Chapter 60

What lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

(Poem "May You Always Have an Angel by your side" belongs to Emilia Larson)

After the sudden attack last night, Sagramore decided to quicken their plan to attack Geffen. The next morning, Alphard alongside with the two generals, led the Sagramore soldiers into the battlefield in the Glast Heim against Elysion Guild. Apparently, since Ifrit reveals that Valdomir knew about them and their strongholds, it would be an absurd if Sagramore don't 'answer' the challenge by unleashing their full power as well. They still got 57,000 soldiers; it makes sense if Valdomir would unleash one or two of their guilds to attack back. The bigger the numbers, the bigger the chance of winning the upcoming battle, especially since they know that Elysion Guild's soldiers mostly consist of High Wizards, who held the most destructive powers among other jobs.

But, Sagramore have another objective, the Prophecy of Eisenheim. That's why, Fiorentin, alongside Elraven, Felicia, and Frea, goes off to Geffen. If they obtained teh Prophecy quicker than Sagramore arriving on Glast Heim, they would be able to assist Sagramore soldiers in Glast Heim. Well, that's pretty much the plan.

Eighteen hours after Sagramore marching to Geffen, inside one of the carriages…

Sagramore move in thousand of carriages, carrying thousands of their soldiers, quickly marching to Glast Heim to take the preemptive attack before Elysion do it first. Inside one of the carriages, George, Olivia, Clyde, Sasha, Kirigi, and Wendy are enjoying their time, before the ensuing battle comes up.

Kirigi, having another bet with Wendy, are settling their bouts. "I bet 100,000 zenny I will slay more enemies than you" The ninja said confidently. "No", answered the stalker, "I bet 100,000 zenny I will slay more enemies than you!!".

On the other side of the carriage, Sasha is trying to get some explanation from Clyde. After Elraven defeated RSX-0806 two days ago, they found Clyde, heavily wounded, crawling in the festival ground. Olivia's quick healing saved his life, but when Elraven and the others asked him what happened, he didn't want to tell.

"Clyde, just tell me what happened, OK? I swear I will tell nobody!! So, please!! You've been so quiet and I'm worried about you!" Sasha is trying to persuade his brother to no avail. The female gunslinger gives up and sits beside her brother with a frustrated expression, not knowing what else to do or say. On the other hand, Clyde is having a deep though about what happened two days ago. It was the very first time someone could defeat him so easily. Clyde wants to be like Elraven, but upon having his first painful defeat, he realizes there's still long way to go before he makes his dream come true. That's why he doesn't want to tell what happened, he does not want his own weakness to hinder him or his comrades.

A not so different story with George. "And then the towering light appears, and Elraven magnificently swiped the enemies with his HAVOX !!! Oh my god, I still could not believe how easy he did that if I didn't see it with my own eyes!! He is sooo cool!!!" Olivia is seen retelling the stories of Elraven in front of George, something George does not really need right now. "If you want to have a godlike power, just release me" Fenrir's words keep echoing on his brain. He wants the power to become godlike, but he doesn't want to lose himself. The offer is too big to be declined; making George doesn't know what he should do. Especially after seeing Elraven two days ago. "He is already strong without his newly acquired light power, now, defeating Valdmoir seems easier for him to do", George slowly recalls Elraven swiping RSX-0806 and his goons effortlessly, something that make him feel that his already wide gap with Elraven, just become wider, and that hurts him…a lot.

"Hey, George?!! Are you listening?" Olivia sighs seeing her childhood friend sat silently. George does not give any reply as Olivia sits beside him, and start sharing her mind, "He is so great, huh? So strong and reliable. Everytime his adversaries knocked him down, no matter how strong they are, he will eventually get up and fight back till the last shred of his blood. Just by having he on your side makes you feel secure and safe. So close, but yet so far. But honestly……sometimes, I envy him". Olivia's words start capturing his attention as she continues, "We just knew him a month ago and he already proved his worthiness. I've been with Fio like…forever!! But, I am yet to prove my worthiness. I think, one way or another, I can understand your…envy to him". Olivia's statement made George stared her at her eyes directly, surprising to know that his childhood friend knew what's hidden on his heart.

"The feeling of being worthy and needed, do you think we would be able to feel being worthy and needed someday, George?" Olivia, still staring George with her gentle eyes, asks her childhood friend slowly. George, hoping for the same feeling, nods. The two fell into deep silent afterwards.

Every human needs to be needed. That is an undeniable feeling.

And with that, the carriage brings them closer to Glast Heim.

Two days after the marching of Sagramore to Glast Heim, in the forest between Prontera and Geffen...

Fiorentin, Felicia, Elraven, and Frea are marching towards Geffen in secret. Their priority is to obtain The Prophecy of Eisenheim, although that also means they would have to be very careful if they want to come straightly on Elysion's guild headquarters. Moving in a small scale of a group is Fiorentin's decision, since she felt the other three people she brought with her are strong enough to fight the higher ranks warrior of Elysion.

Elraven, having his first experience sighting the field of Prontera, is seen captivated alongside the journey. "Wow, I've heard that the fields surrounding Prontera is beautiful, but this far surpassed my expectation. The grasses are still so green, the air feels nice, and the sun is so warm. Although it looks like a usual meadow field, it feels a lot…different, it feels touchier. Payon was beautiful, but this one takes the cake hands down" The purple glassed gunslinger states his mind much to the agreement of a certain Prontera native. Fiorentin, being the mentioned Prontera native, responds cheerfully, "Well of course. Prontera was the capital city of Rune Midgard, not only the town itself, but the fields and the forest surrounding it was given a good care. The air is still nice after all those years, and just like you said, the sun is so warm. Perhaps god blesses this place with prosperity and beauty, this place never really changes".

"Too bad I can't see it" Frea states her sadness as Elraven pat her back, trying to tell her not to be sad. Felicia, riding her Salvador, watches the other three quietly. Although some minds cross her brain, "Wow, it's unusual for Fio to be so nice to Elraven. A sign of respect, perhaps? Or could it be that…what Frea asked was true?....Who knows? Well, ever since two days ago, everyone seems to like Elraven even more. Somehow, he coming back as The Angel and defeating RSX-0806 and his goons gives us more confidence to march into the upcoming battle. He came just in time, when we need some moral support after our epic fail against Ifrit. Although Fio seems happy about this, I don't know why George doesn't. Don't tell me it's still the matter of envies?....Well, I don't know that much but I hope this doesn't lead us to a bigger problem than we already have. It's rare to see Fio so cheerful like that; it would be good if…this atmosphere could be maintained longer". Felicia finishes her 'reasoning' with a little smile on her lips.

"Oh, by the way" Elraven continues, "I hope the others are doing just fine, Valdomir's progress nowadays really worries me". Felicia took a quick reaction and ensured the gunslinger, "Don't worry about that, Elraven. Sagramore are stronger than you think". Although Felicia answers it so the 'atmosphere' they currently in didn't not get ruined, her words are more than enough to ensure Elraven the safety of his comrades.

"Felicia's right. Don't worry about them, they are stronger than you whether you realize it or not" Fiorentin agrees with Felicia, only to be responded by a chuckle from Elraven, "Hehehehehehe!! Fifty seven thousand soldiers on the line, not to mention sixty thousand you still got in Gonryun against one, of course I would be overpowered, Alexandria".

Listening the two enjoying their chat, Frea starts thinking, "Wow, the princess is so friendly with Elraven today, what's gotten into her mind? Hehehehehehe. I wonder if what I guessed two days ago was right, that she is having a crush on Elraven? Wow, let's pretend that I was right, what if she confesses? How will Elraven answer? Will Elraven accept her feelings and dumb me? …I hope that does not happen. I hate to admit this, but in this case, physique talks. Elraven is 20, Fiorentin is 15, and I are 35. The princess is twenty years younger than me, so it's only normal if Elraven picks a fresher one instead the older package. I still have a lot confidence with my physical appearances, but age can't lie. So, at the very least, I have an obvious advantage on the maturity parts. Something that a beginner like the princess does not posses". Frea, smiling by herself, settles her thoughts. Unbeknownst to her, Felicia is looking at her in a weird expression, "She is smiling by herself? Frea could be weird sometimes…".

"Oh, by the way. Are we going to camp inside the woods again today? I honestly want to feel the grass more" Elraven asked the former princess about their plan on making tens tonight. They've been camping inside the woods for two nights straight, so Elraven wants a different atmosphere. "Unfortunately for you, yes", Fiorentin calmly answers, "We cannot afford being seen by Valdomir. Woods are more secure than grass field". Having learned the inconvenient truth, Elraven responded with a weak smile as Fiorentin quietly stares on him, "He's sad? Oh, sorry El. It's not that I don't want to grant you your wish, but due to the circumstance we're currently in…oh, I feel bad for him. I wonder if I could…… hey, wait a second!!! Not that thoughts again!!! Since when I became so sentimental about him?!! Could it be that what my inner feelings and what Frea said were right? That I…secretly love him? Noooooooooo!!! I'm not in love with him!!! This is just…caring!! Yeah, right…caring!! I care for him because he is my comrade, that's all!!! Not More than that!!! Not even a bit more!!! Get a hold of yourself, Fiorentin Adler!!! Other than being an extremely powerful ally, there's nothing good about him!! He's the most insensitive prick alive for god sake!!! And not to mention he already got Frea!! …But…somehow it makes me feel…uncomfortable…", Fiorentin finishes with a sad face.

A sudden sad expression from Fiorentin makes Felicia wonders, "Frea is smiling all by herself, Fio suddenly looks sad, and Elraven..." Felicia watches Elraven still enjoying the sight of the field of Prontera without even noticing the two ladies behind him are acting weird, making Felicia drops her sweat, "The most insensitive prick alive doesn't seem to notice (although that because he's living up to his nickname of course…), what's with people today?!!". Although many unnoticed problem occur, the group still continue their journey quietly.

When the night comes, the group prepared two tents inside the woods to rest for the night…

Elraven is an inspiring chef. He is the best cook in the Military of Einbroch. And when he came to Midgard, he managed to live up to his nickname by serving Sagramore and Palamedes the Bigfoot steak (which is also the main cause of the extinction of Bigfoots). Having arrived in the fields of Prontera, he needs to find another food to serve. The girls are taking baths, so he has all the time he needs to find something to be cooked.

"Do I need to cook Rocker? Or Poring? I don't want to eat Savage cause of the swine flu, well, it's not like I want to eat pigs anyway, so…" Elraven could be seen wondering around the forest while carrying his Inferno. He is looking for a new 'recipe' for tonight's dinner. "Hey, wait a second, come to think of it; we have wolves here, right?? I can make a wolf steak!!!" Elraven gets an idea and cheerfully hunts the wolves (poor wolves).

That night, Elraven serves the girls and himself the wolf steak for dinner. They surround a bonfire when dining, making the atmosphere more calm. "Wow, the wolf steak is delicious!! Just like you did with Bigfoot!!" Felicia praises the taste of the newly invented food by Elraven follows by Frea, "Sometimes I wonder if you put a secret ingredient whenever you cook something. Your foods are always great, although the main ingredient is weird, like Bigfoot, or this wolf".

"Oh, I can make many foods become delicious", Elraven ensures the girls, "But, I cannot tell you about the secret ingredient, if I tell you that will not be a secret anymore", the gunslinger continues much to the dismay of the soul linker and the paladin. Only Fiorentin eats quietly without giving any praise or any comment, mostly because some thoughts on her mind.

"Hey, Elraven, tell us again about your newly acquired light power. I wasn't really listening when you told us two days ago" Felicia continues the conversation that night by asking the purple glassed gunslinger his changeling power. Elraven repositions his purple glasses and start (re)telling the story, "Well, it was more than a week ago when I was upgrading the HAVOX. When I touch a certain parts of the tools, they became lights. I realized perhaps this is my changeling powers, the power to create lights. Of course I wanted to optimally use it, so I trained how to use my power properly before I finish the HAVOX, and I found three uses of it. First, I can create a normal light, by either touching both my palms or touching a solid material. Second, I can absorb energies using my light, just like I did with RSX-0806 and his stupid robots. Third, by creating a pair of wings on my back, I can greatly enhance my physical ability. So far, this is the uses I found, who knows if I can strengthen this light making ability more?". The gunslinger finishes his story as the night grows darker and darker.

That night, just like the other two nights they spend before tonight, Elraven shares his tent with Frea as Fiorentin shares hers with Felicia. But of course Elraven and Frea didn't do their 'ritual', it won't be proper to disturb your neighbor all night long, right?

As the moon start shining the dark forest, Elraven realize he can't sleep whatever the reason might be. The gunslinger looks at his sleeping lover, not wanting to disturb her rest. "I better get going outside, I don't want to disturb Frea" The gunslinger rises and walks outside, trying to find a place to spend his time. Elraven walks deeper and deeper inside the forest with no direction at all. But as if destiny guides him, he finally arrives in a little cave. A cave is supposed to be dark, but this cave is bright from the inside, making the gunslinger curious and walks in.

"This cave is so bright. I wonder what makes it so." Elraven walks deeper inside the cave as the brightness captivates him. He finally arrives in the corner of the cave, a place where thousand of fireflies are floating around. The top of the cave was not covered by anything, so it makes the light of the moon directly shined the inside of the cave, naturally explains why the cave is so bright.

Seeing the magic of the nature, the gunslinger, with widened eyes, could not contain his awe any longer and expresses it, "Wow, this place is so beautiful. It's a magic that this place didn't get destroyed when Valdomir attacks Prontera".

"That's because god blesses this land. I told you that this afternoon, right?" A soft voice from his corner surprised the gunslinger, which quickly turns his attention to find Fiorentin is standing not far from him. A little smile could be seen on her lips. "Alexandria? What are you doing here? I thought you were...asleep?" Elraven slowly asks the lord knight. "I can ask you the same question, Elraven. But let's say, both of us have a hard time sleeping, am I right?" The lord knight calmly answers as she approaches the gunslinger.

"Let's have a moon bath" The former princess said something awkward on the gunslinger's ears. "Moon bath? What are you talking about?" An obvious respond for such an awkward request. Fiorentin points out a certain spot, where the shining light of the moon gather, using her index finger, "You see that spot? The light of the moon gather there, right? Let's sit there and…have a chat". Elraven nods and follows Fiorentin. The two sit next to each other in the mentioned spot, when slowly the fireflies surround them.

"Wow, the fireflies are dancing around us. How cute" Fiorentin expresses her thought as Elraven takes a good look on her, rather than the 'dancing' fireflies. "Wow, I've never seen Alexandria so cheerful like this before. What's gotten into her I wonder? But…" Elraven notices that Fiorentin is smiling, but somehow, her smile looks sad and her eyes look lonely, "That lonely eyes and sad smile of hers, is it pains her to come here? From the map, I know to come to Geffen from Payon you need to walk across Prontera. It must have been hard for her to come to the place that gave her so many losses and changed her life forever".

"This place" Fiorentin suddenly speaks, making Elraven snaps out of his wondering mind and pays attention to the lord knight's saying, "I knew it from my late my mother". "So, that's the reason of her sad smile" Elraven said to himself as Fiorentin continues, "She brought me here when my father was visiting The Republic of Schwaltzvalt around seven years ago and showed me the fireflies here. She also told me that she found this place when she was a teenager. One day, when she was picking woods, she got lost and found this cave. She spent a night here, in this shining place. That was also the day when she first met my father. Looks like my father got lost too when he was trying to have fun outside the castle. He met my other when my mother was sitting alone in this spot. That's how they got to know each other".

"Ah, so this place holds a memory not only for her, but also her parents" Elraven said to himself again as Fiorentin continues, "I think that's what you call love in the first sight. From that day, they occasionally met here several times during nights, making this place a special place for both of them. My father was a prince when she first met my mother, so he could not wander outside the castle so often. But a loyal servant of his, named Waldo, kindly helped him to come here at nights to secretly meet my mother. It's funny how their love was created in such a beautiful place but not with an easy effort".

Finish sharing her story, Fiorentin opened her left palm as a firefly landed on it, resting his wings as his light slowly vanishes as a sign of his death. "Firefly is such a wonderful creature. Don't you think so, Elraven?" Fiorentin slowly asks the gunslinger who replies with nodding. "They live just for a short amount of time, but they lighted this world, making it brighter and brighter as they ended their lives" The lord knight continues while putting the firefly on the ground.

Elraven doesn't know what to say, he's not used to this kind of moment. "Do you think I could become like a firefly, Elraven?" The former princess stared directly at Elraven's eyes, asking such a question. "Do you think it's possible for me to…light this world during my lifetime? Perhaps by living up to my name? Alexandria, Queen of The Thousand Knights? Until know, I feel that…I haven't lived up to that name yet. People regard me as strong, but after meeting Sir Alphard, you, Frea, and Ifrit, I realize I'm weak. I'm small. And perhaps I'm afraid as well. I want to protect my loved ones, my people, but at the same time, I want to be protected. I want to pretend as if…Rune Midgard is not on war, Runa Midgard is at peace and its people are living happily. I know, as a leader and the only heir of the throne from Prontera Kingdom, being like this certainly wouldn't help me in winning this war, in helping my people, or living up to my given name, Alexandria. But still…I could not help it" Fiorentin finishes by lowering her tone, secretly trying to recall what just happened two days ago as Elraven thinks about how he will answer her question.

"His grand entrance…I could recall it as if it is happening now. He came from the sky, clad in a dark uniform with a pair of white wings on his back. For a second, I thought he was really an angel. Glimmers of lights surrounding him, feathers were falling from his wings…so gorgeous, so beautiful. He captivated my eyes, he still is. Come to think of it, with the darker uniform and white wings, he really portrays or should I say, lived, up to his nickname as The Angel of Darkness. He…is sitting next to me, but somehow I feel he is in a faraway place. He is in a different world from me, a different dimension. Is that because he is a great warrior? If I have a power like him, would I still feel small? Would I still feel weak? Would I still feel afraid? I don't know. I don't know about it, not even a bit, but I… I…want to...feel him. I don't know why but…I want to feel his love" Right afterFiorentin settles with her thoughts, Elraven answers her previous question with a smile, "What are you talking about, Alexandria? Didn't you already light this world a bit?".

Fiorentin, although manage to snap out of her mind and listen to him, doesn't seem to get the point, "I…I don't get it. What do you mean?". Elraven sighs before answering, "You led Sagramore against Valdomir Kingdom, right? Whether you realize it or not, your efforts have given the people of Midgard many hopes. A hope that they could live a peaceful life again, a hope that they could live a happy life again, and many other unspoken hopes. Did you see the people of Payon faces' during the festival? Their happy faces were just a small result of your light, which you bring by fighting alongside you comrades. You gave this world a glimmer of hopes, Alexandria. That was just a small light, but still considered as light, right? It's only normal to feel afraid, small, and weak, that's why we're humans. Because we feel, whatever the feeling might be. Just remember that you're not alone like I already told you and those feelings will be swayed away. And before you know it, you will already live up to your name. I'm sure of it". Elraven ended his answer with a big smile on his face, making the lord knight giggles.

"And I suppose to hear that from the most insensitive being on Midgard? Hehe, thanks" Fiorentin replies much to the dismay of Elraven, "Was that supposed to be a compliment or mockery?".

"Depends on how you see it" The lord knight confidently answers, just as usual with her confident smile. Although the smile does not look sad anymore, but still, as he stared into her, Elraven could still feel loneliness on her eyes. "What creates that loneliness, Alexandria? So many people surround you, so many people support you, so many people love you, but it seems that you can't get those lonely eyes from your head. What makes you feel lonely, Alexandria? Guilt? Desire? At times like this, I really hope I wasn't born with this insensitive feeling so I could enlighten you" Elraven spoke to himself seeing the lonely eyes.

Realizing the stare, Fiorentin demands an explanation, "Why are you staring at me like that? Something weird on my face?". Elraven slowly shakes his head, "No. Sorry, I was just…sorry".

But Fiorentin is a sensitive person unlike Elraven; she knows something is not right. "Oh, don't hide it, Elraven. You're not good at lying; you know that already, right?" The lord knight moves her face closer to Elraven, who wants to deny her reasoning again. Elraven suddenly turns his face towards Fiorentin, as both of them realize, just how close their faces are. Just an inch and their lips would have met, making them unable to move or react any further. The two stare at each other with red faces and widened eyes for a moment when a firefly flies across both f them, making them snap out of their minds and pull their faces off the 'kissing' line.

"My god, that was close. I could not imagine how angry she would be if my face was an inch closer. And perhaps Frea would also kill me." Elraven seemed grateful their lips didn't meet.

But another story for Fiorentin, "Good god almighty, that was really, really closes. Somehow I feel fortunate but something inside me feels unfortunate. Perhaps I wouldn't really mind if our lips really met…".

The awkward atmosphere continues as the two fell silent, not knowing what to say. They were even too shy to look at each other. But, Elraven takes it upon himself to break the silence, "Say, Alexandria. Do you remember I promised you to recite a poem if you wish to recite me one too in return?". Fiorentin slowly looks at Elraven and nods.

"Alright, let me recite you a poem here, then" Elraven speaks, attempting to kill two birds using one stone. Fiorentin moves closer to him and sit quietly, waiting for him to make his move. "Listen well, and listen carefully, Alexandria. This one is really special" Elraven said as he takes a deep breath.

For a moment, silence, again, fell in the moon bath spot. But only until Elraven recites his poem.

May you always have an angel by your side
Watching out for you in all the things you do
Reminding you to keep believing in brighter days
Finding ways for your wishes and dreams
to take you to beautiful places.

When she heard the first lines of Elraven's poem, Fiorentin felt a heavenly sensation inside her soul as Elraven's words seemed to dance in her heart. His voice and the words captured her conscience perfectly. Elraven always uses a deep voice whenever he recites a poem. His deep voice makes the poem sounds even more….heavenly. More charming, more capturing than it already has.


Giving you hope that is as certain as the sun
Giving you the strength of serenity as your guide
May you always have love and comfort and courage
And may you always have an angel by your side.

Elraven continue reciting, when Fiorentin closed her eyes and tried to 'absorb' every words the gunslinger recited, making it part of her. Something inside her tells her, that this poem is not only a poem, but also a prayer for her. It's as if, the insensitive Elraven somehow knew her wishes, her feelings, and her heart. And he is trying to enlighten her burdens using his poem. Without being noticed, the fireflies surrounding them start dancing as if they enjoy the poem too.


May you always have an angel by your side
someone there to catch you if you fall
Encouraging your dreams
inspiring your happiness
Holding your hand and helping you through it all.

An angel who would be there for her. To Fiorentin, his words sound like a promise, an oath. Something that he would live his life to fulfill it. And of course, something she would treasure for her life. Something she would never forget and never let go.

In all of our days, our lives are always changing
Tears come along as well as smiles
Along the roads you travel,
May the miles be a thousand times
More lovely than lonely
May they give you the kind of Christmas gifts

Those never, ever end.

Mesmerizing. Perhaps no other words in the whole world would define Elraven's poem other than that one. In an unspoken manner, the former princess could feel his tenderness, his kindness. His words slowly touch her heart, and making it lighter, making it brighter. Above all others, making her happier, deep within herself.

Someone wonderful to love
A dear friend in whom you can confide
May you have rainbows after every storm
May you have hopes to keep you warm
And may you always have an angel by your side.

Elraven finishes as Fiorentin still sat quietly with her eyes closing. Her heart began to beat wildly yet she felt as if she were in a peaceful dream. It was then that most wonderful sensation filled her insomuch that it seemed nothing else seemed to matter except for one thing. Even then; a certain feeling kept her from feeling what she wanted the most. Elraven watches her defiantly, "How was it, Alexandria? Do you like it?".

"Huh?!" Fiorentin snapped out of her wondering mind. "Was the girl dreaming when the boy asked her whether she likes the poem or not?" Elraven, teases her in the girl-boy style conversation, asked the former princess once more time.

"Well, uh….um, yeah. Yes, the girl likes…I mean I like it. Thank you, it was a beautiful poem. The best poem I've ever heard" Fiorentin said with a red face.

"Of course it was. Whenever you make a poem from the bottom your heart and you recite it with your honest, deepest feeling, your poem will be the beautiful one" Elraven states with a big smile on his face as the lord knight keep watching quietly at him.

"Deepest feeling? You made that poem with your deepest feeling? Why would you do that for me?" Fiorentin asks as if she demands an explanation from the gunslinger who is repositioning his purple glasses.

"I don't get it, Alexandria" Elraven responds insensitively, making Fiorentin sighed, "I mean, you said you made it with your deepest feeling, right? And I believe a person would use his or her deepest feeling only for their loved ones. Why would you that for me? We're not lovers, right? We're just…comrades". Her own words sadden her, "Comrades. That's right, we're just comrades. And we will never become more than that".

After a second, the gunslinger boldly answers, "That's because of your lonely eyes".

Fiorentin wouldn't be surprised now if Elraven's poems captured her attention, but this time, she was very surprised when she knows his normal words could do the same. Without knowing the lord knight is staring at him, Elraven continues, "When I first awakened after the Fall of Rachel, I was really afraid. I'm just a weak person with no ability to protect myself in a world unknown for me. No one was there to catch me if I fall, no one was there to encourage my dreams, and no one was there to hold my hand and help me through it all. Whenever I see my face in the mirror, my eyes looked lonely, just like yours right now. I know how does it feel, and I don't want someone I know to feel the same as I 's why I…".

Elraven stops, not knowing whether to continue or not. But suddenly, Fiorentin slowly puts her hand on his chin and turns his face so their eyes met again. Elraven is an insensitive man, but just this one time, his feeling becomes aware of the sign given to him, Fiorentin wants to listen to his answer, no matter what the reason might be.

And in a rare occasion, Elraven understands without being told, "That's why, I hope you will have an angel watching over you. So, you won't feel lonely anymore. I know there are many things you could not share even with Felicia, Olivia, and George. Those things hurt you, pained you. You will face hard times during your lifetime, Alexandria. Be it at this moment or when this war is over. But I hope you will be strong enough to endure it, to face it, to live through it. Because you are not alone, you will always have the people that destined for you and because you will always have an angel by your side. So, whenever you feel lonely, whenever you feel your friends would not understand, or whenever you feel your friends are to distant, please remember that the angel will be watching over you. He will be there to catch you if you fall. He will be there to encourage your dreams. He will be there to hold your hand and help you through it all. The angel will…protect you. So, that's why…please, don't put those lonely eyes again on your face. Because you're not alone, you have and you will always have…an angel by your side".

Still staring into each other's eyes, Fiorentin slowly lower her hand from Elraven's face. She knows exactly what he meant, she knew it well. "I..." The lord knight tries to say something, but another 'something' inside her holds her. But as Elraven keeps looking deep into her eyes, encouraging her to express her mind, her heart. A firefly flies across his eyes makes it even more clearly.

And she finally says it, "If I want to put this loneliness away, will you be there as my angel? To guide me, to be the one who will catch me if I fall. To be the one who encourage my dreams. And to be the one who hold my hand and help me through it all. Will you do that for me, Elraven? You're the only angel I've ever known, although you came from the darkness, but you're still an angel. If it's you, I...I know I can do it. I know I can put this loneliness away if you help me".

Without hesitating, as if he doesn't want to make her wait, the gunslinger smiles and nods, "I will. If that will put away your loneliness, I will. I will be there to catch you if you fall. I will be there to encourage my dreams. And I will be there to hold your hand and help you through it all. I swear of god, I will be your angel. Forever and ever".

Somehow, Elraven's words please a certain feeling on Fiorentin's heart. Unspoken feeling, a feeling that will change her. A feeling that would make her move on to her life. "Ah, there's no denying it anymore. There's no need to deny it anymore" The lord knight speaks with herself with a smile, "I have fell for him, deeper than I thought".

Noticing her smile, Elraven could not help it but says, "There. Now, your eyes do not look lonely anymore. You look better like that".

"Because I have an angel with me, right? There's no need for me to feel lonely anymore" Fiorentin, still smiling, cheerfully answers. But she continues without Elraven knowing, by stating it inside her heart, "Insensitive, how would you feel lonely if someone you love sits next close to you?". With that being said, the fireflies continue dancing around the two comrades.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, what lies behind us, and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. Especially if what lies within us is something known as love. Fiorentin is currently treasures that feeling. Because she knows, that feeling will also treasure her in return. In the grave of fireflies, someone touched her heart and she lost her loneliness…for eternity.

At the same time, inside Geffen Tower...

Albert Gahn, Ifrit, Thanatos Phantom, Dracula, High Wizard Kathryne, Dark Lord, Orc Lord, Orc Hero, and Doppleganger are seen circling waiting in a room as Beelzephir The Chaos and Naght Seiger, a huge skeleton like creature with blue fire and red fire on his body, follow behind him, enter the room.

"I, Gahn, Thanatos, Ifrit and Naght Seiger will serve as the support. Dracula, Kathryne, and the rest of Elysion guild will welcome Sagramore" Beelzephir ordered his warriors loudly. "I will not take failure as a result" The white high wizard ensures Valdomir's goal as his ordered warriors take their leaves, preparing theirselves for the upcoming battle.

****

OK, that's it for this chapter. The next ten chapters will be filled with battles and battles. God, I have tons of battles to write, LOL!!

This chapter is dedicated for whoever wants to see more of Fiorentin x Elraven. Lately, certain people told me to make them as a pair cause they perfectly fit each other, but I haven't decide on that.

I will have a hard time updating this month cause I will have finals very soon, so I apologize if I can't update that much this month. But rest assured I will update normally next month.

Thank you for reading, see u next chapter!!! (^^)