10 Chapter 10

He looked at Lovell. Tears were streaming down as he rushed over. He hugged him tightly. Lovell was telling him what happened to him over dinner. He sat listening, notice that Gale and Lance ate, as Lovell continued to tell his story. Finishing their meal, Henry asked if they had a place to stay. They answered no, then he offered them that they stay awhile for the festival, that was in two days. Lance jumped at the opportunity leaving them to agree to stay. Lovell was saying that he'll have a bath first. Lance was trailing behind. They offered if Gale would join them, he declined their offer. He wanted to talk more with Henry and Margret. Nodding, they headed to the bath.

"Not to pry, but what is the festival about anyway."

Margret and Henry looked at each other. "Well, to be frank, Marewoods is being forced to join either Gold Heart Empire or the Faremin Kingdom. We told both forces that we would all vote and say what side we joined through a festival showing the results at the days end." Margret implied. Gale leaned back, knowing that they had the answer from Kora. "Why?"

Gale looked at them, lacing his hands as he rested his chin on top. "Well, before we left the kingdom of River Trees, we met Lovell's grandmother, Kora, and another half-brother, Kratos. Kora told us that Marewood was taken over by Faremin. Then we were told that, by Shimmer, Kratos's dragon, that this would happen on the eight of the fifth month or Lark eighth."

They looked at each other. Margret in shock. "And why are you telling us this?" Henry asked.

"Well, Lovell might try and change the future. I think that the people know if they don't join the Faremin forces. They will be killed. Lovell probably thinks he could stop it from happening, but one cannot fight destiny forever."

They all sat silently as Lovell came down to let Gale know that the bath was free. Gale acknowledged him as Henry showed them to their rooms. Lovell was not paying attention to what was going on earlier.

The next day Lovell did what he could to help out around the house. Asking what Luna was like before she left. The Humbly's answering each question. Lance was helping with what he could as they watched him struggle with simple tasks. Gale was asking how to do certain things from Margret. She happily told him as his curiosity kept peeking with each new idea. Lovell felt some peace, knowing that Luna was safe for now as they relaxed the day away. Even if Lance couldn't figure out how to find a chicken egg that night, Gale got up praying to Flora for help in making Lovell realizing that he would hurt more than help them.

Morning rose as Lovell felt off. He couldn't figure out why. So, Lovell shrugged it off. He was walking down to breakfast with the others. Lance excited to see all the events, whereas Gale tried to calm him down as usual. Lovell could only think of stopping the take over from the Faremin. Once they had finished eating, Margret asked if Lovell wanted to join them at the festival. Lovell declined the offer saying he had other plans for the day. Understanding his disdain for the meaning of the festival, she told him they would be back by dinner time in twenty-one hours. He was nodding as they left.

Lovell waited for one hour before leaving himself and rushing off to stop the faremin from winning over Luna's home over the years. Making his way to the rooftops, he could see what everyone was doing, as he made his way to the Faremin outpost in town. The guards watching the entrance as Lovell jumped down an alley. Looking around the corner, he could see that Faremin soldiers could enter freely. Lovell used a disguise spell so he would blend in. Lovell slipped by, entering unnoticed as he walked around to where the commander was. He wasn't there! A hand grabbed Lovell from behind; it was the very commander he was searching for.

The commander tied Lovell up as he dragged him to the festival grounds. They were blinded as they made their way to the announcement stand. He announced that Lovell had sealed their fate. They heard their swords drawn as screams echoed out. Lovell was trying to protest as the commander removed the blind. They saw what he had set in motion.

The commander whispered in his ear, "If you and the people of Marewood had planned not to join. We had already planned to kill them all if they resisted."

Lovell watched as Margret and Henry killed; he was screaming for it to stop. Tears ran down his face as he noticed that Lance and Gale were struck down by the soldiers. Screams continued to call out for this to all stop as the commander's sword chopped his head off—

Screaming awake, Lovell drenched in sweat. Looking around, he could see Lance dreaming of something entertaining to him while Gale leaned against the window. His heart was pounding from the nightmare.

"Had a good vision of what will happen if you try and stop the inevitable?" Gale's voice was cold towards him.

"You did that?"

Gale looked over to him. "No, Flora just did what I asked her to do so you would see the damage that you would cause to everyone here in town." Looking back out the window. "That's all. I never thought she would actually do it, though."

Lovell got up. Walking to the other side of the window. "Well, it worked." Lovell shivered at the vision. "So, there is nothing I could possibly do to free Marewood, is there?" Lovell was feeling useless to stop them from taking over.

"No, there is but—" Gale stopped short. Looking at Lovell. "We need to find Luna and things will possibly come clear of what you're supposed to do."

Lovell lost at what he was trying to say. "Just say it if you know it. Gale, please? Just tell me?"

Gale moved into Lovell's ear. "you're the Guardian of Light. Lunatic's chosen champion. The curse of the Krisnik family." Lovell's eyes widened as Gale told him.

Lovell had no words to say as he pulled away. He looked at Lance. "Lance and I are also chosen but as those who fight beside you. Like our ancestors before us with your family. Though there are three others to join us in the fight against the dark lord himself, we have known our destiny was to find you and make sure you didn't falter from the light you represent…" His voice trailed.

"And what else?" Lovell growled.

Gale reluctant to say spoke anyway. "Or you become the Destroyer of Darkness."

A cold sweat ran down Lovells back. 'I could. I could destroy everything or save it?' He thought as he fell to his knees. 'Luna could be killed by my hands or protected.' Looking at Gale. "Tell me something is there no way to seal the darkness?"

Gale shook his head. "there is no known way that I'm aware of. Though the possibility is there." Looking straight into Lovell's eyes. "But it seems the lost light has been found inside you." He headed back to bed. "Well, see you in the morning."

Lovell looked up into the night sky. He noticed the moons, Larin and Juna, crossing one another. 'I need to seek the right answer to all of this? It has to be out there? Somewhere…' Lovell thought as he looked over at Lance. Knowing that Gale was sleeping in another room. Lovell packed some things, then leaving a letter on the nightstand. He jumped out of the window to seek an answer to how he can be rid of the darkness, waiting to take him over.

Reaching the edge of town, he looked back, "I am truly sorry, guys, but this is for me to find out for myself." Turning back around as he left through the night. Hoping that they would understand his feeling and thoughts towards everything.

Dawn rose, Lance screeching as he ran to Gale. Puzzled as Lance came rushing down. "Gale! Gale! This is bad!" Shoving Lovell's letter in his face. "He left!" Gale opened the letter

/My dear friends, /

/I am truly sorry for leaving like this, but if what you said is right, Gale. I must seek out the answers I know you and Lance will not have. These answers are both internal and far from reach. I can't tell when I will return to you, but please continue to look for Luna. As I will start viewing after I find my answers, I do worry as I leave your company, and I wish I could stay, but I fear for your safety with the darkness ready to pounce out and control me. I could always feel it near but never knew what it was till our chat last night. Please forgive me. /

/Your good friend, Lovell/

Gale gripped the letter. "You fool." Tears rushed down his face.

"Are we going after him?"

He looked at Lance. "No, this is something he has never thought of figuring out, and if we follow him, we would only cause him trouble. Besides, this is the only way we can help him find his path. He's lost and needs to find his way back to his true self. He may have found the light, but his own light became lost along the way." Ensuring Lance by letting him go away was the right choice. If not, the hard one.

They went to the festival as planned that day. He was trying to not worry about Lovell. As the day rolled on, he noticed a young woman matching Lovell's description of Luna in the crowd. Gale took a chance and called out Luna's name. The woman looked around, seeing who had called her name. Gale rushed over to her. Grabbing her arm. "Luna–Lunatica?" The words were coming out of his mouth as Lance caught up to him.

"Ye-yes, and who are you, and how do you know who I am?" Luna's fearful expression was begging her to run.

"Sorry but we've been looking for you with 'him.'" Being vague of Lovell as her champion.

"What do you mean 'him'?"

Gale leaned into her ear, "Milady Lunatica, Your champion of the light. That's who." He whispered into her ear, knowing that the enemy was maybe also searching for her. He leaned back, seeing her eyes asking what seem to be a million questions — looking around. "It's not safe to talk here. Let's find somewhere more private to chat on the matter." She nodded.

Fang was looking over at them, as they went off to talk, he moved in to see where she was going. Once they found a safe spot, Fang watched the area for anyone wanting to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"So, his name is Lovell." Her voice filled with hope. "Where is he now?"

Lance looked at Gale. "He left town last night." Gale was showing the letter to her.

Joy left her face as she looked at the letter. "oh, and I'm guessing you don't know where he is, do you?"

"Sorry, but he said that he would find us once he has found who he is, and a way to seal the darkness to not hurt you in any way." She took the letter reading every word. "We also know he known about you since he saved your life twenty years ago." She looked up, learning that he was so close, all those years ago. Gale continued to tell her what he knew of Lovell, from what Lovell said about himself.

Tears ran down as she filled with joy and sadness of who Lovell was to her. "Well, let's keep moving. So, that the enemy doesn't find me, and hope for the best in his journey of self-finding."