[William]

They were led to a yard behind the tavern, a vacant piece of land that had a single slab of stone as its most remarkable feature. It was that slab of stone they took a seat on at the urging of the Knights, watching as a spectacle of epic proportion unfolded itself before their eyes.

Flynn dragged the tip of his blade on the ground, shaping lines arranged in a large rectangle. Once he reached the point he started from, the outline of the rectangle glowed green, and in that same shape, a piece of land protruded the length of a leg. A stage. Flynn used the fabled Elemental energy to conjure up a stage.

“I don’t know whether to be impressed or affronted,” said Yonten by his side.

Taking center of the stage, Flynn cleared his throat briefly before starting in the dullest, flattest voice, “For those seeking the peace of Ashmore, heed my words…”

“Oh, you’re in for a treat!” Vice-Captain Greco laughed by his other side. Wasn’t he just standing at the front with the Knights? “Flynn’s really on fire tonight!”

William could wager on his life that Flynn couldn’t be colder to this whole affair.

Three dead-eyed Knights stood before the stage, using the golden glow of their shields to cast light on Flynn, illuminating every movement for all eyes to witness.

“Is this really necessary?” Stella asked the Vice-Captain, only to receive an all-knowing nod.

Flynn narrated as a Knight dazedly moved behind him. “This man is a resident of Orion Town at the Kingdom’s northern side. Armed with nothing but an axe, he thought he could take on Aldric.”

“I can take on Aldric!” the Knight acting as Orion townsman roared. Or attempted to.

“Fortunately for him, he and Aldric didn’t cross paths. Once he reached Termina Canyon, he found no way to get past it. A force field powerful enough to repel the engines of the Royal Airships encircled the lands beyond the canyon. Hit by such infernal hurdle, the man buried his heroic daydreams the way Orion townspeople did their dead: by throwing them into Termina Canyon.”

Another Knight took the scene as the previous retreated, and Flynn continued on, even more lifeless, “Not all choose to continue on the quest. Some, like this woman from Nova Town, chose the complete opposite. Even after achieving the unthinkable.”

“Defeating one Gate took my all,” the Knight said, as if arguing with the narrator. “I’ll proceed once I recover.”

“Two years had passed since those words were spoken, and a new Gate rose to replace the fallen. As for our valiant heroine, not only did she not leave Nova Town, she started a business there.”

“I’m raising funds!”

“The funds were for acquiring lands and investing in more businesses.”

“I don’t think this is whatever it was supposed to be anymore,” came Jehona’s musing, briefly pulling William’s attention from the mystifying show.

The Knight retreated and another took her place. He stood stiff and unsure, looking to and fro and then at the distance. Flynn began anew, “This man from Luce City had a different approach. He separated from his party and took on the task of finding the only weapon that can overpower Aldric’s might: the Wind Crystal.”

“The Wind Crystal?” William murmured, wondrous.

In the current times, the Wind’s Elemental energy was one only mentioned in legends. No trace of it was ever found in the world, not in a Bestowed Beast, not in an artifact, and not in a weapon.

“In the world there are six elements,” Flynn went on, sensing their interest. “Five are seen and shattered. One is hidden and whole. It is said that the Kingdom of Ashmore holds that element in its vast lands. And it is the Wind Crystal that contains that element in its purest, most powerful form.”

“If I can find the Wind Crystal, the world will be mine!” the Knight declared, making Flynn break character to look back at him in bafflement. Realizing that he followed the wrong script – perhaps, Aldric’s? – the Knight restarted his heroic declaration gone wrong, “If I can find the Wind Crystal, Aldric will be tomato soup!”

Flynn didn’t bother alerting his colleague this time around, instead opting to indulge in a long, tired sigh, resuming as though tomato soup wasn’t uttered in the same breath as Aldric, “The man started looking and looking, yet he found no trace of the Wind Crystal. He looked and looked and kept looking, until he, like the Wind, was forgotten about.”

The Knight exited the stage, and none took his place.

“These are the tales you should reflect on, lest you become their iteration.” With these foreboding words, this ‘briefing’ concluded, and Flynn curtsied them a bow, straightening up so quickly it ought to pull a muscle.

William raised his hands to clap.

Flynn subtly shook his head, his eyes pleading.

William lowered his hands. He understood.

Vice-Captain Greco didn’t. “Absolutely sensational! Loved that undertone of despair in your narration, Flynn!”

“Thank you, sir,” replied Flynn, sounding anything but grateful, returning the ‘stage’ to its original place with a thrust of his sword.

Vice-Captain Greco turned to them at that, expectant. “I believe you now have an understanding of what you’re supposed to do, yes?”

“We need to figure out a way to reach Aldric,” Jehona started.

“We must to defeat all of the Gates,” William continued.

“We have to do so without wasting time,” Stella added on.

“While doing all of that, we must find the Wind Crystal,” Yonten concluded.

“Very good!” Vice-Captain Greco clapped for them, as loud and sharp as he did with that spectacle of a briefing.

William wanted to ask about the need for taking all of that effort for something that could be summed up in a few sentences, but then he caught Flynn’s eye on him and paused. The Knight shook his head again as if sensing William’s intentions, urging him against indulging his curiosities.

For Flynn’s sake, William didn’t ask.

[Stella]

In the morning, they were summoned to Vice-Captain Greco’s office. Although, calling it an office would be a colossal overstatement. The small room barely fit the few pieces of furniture it held, enhancing the comical visage of Vice-Captain Greco’s hulking frame at its center.

Oblivious to Stella’s internal ridicule, Vice-Captain Greco started in a solemnity that seemed outright bizarre on him, “I’ve noticed an issue while reading your documents, and I would like us to discuss it.”

The four of them exchanged looks, and Stella wondered what tomfoolery Gustav managed to pull this time.

“Locke Bernard, Pali Spyros, Ivan Sander, and Avon Ban. These are the names that first reached us from Cinder Village.” Vice-Captain Greco gave them a pointed look. “I believe none of them are yours, correct?”

Stella didn’t expect this matter to be unaddressed at any rate. She also didn’t plan on concealing Gustav’s trickery. “Cinder Village’s head sent those names without taking consent. We came here as substitutes.”

Interest shone bright in the Vice-Captain’s eyes. “And why is that?”

Once again, Stella took the helm of tarnishing Gustav’s name. “The village head took advantage of those individuals’ circumstances with veiled threats to ruin their future prospects.”

“Can I get an example?”

“Avon Ban used to run errands for me. After he showed interest in healing arts, I took him under my wing. With his talents, I believe he has a good chance to be accepted into the Royal Academy.”

“You’re quite the ambitious teacher!” Vice-Captain Greco laughed.

“Perhaps, but I know it’s possible.”

“Indeed,” the other assented, regarding her with a peculiar sort of consideration before he concluded, “Your village head’s interference is an obstacle in your apprentice’s path, yes?”

Stella nodded.

“And taking his place was your best solution?”

“The quickest, not necessarily the best.”

The Vice-Captain looked at William then. “What about you?”

“A similar case. My firstborn is Locke Bernard. He desires to be a Royal Knight.”

That delighted the Vice-Captain. “Truly?”

“Yes,” was William’s reluctant answer, perhaps still influenced by last night’s surreal display?

“And you lass?” the Vice-Captain turned to Jehona. “What is the name you’re standing for?”

“Pali Spyros.”

“Pali Spyros?” he repeated, amused. “You know, my memory isn’t one to be talked about, but when that name reached my ears, I recognized it. Hard not to when it belongs to the best archer in the continent!”

That was Jehona’s brother?

Stella vaguely knew about the presence of such person in the Kingdom, although not by name. It happened many years ago. The young man—a boy at the time—won a continental archery tournament held every ten years. She recalled the Capital City going abuzz when the news reached them from the neighboring Kingdom, Damreign.

“It’s a shame his eyes went blind, but even so, I believe he’d still hit his targets,” the Vice-Captain praised. “So why are you here lass?”

The scene Stella witnessed at the training grounds came into mind. Indeed, why?

“If Pali knew his help was required, he’d accept,” Jehona answered him. “I simply interfered before he did.”

“Just that?”

“Just that.”

Finally, Vice-Captain Greco looked at Yonten.

Yonten was already prepared. “What could be more serious than dismissing a debt?”

For once, the Vice-Captain was the one baffled. “How mu—“

Stella cut him off. “You don’t want to know.”

“That high?”

“The opposite.”

“I see,” said Vice-Captain Greco, loss evident in his eyes. It took a long moment for him to recover and say, “You may go back to your village.”

Stella couldn’t believe her ears. “What?”

“Perhaps Cinder Village is too far that this knowledge didn’t reach, but we make an effort to ensure all volunteers are willing.” He looked between them as if wanting to perceive deep into their souls. “This isn’t a battle to partake in with half a heart.”

“But it is one you need more people for,” Yonten argued.

“Are you willing then?”

“I am.”

Not to be outdone by Yonten, Jehona declared, “I am willing too.”

With the two youngest of the group brazenly throwing their lives away, with the sights she witnessed and the words she heard, how could Stella sit back? “Count me in as well.”

“And me,” came William’s voice, and they all turned to him, caught off guard.

Unbothered by their stares, William looked at the Vice-Captain, awaiting his verdict.

For his part, Vice-Captain Greco appeared mystified. Perhaps he summoned them here to relieve them the burden of this quest, not expecting this turn of events. “Are you sure?”

In one breath, they uttered a firm, “Yes.”

Out of the office, Stella was the first to tell William, “I honestly thought you’d return.”

William smiled. “Perhaps I would’ve had I been still within Cinder’s borders.”

“We wouldn’t have faulted you for it,” Jehona assured.

“And that’s very kind of you, but…” William paused, his smile fading as he continued, “I would regret dying without saying goodbye, but I would also regret going back to a safety I know would only be temporary. I would regret it if I felt like I could’ve fought to push back the danger.”

It was temporary indeed. Cinder and its surroundings enjoyed a relative peace in the four years since Aldric’s invasion, but now it came to an end. Now, the Southern side of the Kingdom experienced chaos in varying forms—Elemental and human-born.

“The path to the safety I seek for my loved ones is uncertain, but I believe it to be one that will last.”

Upon hearing such hopeful words, Stella broke into a smile, and she caught a smile finding its way to Jehona, too.

Yonten put a hand on his chest with an exaggerated flair, his smile, in contrast, heavy with genuine approval. “Beautifully said!”

In response, William veered the subject to something less profound. “Let’s go, breakfast should be ready by now.”

In another show of harmony, the three of them let him dismiss their praises.

Stella was nibbling on a piece of bread when a Knight came to summon her back into Vice-Captain Greco’s office. She exchanged a puzzled look with her companions before she obliged the Knight and followed him.

The Vice-Captain had the courtesy to look a little apologetic. “Did I interrupt your breakfast? Apologies. It’s just that I remembered something and called you immediately out of impulse.”

“What is it?” she pressed, impatient. She was hardly a morning person, and especially not one that could muster an appetite for breakfast. Today was one of the rare occasions where she did and it was ruined.

“Your name, it struck me as familiar. Important, even.” The Vice-Captain had a cheery smile. “There are words we were entrusted to deliver if we ever came across of you.”

She raised an eyebrow, willing him to continue now that he intrigued her a little.

“’Don’t forget your promise, you coward.’”

Stella’s hands twitched into a clench.

Vice-Captain Greco’s smile widened. “Judging from your reaction, I believe it isn’t necessary to tell you the identity of the sender.” When Stella didn’t respond, he took it as a sign to continue, “If you do go on in your quest, you’ll eventually meet him in Luce City.”

“Is that all?” she asked.

“That is all. Unless, of course, you have words of your own you’d like my help in delivering?”

Stella didn’t respond again, leaving the office with no other word said.

She thought seven years would be enough for certain things to be forgotten.

Apparently, they weren’t.