Zeke’s mind whirled at the idea that his attunement has a will. While it sounded ridiculous to even think about, there were plenty of instances where it might be true. One part was when Mikella told him that alongside his own feelings, she felt something else–something similar to his own, but different when she had the power forming around her spear before taking down Roderick back at the biodome.

He thought she was a bit dizzy during that time, which she admitted to, but now it felt like the truth. No matter how often he re-read the books about the different aspects of attunements in Cloud’s study, he can never read up on anything resembling a will of sorts. As there were no notes of higher realm attunements in the study either, possibly due to their rarity, he was at a loss.

Zyler and Diaga stayed in Eve Glade for a while so that Diaga could get used to her new physical body. After Cronus left, they decided to head out into the town to celebrate her recovery. She went from greeting several people to enjoying the food she normally could never eat thanks to her lack of energy. It was such a balm for Zyler that he ended up with misty eyes when Diaga was laughing and talking animatedly.

Mikella and Diaga quickly became best friends, and even Myra joined in on the fun while they enjoyed touring around the town. It was enough to get Zeke off of his rump from Cronus’ words, but he still ended up here to study up on The World, which still remained a mystery. He considered going to Cronus for more information, but he quickly put that aside.

He was proud of what he did, helping Diaga recover like that. But he also knew things could’ve gone sideways for her. One mistake, and he could've killed her. One mistake, and he could have crippled her in a way that was worse than her former malnourished self.

The door into the study opened up, small footsteps echoing out. Zeke immediately thought of Clara who was the only one willing to enter the study willingly to read books. He turned back, putting on a welcoming face before realizing who it truly was.

It was Zoan. Her footsteps felt so similar to Clara it was downright scary, yet her presence was nothing like the little girl he knew and loved for so long. She stared back at him with her usual impassive stare, almost judging him just by existing.

“Zeke, how are you feeling?” Zoan asked, her steady tone unchanging. “Do you feel any sort of side-effects?”

“I’m fine, Zoan,.” Zeke answered, still a little taken aback. “Why do you ask?”

“I heard about your ‘experiment’. You need to be more careful when using that power. Yet you use it on a person that has nothing to do with you. I came here to know why you went so far.”

Zeke wanted to scoff at her. He didn’t have any reason to tell her anything. She was an angel that was part of the people responsible for bringing them here against their will.

But then he calmed down his thoughts. His Parallel Thought activated, forcing him to consider her reasoning for being here. He just can’t imagine her coming here and trying to be hostile in her current form.

She was honestly curious to know why he did that despite the dangers of his power. If it was like that, his anger disappeared instantly as he answered.

“I wanted to do something. I felt like I could. That’s why I went with it.”

“Even though you could’ve killed all of us? Including Clara and Mikella?”

Zeke grimaced. She just had to go that far to drive a point. He breathed through his nose before answering to clear his frustration.

“The only one that would suffer any consequences is me. I made sure of that. I don’t have that much control, but I had to start somewhere. Otherwise, when I inevitably get into another dangerous situation like the towers, I can at least use that power to my advantage.”

Zoan stared heavily at the mage, her eyes never leaving his own. She stayed quiet for a while, causing Zeke to feel his insides quiver in anticipation. Finally, she spoke up.

“Then why offer up that power to help someone who was once your enemy? Even if Diaga was never included in the attack–I still don’t understand why you went that far for her. Are you perhaps enamoured by her or something?”

Zeke couldn’t hold back his anger this time. “I didn’t do it because I was attracted to her. I did it because I wanted to help. If anything, that’s like a need for me.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Then why feed that need to help strangers in exchange for your safety?” Zoan asked, unwilling to give in.

“Because I wanted to.”

His words were left hanging in the air. He had no intention of discussing to Zoan about the rights and wrongs and anything ethical. So rather than trying to convince her of his habits, he just put up a childish answer instead.

Finally, Zoan shook her head.

“You humans just keep confusing me to no end. Even though there is danger all around you, you still keep putting yourselves into danger just to help strangers.”

“It’s not for strangers,” Zeke answered, smiling. “Diaga is a friend now.”

“...She wasn’t a friend before. You only just met her today.”

“I feel like you’re just nitpicking at this point,” Zeke answered, shrugging. “Besides, I get stronger doing this too. Isn’t this what you want?”

Zoan closed her eyes, unwilling to answer that. Zeke tried to hold in his frustration as he realized that this was how Zoan was for the past year. She’s a pragmatic woman that only focuses on efficiency like he did, but unlike him, she didn’t have the heart to be kind.

So instead of trying to convince her otherwise, Zeke picked up a book he picked up earlier by the desk and showed it to her.

“If it’s okay with you, can you tell me more about the aspects for attunements? Like, how were they made in the first place?”

That instantly got her attention, something that Zeke planned for. She looked back at him, her impassive stare still visible–yet there was that glint in her eyes that got her to walk forward into the study.

“...The aspects became the very foundation of all the people in their path to growth. It is a long and troubled history… do you still wish to learn?”

“Yes,” Zeke nodded.

“...Very well,” Zoan answered, not realizing that Zeke made a secret fist behind his back in success.

The night was followed by Zoan’s incredibly long but rather interesting telling of how the aspects came into humanity’s hands.

*****

After time passed, the day to leave Eve Glade came. Zeke looked back at his former room that he had been staying in for years since he arrived in Eve Glade. It was a small room in the attic, mostly reserved for single time guests. It hadn’t been used in a long time, but he fashioned it during his stay to make it more comfortable. He figured he had more time here than he’d realized.

But then again, when he finished packing up, he realized he didn’t change that much. The room was left bare, clean and organized for the next guest as was proper for someone living here under someone’s benevolence.

Nodding to himself, he made a silent goodbye to his room and opened the door. When he left the attic, he found Mikella, Clara, and Zoan standing within the hallway waiting for him. They looked just as prepared to leave, at least since their storage packs contained everything they could ever use. Over the year, they had upgraded their storage packs to be capable of holding several more items, including the nifty function of switching equipment at will like Zacharia’s pack. Still, they never bothered getting new equipment as they only focused on improving their skills.

“Ready?” Zeke asked, noticing the girls clamoring to themselves with Zoan just standing there by the side. He could still remember her excited tone when speaking about the aspects a few nights ago, shaking his head with a grin. “You got everything?”

“Yeah,” Mikella answered, but she frowned when she turned to the clearly saddened Clara. “It’s just…”

“Bobo… do we really have to leave?” Clara asked, looking up at him when he approached. There were already tears brimming in her eyes, ready to stream down at a moment’s notice. His heart ached at the sight, but he had to be strong for her sake as well.

“Yeah, we have to,” Zeke said, kneeling down to face her properly, even when her head was slightly above his as he continued. “We have to help Cloud out by doing what Cronus said. We also need to clear those towers, since it’s our responsibility.”

Clara shook her head, her nature to be goodhearted never wavering even as she looked ready to cry again.

“I know it’s hard, but we’ll come back someday,” Zeke assured her. At least, he hoped since this was also something he wanted. “Once we’re done in that magic country, we can come back here. We’ll be even stronger too. That way, nobody would mess with us ever again.”

He hoped the idea of moving to a magic country might lift her spirits, but clearly his hopes were dashed as she remained downtrodden. He stood, feeling like an absolute failure of an older brother before Mikella assured him with a pat on the back.

“Sweetie, you know Bobo is right,” Mikella said, assuring his words. “And besides, maybe we can still talk to Cloud and Val whenever we can. We’ll figure something out. That way, you won’t really stop talking with Ana.”

“...You promise?” Clara asked, hope finally rising in her eyes. Mikella nodded with glee. “Alright.”

Clara then took Mikella’s offered hand and grasped it tight. Zeke went ahead to move to the living room where he spotted the lords with Ana in tow. Ana herself looked ready to pinch her face in case she’d lose herself, but the moment Clara came into view, it broke and tears began to stream down.

After settling everything with the lords, they left the house–only to find themselves surrounded by Zacharia’s retinue and their fellow soldiers of Eve Glade.

Each one had their armor on as though they were ready to fight, but Zeke remembered that soldiers also armored up for when a valued soldier was leaving, as a show of respect. He expected to see some people to know about their departure to arrive, but he didnt’ expect every soldier in the vicinity to come along to see them off.

Even more so when each of them saluted to them with their fists over their heart, pride and dedication written on their faces.