The Obsidian Tale
The group of seven along with Clyde
were waiting quietly for Lydia to appear from the portal. Those who have
escaped from the portal showed the spirit of a true, strong heart that cannot
be manipulated. Those who stay forever, have failed the trials that Magnus put
them through – and could be stuck for eternity. [Music 39.1]
The group began to talk about their
separate stories throughout the portal, but Felix couldn’t stop worrying about
Lydia’s story.
The Common Rejection
Youthful Once More
It has been several minutes and
Hazel walked ahead to the last portal – the final room before Magnus.
“Where are you going?” Felix asked
her.
“The last trial involves Magnus
himself. If Lydia is not coming out, then it is too late to save her. This is what
I had anticipated, and is one of the main reasons why this trial must come
last.”
“But we can’t leave without her!
We’ve gone so far. Maybe she’s trying to find the person with the light!”
Rina was trembling. “H-Hazel is
right… We can’t waste any more minutes just standing around. What if she never
comes out?”
“Are you serious, Rina? Are you
going to lose hope on her now?”
Rina clenched her fists. “Felix, you
have to understand! Magnus is waiting for us. If we don’t hurry soon, he’ll
brush us all off as if we lost, and will start the process of releasing more
mutations!” She was not yelling, actually. She was speaking in a soft voice
while complaining at the same time. “Lydia… Lydia wouldn’t want us to be held
back because of her.”
“But…!”
Forrest wiped the tears away from
his eyes. “I realize time is more important than anything. It’s not like she’s
just going to pop out of that portal…”
“Ergh…”
Clyde patted Felix on the shoulder.
“I’ll help – but I don’t think I have as much energy as before.”
“Thanks, but I guess you’re all
right. We should keep going. Lydia wouldn’t want us to wait too long for her
anyway. It’s… probably too late.”
Hazel nodded. “I really didn’t want
things to come this way. Now, to the final trial.”
Leo watched as they all went ahead.
Warren noticed Leo felt most uncomfortable, but Warren went onward.
Viola was last to move on. “Leo, is
there something on your mind?”
Leo grinned. “I just… I know time is
important, but how could they just leave Lydia that easily? I was most
surprised by Felix and Rina – the ones who should be worried the most.”
Viola shrugged. “I know how you
feel, but there are two main possibilities. One: they have so much faith in
her, they’ll hope that she comes out alive. And two: there’s already a lot on
their plate. They’ve been this far, and know there is no time to grieve. They
will do that once this is all over. It was just like the time when Rina cried
again after reading Faris’ letter.”
Leo sighed. “You’re right. Dear
Lydia… Please be safe.”
As the group was right in front of
the portal, Felix stopped one last time to check if Lydia was going to appear.
There was silence. Then, Felix went forward with the rest of the group. [End music]
“Uncle, show yourself!” Leo shouted.
A throne teleported to the end of
the space given which was as large as a theater room. Everyone readied their weapons, but Felix was
the least enthusiastic of all.
“Ah, Clyde. I saw the whole thing.”
Clyde glared angrily at Magnus. “How
dare you scathe the heart of the weak?”
Magnus laughed. “I just wanted you
to see your potential. Looks like you lost it. No matter, I no longer need
you…”
Clyde clenched his fists.
Magnus then turned to the rest of
the group. “I see you all passed the trials,” Magnus said, appearing from the
throne. He was about 6’7 in feet height, and his entire body emitted darkness. He
had an eye patch due to the loss of one of his eyes. “So you finally got to see
what I have been through. If you surrender now, I will let it slide and have
Zozna be recreated as the sacred lands, not the dead lands that you people see
today.”
Felix took a step forward. “We
understand what you went through. All of us suffered at one point in our lives,
and I want us to live coincide with each other.”
“What kind of offer is that? You
dare compare my past to yours? You pesky humans will just try to torture me
again.”
“No we won’t! We are different than
that. You see us suffering a lot – you had your fun. But… we don’t strive to kill the entire world for the sake of our own
place and happiness. Vengeance doesn’t have to be about revenge and mass
murder. My village was destroyed, but we are slowly bringing it back with
physical labor, not by stealing the energies of others.” [Music 65.1]
Magnus wielded his katana. “I still
do not believe you!” He only whacked the air and a large vibration flew against
the crowd. The group looked as if they’ve been slapped in the face, literally.
He then slashed at the air again.
Rina stood in front of the group to
cast a wind aura around them.
“Magnus has become persistent. The
darkness within him is far too much and it is too late to change him,” Hazel
shot at him with her arrows.
Felix gasped. “What are you doing?!”
Warren went along with both Rina and
Hazel. “As adults, you have to decide whether the best option is to simply go
by morals, or the realistic route of his eternal end!”
“But…!” Felix began to realize what
was more important. You cannot easily trust someone by a simple truce. They
knew full well that Magnus would strike again if they were to live in one world
together.
With Rina’s other hand, she casted a
fireball, and then a stack of ice. She continued to spam different magic
attacks without feeling exhausted due to her holy ability. Forrest shot the
sides of the rink to distract Magnus, also keeping him from running away.
Leo and Viola took the left end and
blocked him from moving to their side while Warren was at the center with
Hazel.
Clyde headed for the right end, “Felix,
your support would be grand!”
Felix had no other choice as he
headed next to Clyde in support. “F-Fine! Ergh…” He took out his crescent blade
as they began to fight.
Clyde nodded. “It’s great to fight
alongside with you for once.” He turned to Magnus, “This is for what you have
done to me!”
Magnus laughed, stabbing the katana
into the ground, unbalancing the entire colony of their space.
Everyone fell except for Warren from
his weight, and Rina because she could easily float with her wings. Forrest rolled
off to Felix’s side. Rina continued to cast her magic and Magnus slightly
struggled with her. His katana sliced the ground and the rupture flew towards
her. She was pushed on her back and Warren was knocked over. The rest of the
group was about to stand up but Magnus made time to blast more dark energy
around his body.
“Nobody can stop me now!” He
teleported towards his toughest target: Rina. His katana was about to stab her
through the same wound from before, but Warren jumped in front of her, hugging
her to safety.
Rina’s eyes were closed, unsure of
what happened next. All she could hear was the deep voice coming from Warren.
“I got you now – live on, Rina.” He
said. Rina opened her eyes.
The katana stabbed through Warren
and the endpoint was about an inch away from Rina’s eyes. Her eyes widened.
“Warren?!”
Magnus removed the katana. “Ahahaha!
One down and I didn’t even break a sweat.”
“HOW DARE YOU!!” Leo began fighting
Magnus in a physical brawl while Magnus’ other hand was deflecting every move
that Viola tried to take. He spun, pushing the two to the walls. Felix and
Clyde were next to fight while Hazel began to shoot her arrows.
“Warren, stay strong!” Rina began to
cry.
Warren laughed. “It is… not like you
to cry, Rina. Maybe… you should stay
strong.”
Instead of fighting back, Forrest
ran towards Warren to check his wounds. “Please don’t die! Don’t die, dad!” He
closed his eyes, giving him a hug. “I don’t want another loved one to die!”
Warren was also falling into tears
as the rest of the group was struggling to fight Magnus. As Warren was slowly
closing his eyes, he suddenly felt a soft squeeze around his right arm. Rina
slowly turned her head, seeing Lydia kneeling down to help him.
“I am no professional healer, but
from what I’ve learned so far, it can suppress the pain and blood that Warren
has!”
Forrest jumped. “Lydia!!”
Felix turned around. “You’re here!”
The Final Reunion
Magnus pushed Felix down, almost
ready to slice him to pieces. Rina manipulated the ground below him, stunning
him for a second. Then, she casted an electric shock that made him twitch.
“ERGH!”
Hazel smiled. “We got him from here!
Thanks!” Due to the electric shock, his defense weakened. Hazel then shot him
on the chest.
Lydia used Rina’s water magic to
smoothen the pains that Warren had while Forrest continued to shoot at Magnus
with his BB gun.
Magnus was finally breaking apart,
and he could barely breathe.
“We got you now!” Viola said. “This
is for manipulating my heart all these years!”
“And for murdering my father!” Leo
punched him in the face. [End music]
As Magnus was almost knocked out and
pinned down, only Felix was not as happy.
“Everyone…” Felix said slowly.
Clyde turned to him. “We finally did
it!”
“No, we didn’t.”
Hazel knew what he was talking
about.
Felix said to them, “Before the body
dies out, Magnus can still transport himself into another body of ours.”
“And,” Hazel added. The rest of the
group listened to her. “he will stay alive as long as he has another body to
use. The only way to kill him is to kill the new body that he enters.”
“What? Why can’t we just kill this
body then?!” Clyde pointed at Magnus’ current vessel.
“That vessel died while trying to
kick Magnus out of his mind. The power was too strong for his senses, and
Magnus did a complete takeover. However, with our strong hearts, any of us can
become the vessel and fight Magnus in their minds. While doing so, the rest of
the group will have to kill the vessel.”
Warren was feeling better this time.
Lydia focused her sight on the bigger group.
“But that would mean killing one of
our friends!”
Warren coughed. “Let it be me. I am
already...”
Hazel slowly raised her hand. “That
is fine. I have lived long enough to see it all. I-…” The rest of the group
wanted to interrupt her and volunteer themselves, seeing as they have reached
their goals and endings already.
Rina became the strongest magician,
possibly stronger than Lady Pria. Forrest wanted to avenge Jess, Leo felt this
is a matter between family and friends – so he’s responsible, Viola already found
the best friends she could ever meet, Clyde knew how much destruction he has
caused, and Lydia’s Obsidian title was the sole reason why everything began. However…
“I’ll do it,” Felix volunteered. [Music 65.2]
Everyone was shocked to hear him say
such a thing.
“The strongest heart will last the
longest against Magnus when he enters the vessel. That gives a higher chance of
succeeding to kill us both off before I give in and he takes over.”
Lydia disagreed with him. “No…” She ran towards him after finishing the healing process
with Warren.
Felix gave a soft chuckle. "I'm sorry, Lydia."
Lydia disagreed with him. "No, you can't... You still have a future to see, so much to learn, so much to experience, and... I was so excited to see you reunite with your mother...!”
Felix gave a soft chuckle. "I'm sorry, Lydia."
Lydia disagreed with him. "No, you can't... You still have a future to see, so much to learn, so much to experience, and... I was so excited to see you reunite with your mother...!”
Felix handed the wedding ring over
to Lydia. “Give this back to her, please? Only I can take on this task.”
Lydia grabbed onto the wedding ring
without saying anything. Parts of her agreed that he had to be the vessel –
because his heart became the strongest of them all, but the other part of her
wanted to be selfish and have him stay in this world.
“I…” She was about to cry. Before
she could, she gave Felix a kiss on the lips.
Felix’s eyes widened as his face
turned red.
“Lydia!”
“If there is some crazy way you can survive this, then please come home! I know
you can come out with the craziest tactics compared to all of us. You survived
death once, and you can do it again.”
“I don’t know about that this time,
hehe,” he said nervously. “This is about becoming a new vessel and being
destroyed with it all. Just don’t think about me too much, okay?” He walked
towards Magnus. The body was barely able to move, and Magnus’ soul was finally
on his way to deciding the closest vessel to use.
Felix turned around as he said to
the group, “Thanks for the adventure, everyone. I remember when I used to be
the bad kid back at the village – poor, idiotic, innocent. But now… you’ve all
taught me how to be stronger, smarter, and care for others. I became braver
with the help of all of you. Rina, I honestly admire your dislike for lots of
things in the world. I wish you would never change that.”
Rina only chuckled. Felix went on,
“Forrest, you better grow up to be a man! You’ll be the coolest guy that every
girl wants. Leo, I hope you live to be the ‘chill’ ruler that Ouli Brye should
have. Hazel, you scare me sometimes – but that’s what I like about you. Don’t
let anyone mess with you just because you’re older than the bunch. Warren,
you’ve found people who care about you. You redeemed yourself as a true
soldier, don’t ever let that fact go to waste. Viola, you’ve always been
mysterious to me. But I know that deep down, you’re a very loving person and
all you needed were friends who truly cared about you. Cherish them.”
Clyde took a step forward. “Are you
sure you want to do this?”
Felix nodded. “Of course, Clyde. I
have made my decision. I want you to go back to the village and make your
parents happy! As for you, Lydia,” he turned to her. “Don’t forget who you are.
You are a Celestian. Use that title for the greater good, help others – just
like the Lydia I know would do. Find your peace – at last…”
Lydia frowned. “Felix…”
The group took several steps back
and they could see a pink soul fly out of the old vessel, transporting itself
into Felix’s heart. Forrest was crying, and Lydia clenched her teeth in
disbelief. Viola’s eyes opened widely in dismay. Felix yelped in pain. The dark
aura took over his body immediately, but Felix was fighting as best as he could
against it. [End music]
“Do it… do it now!!!!!” [Music 65.3]
Hazel pointed her bow and arrow
towards Felix’s heart.
Lydia closed her eyes. “FELIX…!!!!”
And with one strike, the arrow
struck Felix’s heart. In an instant, Felix knelt down, and then he fell
face-flat.
“Thanks for the adventure, everyone,”
he thought. “Lydia… I…” His last thoughts stopped. His body was flat and
lifeless on the ground.
“FELIX!!!!!!” Lydia screamed from
the bottom of her lungs. She buried her face into her hands, bawling this time.
Forrest and Clyde were shedding
tears, even Rina.
“No…” Rina sniffed. “That man… had
the spirit I’ve never seen before.”
The field around them was warping
and the sky was crumbling. Hazel, Viola, and Clyde quickly helped Warren up
while looking for an exit. At that moment, the large Crescent ship crashed
inward from the sky and Lionel used the microphone from the cockpit.
“Phew! Finally made it through!
Garnett is slightly malfunctioning, but there’s nothing Talbot can’t do! I’m
starting to get signals from Gunther stating that this orb is going to explode
if we don’t hurry! Just hurry the hell up and get into the hatch!” Lionel
called.
The group had no time to think. They
hurriedly reached into the airship and Lionel wiped his forehead.
“Thank goodness you’re all okay.
Hey, where’s the apple kid?”
The group was silent. No one had the
proper words to explain the situation to him. He knew exactly what had happened
though.
“Okay,” Lionel softened is voice.
“to the Village of Saradeli then.”
~ Zozna – outer aura ~
The Crescent airship flew its way
out of collapsing pillars and electrifying utility poles that scattered all
over the little continent of Zozna. The orb was pulsing, and with each pulse,
it was shrinking. Forrest and Rina were watching the soldiers on battleships
fighting mutants like ants. Lady Pria continued to surround the remaining orb
with her wind aura, but she was getting exhausted.
Gunther ordered most of his soldiers
to fall back as the mutants were automatically vaporizing due to the original
source’s destruction. The main airship made a stop, watching as the last bit of
the orb implode and the entire continent was quiet again.
The clouded skies around Zozna separated
and it became sunny. You could start hearing the cheering and yells coming from
every soldier surrounded the continent.
“Thank goodness,” Warren wiped his
forehead as he and Lionel finished steering by the cockpit.
Forrest did not look too happy,
however. “Mr. Felix…”
Lydia eyed the continent, hoping for
that little chance of Felix appearing safe and sound, but Rina grabbed onto her
shoulders. Lydia turned to her with a concerned look, but Rina only closed her
eyes in disappointment.
“This can’t be…” She placed her head
against Rina’s chest, crying.
Warren heard from the speakers by
the cockpit: a direct order from Gunther. They needed to be swift on their
repairs of Rhadessia. First off, drop off any necessary person by the village
and the rest of the lieutenants must return to Vector for their next mission.
Forrest stomped his foot. “Does this
mean… everything is over?”
Rina nodded. “Yeah. I’ll stick
around for a little bit, but only for a few hours. After that, I’m going back
to Lament to see my parents.”
Viola patted Warren’s back. “Looks
like we’re going to Vector.”
“Me too?” Warren blushed.
“You earned your place,” Lionel
added.
Leo grinned. “I don’t want to
separate either, but I have to check up on Ouli Brye now that Magnus is gone.
Ace might need some help with the repairs, and we can request unity with the
Gammel army.”
Hazel began stretching her arms. “I
shall return to the Grandine Hillage and pay a visit to my mother, and then
head for South Ouli Brye to reunite with the orphanage, especially Remy and the
annoying little maid, heh.”
“Oh…” Forrest said. “And me...”
Lydia held his hands. “I think Mrs.
Wolfram would love to have us stay and help the village out. It can be our new
home.”
“Really?!”
“Of course! We will make Felix proud
by working together and making the village as best as possible, okay?”
“Okay!”
Clyde smiled. “I will also be
joining along. Everyone at the village usually depended on me most.”
Lydia giggled. “That is perfect!”
Rina opened her backpack, grabbing
onto the blue teddy bear. “Lydia, I believe this is yours.”
Lydia grabbed onto the bear, thinking
about it carefully. “Are you sure you don’t want to keep it for memories?”
“Heck no. I can always fly back and
visit you anyway, but it won’t be often because I’ll be very busy with the sky
unit. I want to request to father to open the gate for all people to visit, but
we’re going to keep our security at top level.”
The two of them began to hug each
other.
“Rina… thank you so much for being
there for me. You are the perfect guardian, and nothing is going to change
that.”
“I screwed up many times, so I still
have a lot to learn.”
“The screw-ups are the lessons, and you fought through them. I think you’ve
accomplished your mission as the Obsidian’s guardian. Look where we are now.”
Rina’s eyes were closed, but tears
were rolling down her cheeks. “I’m going to miss you, Lydia. I don’t want this
journey to be over, honestly.”
“I will miss you too. We’ve had so
much fun, didn’t we? Now, you should go home… Make your parents proud!”
Lydia took a step back as she headed
for the cockpit to look out the window. “Everyone, it looks like we are all
separating from here. Hopefully, Gunther will know how to install the
walkie-talkies so we won’t be completely separated.”
Forrest nodded. “Uh-huh! It was fun
going around the world with everyone!!”
The rest of the group began to
laugh, trying to stay strong – knowing that they have lost an important member
of their group. Now, it was time for them to say their last goodbyes and
separate… [End music]
One week later…
~ Village of Saradeli – north district ~
“Oops!” Lydia squealed. “I still
can’t get a hold of this thing.”
Forrest and his three friends were
hanging around with Lydia in her bedroom at Mrs. Wolfram’s home.
Sydney was moving her legs back and
forth. “What’s that ‘camera’ thingy you’re holding?”
“It was a gift from Hazel. Actually,
Gunther gifted it to her to confess his love, but she didn’t know how to use
it. So… she kind of trashed it to me.”
Bailey gasped. “Do you think Gunther
is crying in his room instead of keeping watch for his country?”
Lydia shrugged.
Forrest read the letter that Hazel
added along with the camera. “She said apparently it can record videos like the
one we saw at the fa-ci-li-ty!”
“I know right? Let’s try it out!”
She pressed the largest button at the top of the camera and the timer started.
“Is it recording?”
Spencer clapped his hands. “Yay! I
think it’s working.”
Bailey elbowed Lydia. “Say something
to it, Lydia!” [Music 65.4]
“O-Oh yeah, okay! Hehe.” She fixed
her hair and then she placed the camera onto the table. She then sat on her bed
with the rest of the children. “Hey everyone! This is Lydia here. I’ve been
receiving so many letters from around the world, thanks to being co-mayor with
Mrs. Wolfram in the Village of Saradeli. Since everyone is so busy, I’ll have
to be the one and summarize what you all are doing. I’ll try to send copies of
this video if that’s possible.”
“Get to the good stuff, big sis!”
Forrest commanded.
“Alright, alright already!” She
began laughing. “So it seems…”
~ Vector – courthouse gardens ~
Lieutenant Floir had a microphone in
her hand as she spoke to over a thousand soldiers in front of her. “I hereby
announce Warren to earn the title of Lieutenant! He shall be crowned as our
runner up for presidency here in Vector. Also, we shall raise the voice of our
people – with Vector no longer running as a dictatorship! We will run as a
democracy and let the civilians flourish with opinions and agreement!”
The whole crowd cheered. Lionel
yawned. Viola stood by them, chuckling.
~ Lament – castle summit ~
“Get a move on it!! Slowasses!!!!”
Rina shouted in the microphone.
Mrs. Nora gasped. “Rina, your
language!”
Mr. Nora laughed barbarically.
“Bahahah! That’s my daughter for you! Such a noble princess.”
“Ugh!” his wife scoffed at him.
“That is not very lady-like for a princess!”
Rina shrugged. “Oh wells. With my
orders, it seems like this city is doing just fine and it’s only been a week.”
“Eh, give it a few months.” Mr. Nora
joked.
~ Ouli Brye – capital’s throne room ~
Ace raised his rapier. “I hereby
declare Leonardo Van Roy as our next-…”
Leo jumped. “Wait what?! I don’t
want to be leader, screw that! I just want to live in a nice house with a bar
right next to it.”
Ace became frustrated. “Priorities,
Leonardo! You must earn what you want. Plus, I bet you’re just sad because
Viola is not here.”
“She will come, someday.” Leo cried.
“Someday…”
“The Lennox army should really
invest in our own airship.”
“Yeah…” Leo agreed.
The entire crowd was confused by
their conversation and lack of professionalism. But hey, all three governments
vowed to work together, so they had nothing to worry about, I guess…
~ Village of Saradeli – north district ~
Lydia was wrapping up her long
speech for the camera.
Forrest interrupted her. “Hazel gave
me a letter by the way! She said that she still thinks about me even when she’s
at the orphanage! She’s a great mom, so I hope that Remy kid likes her!”
“Didn’t she mention that she would
whip them if they won’t stop messing around?” Bailey saw the letter.
Forrest grinned. “Um… uh… I forgot
about that part.”
Lydia placed her hand over Forrest’s
face so he could stop talking. He was only mumbling now, trying to speak over
her hand.
“A-Anyway!” Lydia panicked. “Clyde and
his parents reunited, which is wonderful. They’re one of our strongest guards
in the village. They’re trying to make peace with that merchant girl and her
friends who keep being persistent with their sales above others. I’ll have to
give you all a tour of the renovated village by the way.”
“Ouch!!!” Talbot yelled from another
room.
“What are you touching?! I may be a
fake, but that’s off-limits!” Garnett
complained.
“Fine! Let me call in a woman to
edit your parts. Perhaps you will be okay with Professor Nell.”
Lydia jumped in astonishment. “Eek!
That scared me. So, those two are living with us but they’re kind of messy.
Talbot is trying so hard to shift Garnett’s heart but he’s still working on
it…”
Forrest gave Lydia a letter from
Hazel. “This one says she wants you to request to Rina that they can create a
partnership for their research on Lament’s history and with the technology from
a thousand years ago.”
Lydia nodded. “Ah, I see. Did you
hear that, Rina? I know you might be busy being the new princess of Lament, but
Hazel still wants your help! Hehe.”
Lydia checked the world map as she
showed it to the camera. “Oh yeah! You see down there where there’s some green?
It is Lumious, and Lady Pria is currently there trying to restore its energy.”
She then gave a huge sigh. “And last, but not least… Mrs. Wolfram is currently
doing some paperwork to keep the village running. She didn’t take the news
about Felix very well, but we’re all trying our best to cope. Of course, with the company of the D'Alonzo parents, she's feeling a little better.” [End music]
“Lydia!” Ekaja called. “Some strange
person came by earlier to give you a letter.”
Lydia rolled her eyes. “Ugh. Another
one, really?! Look, everyone, I have to stop the video now. I’ll come back
later!”
She received the letter, read it,
and then she made a huge gasp.
“What is it?” Forrest asked.
“You all stay here. I need to go
somewhere!”
“Wha- Hey! Lydia!” Forrest tried to
stop her. Forrest and his friends were left in the bedroom, confused.
~ Village of Saradeli – east district ~
Lydia barged into the abandoned
house, but nobody was there. She tried to check around the house, but there was
still no sight of anybody. She did, however, notice a few names on the wall.
She could see her name along with Felix, Clyde, and Rina.
“Felix… did you write this?” She
giggled, but she sniffled at the same time. “You have terrible writing.” She
then continued to search the room. “I don’t get it. The letter said to go to
the abandon house and find something out of the ordinary. I don’t see anything
strange??”
There was silence in the room. It
would have been a lot louder if Felix was there, but it just wasn’t the same. The
old apples were still on the floor, and she remembered that was the moment when
they first met. Lydia’s heart sank, feeling hopeless. This was the first time
she had the privacy to mope about the loss of Felix, the first boy she ever loved.
“I’m so sorry things have to turn
out this way. All these memories built up… and now you’re gone. There was so
much to say, so much to reminisce about, but I don’t have you here to talk
about it with… I…”
Suddenly, there was a knock on the
door. It slowly opened, and Lydia turned around.