Disclaimer:

"Dialogue"

'Thoughts'

-Author notes-

Chapter 38: Bill's Choice

"I am… we used to see each other sometimes when unloading fish from the boats," Zephyr answered.

"It's really you then...you look so different. So you became one too, but… your hair and those eyes… I never heard of an awakened like you. And your element does not belong to the usual four," Bill observed Zephyr carefully.

He noticed that Zephyr was anxiously looking around.

"You don't have to worry about any other guards," Bill said calmly. "The closest posts are several miles away, and no one will come to this one until dawn."

"Is that so?..." Zephyr felt a bit more relieved, but he still did not want to remain here longer than necessary.

"You are not going to attack us again?" asked Seth. The boy remained wary of Bill.

"No… why would I do that?" asked Bill. "I only attacked you at first because the Celestial gave me an order." He pointed at his collar. "He is my Master… I cannot disobey or this collar will kill me."

Just as he said that, the collar seemed to unlock itself and fell down.

The three of them stared at the collar on the ground; it now had an ash color and cracks all over its surface.

"It appears like with your Master's death… you are free," Zephyr spoke.

"Free…" Bill said. He never even considered the possibility of having any resemblance to freedom for the rest of his life.

But even now, when he should feel happy… he still felt bitter.

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"Humans will never be truly free for as long as Celestials exist." Collar or not, they were still servants.

As for him...it was just a matter of time before another Celestial found his location, and then… he would probably be executed on the spot this time around. They made it very clear to him when that collar was placed on his neck. Awakened humans are only allowed to live for as long as they are useful to their assigned Master.

"What are you planning on doing now, Bill? You could come south with us," Zephyr suggested. He was aware that Bill was in a dangerous position and could not just wander around as he wished.

Bill remained in silent contemplation for a minute before he spoke again. "What happened to my family after I was taken away?"

"Nothing. The Celestials did nothing to them, as far as I know. But Thomas…"

"What did that bastard do?!" Bill's orange eyes appeared to become ablaze for a moment.

"I don't know exactly what he did… but there were some rumors about him and your sister, and… she became a lot quieter than she used to."

"That's it, I'm going back to the village and burning him alive!" Bill shouted with so much rage that fire erupted in mid-air, all around him.

"Thomas is already dead..." Zephyr told him.

"What?!" The flames disappeared.

"The day I awakened… I was being harassed by Thomas and his two grunts. We were at the last dock, and all of a sudden… a sea monster appeared."

Bill gasped. Sea monsters were the biggest fear for all the villagers.

"Thomas and the twins were killed by the monster, and I barely escaped thanks to a burst of magic. I left the village shortly after that and didn't look back," Zephyr explained.

"Wait, so you didn't see his corpse… he could still be alive."

"I saw him being pulled into the water."

"But didn't the monster die? You would not be here otherwise," Bill pointed out.

Zephyr realized that Bill was right. The monster was killed by his magic shortly after, so there was a chance he survived… even if it wasn't great. "It is unlikely, but… maybe he didn't die after all," Zephyr admitted.

"I have decided then… I'm going back to Varian Village," Bill said.

"Are you sure? You may stumble across some Celestials there… it's extremely risky to visit any human settlement right now." Especially after the mess that happened in the village, where Zephyr killed two Celestials in Zloria Town.

He wouldn't be surprised if several Celestial warriors had come to their continent to search for him.

"I don't care if it's risky," said Bill. "I was already planning on going just to see my family. But if Thomas is still alive… I will make him suffer."

"Well...I wish you luck then." Zephyr had no intention of stopping him if that's what he wanted. Bill understood how dangerous his plan was.

Bill nodded. "Perhaps we will see each other again one day."

"Perhaps…" Zephyr knew these were empty words. The odds of that happening should be almost zero.

"There is one thing I wanted to ask you before you go…" Zephyr glanced at Bill.

"What is it?"

"Since your awakening… have you been hearing someone's voice in your mind or seeing messages written in the air?"

Bill raised an eyebrow. "Of course not… that would be crazy."

Zephyr remained silent. He was starting to realize how unique his abilities were in comparison with other awakened humans.

"Don't you need any supplies?" asked Seth.

"I have a bag for water, and I'm capable of hunting my own food. I'll be fine," Bill gave Seth a smile before looking at Zephyr for one last time.

"Goodbye, Zephyr."

"Goodbye… Bill."

They waited for the boy to start descending the wall before turning around.

"We should go too, Seth."

"Yes…" Seth got close to the border of the wall. "I can't see the bottom…"

He looked somewhat worried.

"Then you better hold tight… going down should be faster at least.