to her that he was the one that helped her.
"Another debt." Tabitha replied.
"Hey, you don't owe me anything. Just helping my friends, that's it." He replied back as he looked back at the school. "Kirche, stay here and look after Tabitha. I need to go check on Mr.Colbert."
"Then I'll come with you!"
"Me too!" Louise and Kirche volunteer to join Sora.
Wait a minute!" They were about to depart when Siesta ran up towards them. "I'm coming!"
"Actually, you should help watch over everyone else." Sora suggested.
"But-"
"I know you're worried about us but trust me. We'll be okay. Promise."
Siesta wanted to argue but failed to find the words to say. Not to mention Sora has never steered wrong before. "Alright. Just be careful." She said.
"I'll stay behind too." Julio came next to her.
Sora nodded at them as they went back to check on Mr.Colbert and Agnès. As they left the ground Elèanor watched as her sister was leaving, she was about to call out to her when she felt a hand touching her shoulders. That person was her younger sister Cattleya. "I know you are worried about her, but have a little faith."
Elèanor let out a long sigh, as she watched her baby sister growing farther away from her. 'Has she really grown?'
Julio turned his attention to Siesta. "You alright?" He asked
Siesta shook her "No. I just wish I could do more to help. Even though Sora has been training me recently, I don't know if it's enough."
"Training?" He said.
"Yeah. Um, it's hard to explain. But on my father's side he is also a wielder of those keyblades."
"Really. Does this mean you're also a keyblade wielder?" He asked the black haired girl.
"Yes. Well sorta. I know how you use magic but I'm still learning how to properly use one. I can't even summon it like how Sora does."
"I see. So there are more like him." He said looking up towards the sky watching the stars.
"Huh?"
"Here. Let me tell you a secret." He leaned in and whispered into her ear.
(Dinner hall)
Menvil laid on the ground unconscious and Mr.Colbert also fell to the ground landing on his hands and knees. 'Alright… He's subdued…Not Agnès can-.'
He stopped when he heard the sound of metal piercing flesh as he looked up and saw Agnès running her sword clean into his body.
'She killed him…' He was horrified but remembered that she still had all this anger inside of her, and he was the cause of those feelings.
Agnès walked towards Mr.Colbert with her Valkyrie' Rage still in her hand she was in an emotional turmoil one part of her was filled with fury why the other half of her was shocked… This was what she had been waiting for, to confront the one that destroyed her entire village but at the same time this man was also the one that saved her when she was young. She didn't know what to think.
"Twenty years ago… you razed my village in a sea of flames… but at the same time you saved my life…Why?" She asked. She never understands why she was spared when everyone else died. "Why!?"
Still struggling with his burns. The fire mage tried to get up only to stand on one knee "I…realized my mistake."
Flashback- twenty years ago
A younger version of Jean Colbert was leading a group of men through the forest. After exiting the woods he and his men came across the village. He raised his wand and began changing a spell, blue flame flown from the tip as the village began to burn.
One of his members whispered in his ear.
"I was told that…an epidemic had broken out…I was following orders…but by the time I realized I was deceived…it was too late." The young Colbert ran into the village and saw the horrors that came out of this. That's when he heard the sound of crying and ran as fast as he could to see a girl crying in the ground.
The young Colbert carried the young Agnès to safety. Until a wooden beam fell from a house that was still on fire. He shielded the young blonde haired girl from harm only to end up hurting himself. But that did stop him trying to save this girl.
Flashback-end.
"After that…I left, and devoted my life as an educator and a man who was against war and violence…I also swore to never use my flames to cause harm again…I tried so hard to make amends…But no matter what… nothing could erase the memory of what I did…"
Agnès listened to his story. So what, did he save her just to wipe away a guilty conscience.
"When you mentioned you were from D'Angleterre…I thought there was another survivor…but to think…that little girl was you…What a twist of fate…"
Mr.Colbert said letting out a long and tired Sigh. "Listen to me, Agnès…You have every reason…to be angry at me…I was lied too…Yes…And yes, I was used… but the blood of the people from D'Angleterre…it's my responsibility… the sin is mine to bear and I'm sorry for what I did, and I deserve my punishment. But…Let me say this at least…If you decide to end my life…here and now…" the instructor groaned in pain "You'll end up like me…Just remember that."
"Begging for your life? Is that supposed to make me change my mind!?" She snapped.
"Even if all you have is hatred …one day you will regret it…" Mr.colbert dropped to the floor.
Agnès shook her fist and brought the sword upwards prepared to pierce him. Her, regret this!? She has lived only for this day. This very day these last twenty years. The chance to avenge her father, her mother, and her village she wouldn't regret killing him.
She brought her sword down ready to stab him. When the blade met with another piece of steel it was Sora's keyblade blocking her from her kill.
"Agnès, What are you doing!?"
Agnès growled at him at Sora keeping her at bay. Agnès stomped on his foot, causing Sora to wince as he was pushed to the side, he regained his balance as the two began dueling.
Both Kirche and Louise rushed over to Mr.Colebert. Sora stood his ground, preventing Agnès from attacking when her darkness began pouring out from every pore in her body.
"Mr.Colbert!" Louise cried for her teacher.
"Sir!" Kirche also cried.
Sora with his strength pushed Agnès back. "Get out of my way!" She said in full fury as she dashed towards the keyblade wielder as he blocked her oncoming attacks.
"Agnès just calm down! Why are you trying to hurt Mr.Colbert?" Sora asked as she was still in a fiery rage.
"Why…Because this is his fault! I lost everything because of him!" She yelled as Sora was confused.
"What are you saying?" He asked as the teacher Opened his eyes.
"Sora…Please move." Sora turned his head towards the teacher as he had a guilty expression on his face. "It was me…I'm the one that burned Agnès' village…" Sora, Louise, and Kirche gasped in shock, the person that they heard about from Agnès, the person who set her entire village on fire, who burned everything and everyone was really him?
"What…?" Sora breathed.
"For a long time… I used to believe following instructions…would guarantee peace someday… But I was wrong. It doesn't matter what side gives the order…death is death…Go ahead Agnès. But…please after this…let go…" He fell unconscious.
"Bastard! You don't have any right to tell me that!" She charged but Sora stood in front of her.
"Agnès, I can't let you do this." Sora said. That just sent her in rage as she gripped her weapon in her hand and continued to fight with Sora.
Kirche looked over at their teacher 'After hearing all that, she's not gonna stop until he's dead…' she thought. But what was she supposed to do.
"Agnès please, don't do this!" He begged as he blocked an overhead slash.
"Don't tell me what to do!" Sora pushed her aside as he stepped to the left and to the right holding his keyblade in both hands as he tried to strike at her ribs but in a cloud of smoke the black angelic wings appeared and shielded her from his attack. Sora was briefly surprised as the wings opened sending him flying.
Sora did a flip while still in the air, shortly landing on his feet. He and the girls watched as she sprouted wings and saw them disappear again. Sora grew concerned now he really had to try and stop her.
The keyblade wielder aimed the tip of his keyblade at her and shot three consecutive fireballs at her and once again called forth her wings to block them as they protected her she opened them to see Sora quickly closing the distance between them with Delf in his hands.
As the two crossed swords with each other Agnès brushed Sora to the side and unleashed a dark energy slash his way as he dodged out of the way. She once more teleported towards him ready to strike as the brown haired keyblade wielder blocked it with all his might. "Why are you not using that keyblade on me?! Do you think that I'm not a threat!" She said. Sora ran towards her as she was about to slice him but he sucked and quickly sheathed.
"Hey look up!" He said as she did she saw his keyblade up in the air.
'When did he…?' She thought as it disappeared from the air back into Sora's hand and performed a multitude of slashes on Agnès, before finishing with a jab, grabbing the kingdom key with both hands and launching her and himself upwards. She realized that he must've planned this earlier.
Sora landed on the ground, while Agnès fell with a thud.
"Dammit…" She groaned as she tried to get up but Sora stood in front of her pointing the keyblade at her. But…as he gazed at her his eyes were more concerned and weary instead of angry at her. He knows her story…so he couldn't help but feel for her, but this path she is on isn't going to fix anything.
"Agnès…Please stop this. I don't want to keep fighting you." Sora said.
"If you don't want to fight, then get out of my way!" She yelled.
"I can't do that either. Remember what I said to you when we were going to the archives." Sora recalled "Trust me when I say I really do understand what you are going through. But this isn't going to solve anything. It won't give you comfort and it won't bring anyone back."
Agnès growled at him "Shut up. What the heck do you know about how I feel? You think it's so easy to understand my pain?! I've been on my own since the beginning, what makes you think you know anything about it!" She yelled at him as she grabbed onto his collar "We were living in peace until that was taken from us. How could you understand what it feels like to lose so many ties to the people you love, tell me how could you understand what I'm going through or where I'm coming from!?"
She said in rage in furry and with a bit of sadness as Sora looked her in the eyes "I do understand where you're coming from…Because I lost my home too. And I lost my friends more times than I can count."
Her rage and hatefulness turned to a shock expression. "What…"
"One day without any warning. Something unexplainable showed up on my Islands and it was gone. And the next thing I knew, I woke up in a place that was completely unfamiliar to me and my friends and I were all separated. I was all alone until I met people who helped me understand the situation. It took a while but I learned who was responsible for not just my Island but other stuff that happened to other places."
"Someone was the cause of all this?" She said.
Sora nodded "Yes. And a year later I went on a journey to find my best friend. But one of my friends stayed behind and was kidnapped. I kept searching for him while feeling frustrated because of what happened to her. It hurt, but I kept my head and my friends told me not to give up. I stopped both of them for what they did and what they were going to do."
"You say I don't understand what it feels like or how much it hurts to have everything and everyone taken from you. Well I do. But here's where things are different. You've been alone. I had friends who were there for me, one misstep and I probably would have gone down the path you were on. And I'm your friend Agnès, that's why I'm asking you to let go."
She held onto his clothes tighter "First him, and now you! You think it is so easy to let go. For twenty years. TWENTY YEARS! I lived to see this day!"
"I know…Like I said before you don't really have to forgive Mr.Colbert, even if he did do it, it wasn't like he was aware at the time. If you want to take your anger out on someone then let it be me. But you need to let go of this rage inside of you." He said as he flashed her teeth. "Even if you do get the revenge you've been searching for it's not going to fill the hole in your heart, it'll just make it deeper and you would be crossing a line you can't come back from."
Their eyes met with each other. Sora's eyes were telling her not to go through with this. And he was right, her revenge won't help her come to terms with what happened. Mr.Colbert, was regretful for what happened but he wasn't the kinda person Agnès believed, yes he destroyed D'Angleterre but he still saved her. And tired to atone but that meant nothing to her as she pushed Sora away and march, she summoned her sword and held it directly over Mr.Colbert
"Move! Now!" Agnès yelled.
"Agnès, please!" Louise stood up pleading with her. She turned her head towards the teacher and gripped her sword tightly before looking at Louise.
Her hands started shaking 'Why am I hesitating!?' She waited to do this so why.
"Just stop." Sora said "Just let me heal him and you two can talk!?"
That was when Kirche spoke "Just stop…he's gone…" She said as all of them gasped. "He's gone Agnès…so just stop." She said.
"AAAHHHHHH!" Agnès couldn't believe it. She yelled at the top of her lungs and stabbed her sword into the ground. "Goddammit!" She cursed.
"Agnès." Sora softly spoke to her.
Meanwhile a dark corridor opened up from behind them and the ones that stepped forward were Xemnas, Ansem and Xigbar. "Such a disappointment."
"So it looks like she couldn't go through with it after all. Call it." Xigbar said.
Agnès rushed towards the three organization members prepared to attack but was blocked by an ethereal blade produced by Xemnas. "I see. Despite your newfound strength, you still hold on to that small glimmer of light, how unfortunate." He pushed her weapon away and with his other hand struck upward and sent her sliding across the floor.
"And to think you would have made a good addition to our group. Kind of a let down." Xigbar said.
"What." She said as Sora stood in between them giving the three of them a harden glare.
"Oh-ho I see the angry look is still in ya kid." Xigbar commented On Sora's glare.
"Shut up!" He said.
"Such hostility. That is not the proper way to behave as a guardian of light." Ansem said to Sora.
"Huh, well sorry. But I know how you guys are all using people to do what you want. I know you guys were also using Agnès too!"
"What?" She said
"Go ahead and admit. You guys were just taking advantage of Agnès and trying to turn her into one of you guys weren't you!?"
Ansem spoke "Clever boy. But it seems you have a misconception. We weren't taking advantage as you put it, we were only guiding her to a more proper path. This whole world is filled with weak and false light. Her abilities are all but wasted protecting fools like that of her queen and others. So we sought to show her the true nature of this world, to open her eyes and have her join a better cause."
"But. It seems that we were too naive to believe it. Despite awakening to the power's slumber, she still chose to hold on to that small glimmer of light. How unfortunate for us."
Agnès listened to their words and was shocked to believe that so, does that mean since the beginning, they were just manipulating her. From when she first met them to now.
Sora then spoke to them "Yeah maybe sometimes a person's heart is weak, and the darkness overshadows their light. But if they are nurtured properly that small light can become a beacon for others in need. That's something you guys never do. All you do is exploit the cracks in people's hearts and use them. I got news you're not doing that here!" He said pointing his keyblade at them.
"Very well then." Said Xemnas back to Sora before turning to Agnès. "As I said, we were foolish to believe that she could serve our cause. If you don't meet our expectations…then you are of no use to us." He waved his hand, sending a surge of energy.
One of his vines made contact with Menvil corpses and his entire body was engulfed in fire.
(Play unforgettable- BBS version)
From the flame a red skin demon arose and made contact with Sora and the others. It was about 12 feet tall with long curved horns on its head. Long pointed ears with two hoop earrings on the left ear. A long brown mane stretched down its back. It wore two golden armlets on its wrist and a black loincloth around its waist. This was the keeper of the pyre: Ifrit.
The Ifrit heartless charged towards Sora swinging its arms at him with fiery claws as he stepped to the sides but with its other hand about to make contact Sora summoned the kingdom key and blocked it and with a loud roar Ifrit created a sphere of fire blasting Sora out of the dining hall creating another hole in the building.
"Sora!" Louise and Kirche called out to him.
Agnès saw and was shocked "A small piece of advice for you." She turned to Xemnas "You have minimal control over the darkness inside of you. Without fully mastery…you will lose your heart and the end result will be the same for you." He said as all three of them disappeared via a dark corridor.
Agnès took the information she was given and it too much. This whole time she was being manipulated by those people in black. She couldn't believe that they were just using her revenge to their advantage. But what's the point, twice she was saved by Colbert but he is also the one the burned D'Angleterre but now that's gone what does she have left.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a pair of hands on her shoulders, she looked up as Louise had a pleading expression on her face.
"Agnès, snap out of it! You have to go and help Sora!" The void mage said.
"Why should I…I lost my reason to keep going." She turned to Mr.Colbert "So I don't have a reason to fight anymore."
"Idiot!" Louise yelled. "You think just because you lost your reason to go on in life means you can just give up?! What did Sora just say, you two aren't so different. Yes, you both once lost a lot but you gained something in return. You lost your village but you became a strong leader and a captain. And most of all you also gained friends to stand by your side. And right now, one of your friends needs your help."
Agnès groaned irritably as they heard an explosion outside "Agnès please. What happened to you was awful but, you were a child you couldn't do anything. Now things are different. Tell me. Are you going to protect what you have now, or are you okay with losing people that care about you!?"
Agnès gazed at Louise as her words stirred up something she didn't know what to say as more explosions could be heard outside.
Sora jumped out of the way as Ifrit came falling down from the sky, it's whole body engulfed in fire. Sora ran away from the campus leading the fire heartless way from the school. As Sora stopped a good distance from the school he didn't have to worry about Kirche, Louise and everyone else getting in the cross hairs of the fight.
Ifrit slammed it's hands in the ground as pillars of fire shot up from the dirt. Sora jumped to the side switching from the Kingdom key to the Crystal snow keyblade Sora began slashing at Ifrit. The young brown haired keyblade wielder who was on the defensive did an upper slash that caused the fire demon to be sent into the air.
Ifrit fell on its back but quickly got up. The pyre keeper summoned a barrage of fireballs that were sent flying towards Sora. He rolled out the way and slashed another one. Sora didn't stop their as he chased after it, transforming his keyblade into his blizzard claws and attacking with his hand.
Sora gave an uppercut but the heartless backed away and swatted Sora to the ground. He regained his balance and bounced back on his hands and dashed forward raising both claws over his head and doing a downward strike.
Ifrit roared in pain from the attack as Sora was swiping his arms left and right, he grabbed a hold of Ifrit and threw the demon to the ground and as he jumped into the air, Sora prepared for another strike. But as he was about to give the fire heartless one more attack. The beast body burst into blames, disappearing from his sight as Sora dug his right claw in the ground.
Sora was caught off guard by its sudden combustion. He thought where it could be hiding as flames shot up from underneath his feet he was sent into the air. But what surprised him was that he was grabbed by Ifrit and he began to squeeze him tightly. Sora yelled in pain as Ifrit's hold on him was getting stronger. He screamed louder but Ifrit felt a sharp pain in its side causing itself to let go of Sora and stagger backwards.
Sora fell face first on the grass and he began to pick himself up. He looked up to witness Agnès standing in front of him with Valkyrie's rage in her hand. "Agnès?" He said as he ran towards Ifrit. She prepared to attack with her sword stretched out, but Ifrit did the same thing she did to Sora earlier in the dining hall.
She tried to focus and summoned her wings but she was having a problem with trying to call them forth. The blonde haired knight was unsure what to do as Ifrit prepared another blast attack.
Meanwhile the royal guards from the palace came and apprehended the mercenaries that appeared; they all loaded on and rode off with them. Everyone began to wonder why this had to happen to them, but they were grateful to Mr.Colbert and the others for rescuing them. They would make sure to thank them all.
As they were talking to each other, Siesta's face was in a state of shock from what Julio had to say.
"Are you serious?" She asked as Julio nodded.
"That's right?"
"So does the whole church in Romalia know about this?"
Julio shook his head. "Not all of us. Just his lordship man myself. Everyone else has no idea."
"Oh wow…" Siesta wasn't sure what to think as Sora came to her mind. "But wait, shouldn't you be telling this to Sora? Why me?"
"I would rather not have him gain suspicions of me. I think I would rather be an ally than an enemy. Plus you seem trustworthy to tell."
"I guess that makes sense." She said as everyone heard the sound of an explosion from the other side of the campus
"What's going on now!"
"Oh Brimir. Help us." The female students began to panic as the teacher and staff were trying to calm them all down.
Julio and Siesta rushed back to the school to see what that was. Elèanor and Cattleya also decided to head in to make sure Louise was alright. Tabitha watched the four of them going back into the building.
"Careful."
Back to the fight Sora casted his barrier spell and shield him and Agnès from the blast. "Agnès, what are you doing here?" the keyblade wielder said.
She grunted thinking back to what Louise said to her "Are you going to protect what you have now, or are you okay with losing people that care about you!?"
Something about that seemed to get to her as she looked up at Sora and said this to him "Miss Vallière told me to come and help you. After today, saying I'm mad is taking it lightly. And I need something to vent this frustration on." She replied
Sora guess after finding out so much information in one day who could blame her.
"Alright. I appreciate the help. Just be careful." Sora said as he dropped the barrier and transformed his blizzard claws into his blizzard blades. Agnès ran towards the heartless as Sora skated his way towards it.
The female swordsman started with an upwards vertical slash filling as a second one going up its chest. Sora then followed up using the ice blades on his arms to a downward slash and doing a spinning kick with his ice skates.
Together they were covering each other well and given that they had been training together for some time they know how the other one moves. Sora jumped into the air and Agnès followed up Ifrit howere launch more fireballs at them while they were still in mid air.
"Here they come!" Agnès said.
"I got it!" Sora began slashing all the firstballs that were coming towards them. As they fell back towards the ground Agnès noticed one more ball of fire coming at them. She tried to focus and concentrate. She may have done it involuntarily but now would be the best moment to try on command.
As it flew closer Sora was about to step in but Agnès told him too stay back. Time felt like it began to slow down as she took a breath and brought her left hand down and one of the wings manifested blocking Ifrit's fireball. But she did not stop she perform two left and right slashed sending dark energy attacks towards the pyre keeper, following with a horizontal slash and finishing with a vertical slash.
Each attack struck quickly lands on the demon Sora skated in close and began his own attacks on Ifrit slamming his ice skates into the ground creating a snowflake underneath his feet and an ice crystal above Ifrit. Sora jumped in the air and slashed the top of the crystal as the whole thing fell onto the fire heartless.
Ifrit fell to the ground from the relentless attack from the both of them. Sora returned to Agnès as his transformation wore off.
"Did we get it?" She said to Sora.
"I don't think so, stay on your toes!" He said to her, as the heartless got back on its feet as it was starting to get worn out. But the monster still had some more fight left. The fire heartless stretched its arms outward and created two lances of fire that were thrown at the two.
Sora and Agnès backed away from the attack and it sent two more behind them and another at the sides. It was almost like it was trying to trap them. Ifrit crossed it's arms as the lances of fire glowed from red to orange, a circle formed underneath the flaming lances creating a ring of fire that grew into a tornado of fire.
Ifrit flew to the top of the vortex and engulfed it's entire body in flame as it began falling down like a meteor. The second it made contact with the ground. The flaming tornado turned to a huge fire pillar that could be seen from the other side of the school where the students became even more afraid.
Tabitha worried about where that was coming from so she called out to Sylphid to investigate.
The fire pillar disappeared and Ifrit looked in the direction of the two sword wielders but they were nowhere to be seen.
Sylphid flew above the heartless while keeping out of its sight. Tabitha watched from uptop her familiar and narrowed her eyes. That was when Ifrit sensed something as it looked up and didn't see Tabitha, it saw Sora and Agnès falling down from the sky, Sora doing a spinning slash and Agnès doing a downward slash.
Ifrit cried out in pain as the two of them backed away. Standing side by side rushing in towards the fire heartless.
"Come on!" Sora said
"Let's finish this!" Agnès said.
The dash to it and in a single flash the ected a X in the center of Ifrit one of light and one of darkness "...Cross-Slash!" They said in tandem performing a limit attack as the X exploded causing great pain to Ifrit.
(Stop playing unforgettable- BBS version)
Sora and Agnès took a couple of deep breaths and turned their backs on the heartless as it slowed and took a few steps forward before stopping. Its body began to dry and turn to dust as it gave one last roar. It ceased as its body crumbled into ash.
Both of them loosen their hands and unsummon their weapons as they both fell to the ground.
"Ah!" Sora felt a sting as did Agnès.
"You alright?" She asked.
"I'm fine." He said as he noticed a burn on his right arm must've happened when they were trying to escape from the heartless. He casted his cure spell and healed his arm. The burn was gone. Just as they were about to get up the blue haired girl and her familiar descended from the sky making them jump.
But when they saw that it was just her they calmed down.
"What happened?" Tabitha asked.
"A lot, I'll talk about it later." Sora said "But what about you, should you be standing?"
She was a bit surprised to hear that. He and Agnès were likely fighting that monster the rest of the night. And he was worried about her. "Why worry about me? Should you look after yourself?"
"Yeah, but you were unconscious earlier. Of course I'm gonna worry about you."
"... Weird." She said, causing him to let out a small laugh.
Agnès stood up "Can you give us a ride back to the academy, I need to explain all this to the principal and the others." Tabitha agreed to her request as all three jumped on the dragon and flew back to the academy. Sora asked if they could be dropped off at the dining hall
Back in the dining hall. Louise and Kirche looked after Mr.Colbert's motionless body as they heard a voice calling out to Louise. She turned around and saw her sisters with Julio and Siesta as well.
Cattleya and the others ran towards them. Louise saw her sisters coming as Elèanor began asking what was going on in here, her question then stopped as she saw Louise crying and falling into Cattleya's. She wondered why she was crying as Cattleya gave a slight gasp.
The middle looked forward as did everyone wall and they were shocked to see Mr.Colbert, whose head was in Kirche's lap but was unresponsive.
They called out his name but no reply. Julio said to Siesta to try and heal him. But as his body was covered in a green light his injuries were gone but he was still not moving.
Julio kneeled down and pressed his fingers on his neck. He let out a breath of air and was flabbergasted. "He…dead."
Those two words were enough to make everyone freeze up. Sylphid descended as all Sora and Agnès got off. Tabitha followed as she nearly lost her balance just not before Sora grabbed her by the hips. "You okay?" He asked
"Yes." She said as he setted her up right and let go of her. Sora and Agnès made their way to the dining hall to check in on the girls as Tabitha looked up at the sky. Or more directly at one of the twin moons 'His eyes…like the moon." She thought of when he was holding her she got a closer look at his eyes. And how they reminded her of the blue moon next to the pink one.
She resumed her focus as she follows the two of them inside. Upon arrival she saw her teacher lying dead on the floor Sora and Agnès standing side by side as Julio asked them what happened.
(Next morning)
After the events from last night Agnès began to explain that Mr.Colbert took the power of an attack that was meant for her, he died saving her.
Everyone couldn't believe that their teacher and fellow faculty members died saving her. No, not just Agnès but everyone here he helped save everyone. The entire school body began to mourn the death of their teacher and colleague.
(Louise room)
Louise and Sora were just sitting on their own beds neither one of them said a single word to each other and both weren't even making eye contact. What happened was too much. For Louise if she started behind and helped when they were fighting Menvil she probably could have saved him. She was a void mage. Possessor of one of the most powerful forms of magic and she was powerless to do anything.
Sora was just as equally guilty in this. He chose to let Mr.Colbert deal with Menvil alone and this was the end result. In was close to crying as he remembered how many times he couldn't save the people around him. Riku, Donald, Goofy, Venus, Aqua, Axel, the king from the keyblade graveyard. Kairi when she was struck down by Xehanort. Wales when he was attacked by Wardes. And now this…what is going on? Why couldn't he protect or help the people close to him when it mattered the most.
Their thinking was interrupted when they heard knocking at the door.
"Come in." Louise said as Agnès and Kirche.
"Hey guys." Sora greeted "How have you been?"
"We are alright. Everyone else seems to be doing fine as well." Agnès said.
"Oh hey. Good news darling. When we took Tabitha to the infirmary, they said that he was okay, and the fall wasn't anything serious." Kirche relayed the good news.
"Ok…" That was all he said as Agnès handed him an envelope. "What's this?"
"While we were cleaning out Mr.Colbert's office we found this and it was addressed to you." Sora took the envelope "Now then I have to go. Can I still expect to see you both in Albion?" She asked.
Louise gave a nod. Agnès took that was her saying yes and was about to leave. But before she could exit the room Sora called out her name.
"Agnès wait." She stopped from leaving but kept her back from turning "About Mr.Colbert…do you still hate him…" He said as he waited for a reply.
"He destroyed my home and killed everyone in it….but…he's also the person that saved me not once, but twice. How would I know?" She said as she closed the door behind her leaving all three of them alone.
"Agnès…"
Delf decided to join the conversation [Let her be, partner. To learn that the person you hate is also the one who saved you isn't exactly a sweet pill to swallow. Best to let her sort this out.]
"You think so?"
[Yeah. She'll come around, just give her space.]
Sora decided to take the sword's advice. And hope that things work out for her.
[Oh, you gonna read that letter?] Oh yes. The letter.
Sora open the envelope and began reading.
"Dear Sora,
If you are reading this then it means that I am no longer here. There is something I want to tell you, twenty years ago I committed a sin. And for all those years I had done my best to try and atone for my sins. But I realized that there are some sins that you can not atone for. Even if I could try that darkness will forever chase after me, that's why I don't want any of my students to be damned like I am. I heard that you and Miss Vallière are going to Albion and partake in the war. You should know I tried to talk some sense into her but her refusal to back down was something else. I remember how much she loathed the name zero. But now she wants to have confidence in that name, it's probably thanks to your involvement with her that caused her to change much in a short time. You possess a power greater than what you have, a strength that gets through the thickest bubble. That is why I'm asking you, both of you to come back alive. One that note Sora, there is one last thing I want to ask you about. I know it might be too much to ask for, but would it be alright if you could talk with me on your expeditions someday? Ever since the day you told me that you are from another world I couldn't help but be curious, how do other civilizations function if no nobles wield magic. What kind of technologies exist, these things keep me up at night as my mind races all the time. So please, when you find a way back to your own world, all I ask is that you take me with you on your many adventures.
Sincerely, Colbert
The letter stopped there as the pink and red haired mages were staring off into space.
"So, he wanted to go to other worlds with you huh?"
"What a strange man he was?"
Sora looked at the letter as tears started falling from his face. The girls looked shocked since this is the first time they ever saw him shed tears.
"We were just talking about…last night." He said as his voice began to crack "I Promise him that I would take him to see worlds someday…I promise…I." Sora fell to the ground, his hand holding himself up as he continued crying. "Why does this keep happening to me…My friends, Kairi, Wales, now this…why do I keep failing the people around me when it's important…Darn it! I'm I really this weak!?"
He began to feel frustrated for his inability to save those around him. His tears continued to hit the floor as he felt a hand gently cupping his cheek. He slowly raised his head and looked at Kirche who was holding his face.
"You're not weak Sora, what happened wasn't your fault." She said.
"But…"
"Listen, what happened to Mr.Colbert had nothing to do with you. Fate is the one that deals the cards and we're forced to play them. You might not have been able to help him but you helped us so many times."
Louise kneeled down placing her head on his back. "She's right. I can't count the number of times you saved us on one hand, you have been there for us when we need you so don't take this personally. I am your master as well, so I know how you feel."
"Louise…Kirche…" He said as Kirche placed his head into her bosom. He rested in her chest as the tears rolled down his face.
Right…he may not be able to protect everyone…but he can protect the ones he can still treasure.
End.